Where do you get kit planes?

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MidwestBob1389

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MidwestBob1389
I think it would be pretty neat to build a plane some day. Where can you find good kit planes or where is a reputable source for these? What's a good brand? Where do you start if you are interested in this?
Thank you kindly!
 
MidwestBob1389 said:
I think it would be pretty neat to build a plane some day. Where can you find good kit planes or where is a reputable source for these? What's a good brand? Where do you start if you are interested in this?
Thank you kindly!
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It's no different than buying any other airplane. First you need to define your mission. How many passengers (and weight), how much baggage, how far, what's the purpose of the flights, etc.

Without that information there's no way to even begin to answer your question.
 
Look to see what is available used on barnstormers.com - that will give you an idea about what is out there and how values hold up.

Lots of brands out there - start with one that seems to be the what you want to build then research the company. There are way too many options to just list them. Though if you had not said "kit" I would have said T-18 or Tailwind. :-)
 
MidwestBob1389 said:
I think it would be pretty neat to build a plane some day. Where can you find good kit planes or where is a reputable source for these? What's a good brand? Where do you start if you are interested in this?
Thank you kindly!
Click to expand...
There is a ton of online content on homebuilt aircraft. Kitplanes magazine is a good source. Also, join EAA, that'll give you access to all of their online content, including about 50 years of Sport Aviation magazine, which is the gold standard in that aviation niche.
 
donjohnston said:
It's no different than buying any other airplane. First you need to define your mission. How many passengers (and weight), how much baggage, how far, what's the purpose of the flights, etc.

Without that information there's no way to even begin to answer your question.
Click to expand...
So my main goal is to be able to see my daighter in Alabama and bring her back to Midwest. This about a 1300 mile car ride (800 nautical). Is this too far for a kit?
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Look to see what is available used on barnstormers.com - that will give you an idea about what is out there and how values hold up.

Lots of brands out there - start with one that seems to be the what you want to build then research the company. There are way too many options to just list them. Though if you had not said "kit" I would have said T-18 or Tailwind. :-)
Click to expand...
Not too sure I care about value holding vs. It holding up haha
 
kyleb said:
There is a ton of online content on homebuilt aircraft. Kitplanes magazine is a good source. Also, join EAA, that'll give you access to all of their online content, including about 50 years of Sport Aviation magazine, which is the gold standard in that aviation niche.
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Nice! Thank you for that
 
Lots of material available from the EAA about getting started. I'd recommend downloading the Aircraft Building Sourcebook and watching the webinar "So you want to build an airplane" done by Charlie Becker, both at the EAA website.
 
Nobody has said Oshkosh yet. Every year at the end of Junly, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts a week long airshow in Oshkosh Wisconsin. Take vacation, go up there and camp for 3-4 days and focus just on the kit manufacturers. Almost everyone is there, you can frequently talk to the kit designers and get their take on why their kit is the best.

Alternate is Fun-n-Sun April 1-6 in Lakeland, FL. The show isn't as big but almost everyone will still be there.

Bonus, the evenings can be a big party.
 
MidwestBob1389 said:
So my main goal is to be able to see my daighter in Alabama and bring her back to Midwest. This about a 1300 mile car ride (800 nautical). Is this too far for a kit?
Click to expand...
People have flown homebuilt airplanes around the world.

While some kit planes aren't suitable for regular 800 mile trips, many are. The same is true of factory built airplanes. It's more about whether it's too far for the pilot and his level of experience, and how the plane is equipped (which is up to the builder or owner).
 
MidwestBob1389 said:
So my main goal is to be able to see my daighter in Alabama and bring her back to Midwest. This about a 1300 mile car ride (800 nautical). Is this too far for a kit?
Click to expand...
So as Dana stated, E-AB aircraft are just as capable as their standard certificated counterparts. You’ve partially defined your mission so now you need to look for an aircraft that meets those parameters which appears to be a cross-country cruiser. I would suggest further refinements with regard to speed, range, and payload. That said building a kit E-AB might not be the best solution as building adds layers of dedication, cost and time. Buying a nice used aircraft, be it E-AB or standard certificated, might be a better option to meet your stated goals.
 
Gulliow's, Comet, Dumas, just enlarge the plans. ;)
eindecker.jpg
Be forewarned, the price tag on huge pieces of balsa is equally huge.
 
Most hobby shops carry a wide selection of plane kits.
 
1) Subscribe to KitPlanes Magazine
2) Join your local EAA chapter and get yourself invited to see airplanes being built AND some already flying of the type that interests you.
3) Volunteer to help someone or take an EAA builder class.

Do all these things then decide for yourself what to build. Don't trust advice from the internet, especially aviation forums.
 
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