Anyone here build aircraft, helicopters or gyros??

[Dpmulvan]

Was thinking about building some sort of aircraft maybe a stol, ultralight copter, or gyrocopter. Anyone roaming around here ever taken on such a project??

[recycled sixtie]

I have a friend who is building a home built aircraft. If you are on facebook I could get you to contact him. PM me if you are interested. He is not on this forum. Alternatively I could forward your email address to him.
Cheers,
Guy

[RKDinOKC]

They kind you ride in or radio controlled..."Flight of the Pheonix."

[Skytrooper]

I was a fixed and rotary wing mechanic for many years

[dad911]

Flying models. Not real.

I considered an ultralight. Until I rode in one.

[unclebilly]

Whenever I see something for sale on Facebook for an unrealistic price, I always offer to trade for my wooden helicopter project, some assembly required...

[Eagle Keeper]

As someone who spent many years working on/around aircraft, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt don’t do it!

[SpyderMike]

I have built a gyro (original Bensen) and an airplane (Rans S-16). I am considering building another gyro as they go together al ot faster. Not sure I have the energy for another airplane build.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by dad911

...... I considered an ultralight. Until I rode in one.

I messed around in ultra-lights back in the mid-80's and really enjoyed the experience.

My wife insisted I give up that particular hobby when I found out the life insurance which funded our business' buy-sell agreement was null and void re: ultralights.

One interesting sidenote re: the ultralight field I was flying out of: one of Osama Bin Ladens older brothers was killed while flying out that field...

Some speculate this crash perhaps altered history? who knows?

Did a 1988 death alter the course of history? - San Antonio Express-News

[Mark Henry]

A friend of the family's son built an early Kitfox, funny thing was they were somewhat poor, lived of the grid, had a small shop 15' X what ever the wing is in length, etc, etc.
Took him 5 years to build, mostly because of cost, bought parts as he could, he found a rotax 912 (IIRC for sure a rotax) with half time left on it.

He had to wait forever to get it registered, testing it in early spring frozen lake with skis but wouldn't lift off for fearing he'd get in poop. Two cops who were interested came to see him, he told them the story, they said just fly it but please don't crash, so up he went with them cheering him on. After he said to them that he wished he could get to the local airstrip before the ice went out, again they said "just don't crash it". So the next week he did, no wheels just skis as he couldn't afford wheels. He landed it on wet grass no problem, had friends help him drag it into the hanger. Bought wheels later that spring.
It's his pride and joy, landed it in my backyard for a visit once. I bet he has 2-3000 hours on it by now, still flies it, he's in his 70's now.

[Mark Henry]

BTW if you've ever heard about SDS fuel injection it was started by a couple of guys who wanted a FI system for their kit planes, RV's I believe.

SDS EM-5: Aircraft

[Cajundaddy]

I was the part time junior assistant on several restorations and builds. Piper Clipper, Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Glassair (kit), Wheeler Express (kit). My dad was an aerospace engineer by trade and a certified aviation mechanic by passion. He was a good pilot but loved the project more than anything. He did everything from fabric wings, aluminum skin, composite, control surfaces, engine R&R, electronics. He is gone now but surely logged 20,000 hours in the garage, machine shop, and hanger.

I learned a lot about it from him but never really shared his passion for the build. I would not personally start a project like this today, but for someone who wants to do it I recommend the Van's RV. Very straightforward kit and you get a nice airplane in the end. We observed a dozen of these builds while on the Express and I believe they are all still flying.

[Cajundaddy]

Bottom line:

Your first build will probably take twice as long and cost twice as much as you expected. After that you will get better at it with more efficient processes and less waste. It's not unlike a 356 restoration project with "a little rust...".

[LWJ]

Vans aircraft is just down the street. Seem like nice folks. The owner flies to work each day. I think they are a big deal in this space.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Vans aircraft is just down the street. Seem like nice folks. The owner flies to work each day. I think they are a big deal in this space.

They are: https://www.vansaircraft.com

Great bunch of folks.

I have assisted on two Vans aircraft builds as well as a Harmon Rocket, which is based on a Vans design.

I recommend doing a lot of hands on research before you pull the trigger on an air vehicle. The options (airframe, performance, engines, avionics) are limitless and often confusing.

Also, join The Experimental Aircraft Association and go to Oshkosh!

https://www.eaa.org/eaa

[72doug2,2S]

RE: Gyros

Either one of these is as close as I might come.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

I was the part time junior assistant on several restorations and builds. Piper Clipper, Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Glassair (kit), Wheeler Express (kit). My dad was an aerospace engineer by trade and a certified aviation mechanic by passion. He was a good pilot but loved the project more than anything. He did everything from fabric wings, aluminum skin, composite, control surfaces, engine R&R, electronics. He is gone now but surely logged 20,000 hours in the garage, machine shop, and hanger.

I learned a lot about it from him but never really shared his passion for the build. I would not personally start a project like this today, but for someone who wants to do it I recommend the Van's RV. Very straightforward kit and you get a nice airplane in the end. We observed a dozen of these builds while on the Express and I believe they are all still flying.

Ditto on the Vans...my buddy since childhood built this. He's been flying for many hours, loves it. First flew F-111 for uncle, then a "bus driver" for American. Retired now. Talked with him yesterday...he's about to give it an annual.

[bpu699]

Check out some of the youtube videos of guys in Europe/Russia building their own micro-copters. The things actually fly/hover... that takes some courage...

Always wanted to build a plane. Then checked the fine print of my life and HEALTH insurance, both exclude flying in an "experimental aircraft." IE. Ultralight or kit plane...

Might want to check your too... Someone on another board posted that Obamacare precludes excluding "high risk activities." True or not, don't know...

[pwd72s]

My buddy is an old pilot, so I guess that means he's not a bold one? It's amateurs with low hours who get into most of the trouble.

He & I discussed the flying death of JFK Jr. and his wife. Very much the case of pilot error...a non instrument rated pilot not trusting instruments, and spiraling into the sea. John-John should not have been flying in darkness with no visible horizon. He had no idea how to handle those conditions.

I'd be nervous about flying with someone with only a visual ticket and not many hours. I'd be nervous about flying with my buddy because I know he'd like to make me barf...

[Mike Billings]

I heard a story about some guys that built a helicopter kit in Iowa. When it was finally ready to fly, it was a little late in the day. They took it up anyway, went up a couple hundred feet. Next thing they knew, it was dark and all they could see below was one light on the ground near their farmhouse. It took some patience to get it down safely!