i am building a wittman w10 tailwind (1500hrs since start and another 1500 hrs left to finish). it's a high wing cross country aircraft designed by steve wittman (he was a air racer) in 1953. it has a 23 foot wingspan, 19.5 foot long from tip of spinner to tail. will cruise at 170-190 mph depending on engine. stall speed with flaps 55mph without 65mph. empty weight should around 850-900 pounds. gross weight 1425 pounds. engines can be 85-160 hp. i will be use a lycoming o-320 which will produce 160hp, which should get me in the upper range of the cruise speed.
Quote: F.A.A. requirements must be met, and they change from time to time, often without warning - that is that $35,000 King radio stack that you bought is worthless, especially because a lot of shops wont accept radios being returned
yes the faa paper can take along time to do. you usaully start the paper work about six to eight months before you are ready to fly. the quote above isn't hardly true at all with homebuilt aircraft. the faa doesn't care if you don't have certified avionics, prop, or engine or not. in fact most homebuilts don't have certified avionics or props. usaully the engine is the onlly major component that is certified. but since the engine is in a homebuilt, the owner doesn't have to comply with the ad's on that engine. it is still a good it idea to comply with them.
keeping a log of what you did during the building process is one thing that the faa looks for. this could be a website or a photo ablum with dates and a descprition of whats in the pics. also they will want some proof that you built at least 51% of the plane, so make sure that in some of the pics that you look like you are working on it. thats about all they will want to see for proof.
the builder of the plane can also get a repairmans certificate that will allow him to do the annual without an a and p. all that the faa will want for this is that you build at least 51% and can proof to them that you have the knowledge (after building it you have more than enough knowledge).
anybody that wants to get into the world of homebuilts should became a member of the eaa and find a local eaa chapter to join. the eaa has technical counselors that will do a inspection before you inclose a wing or fuselage and this will help prove to the faa that the plane is airworthy. there is lots of helpfull information to found in these chapters.
building your own plane takes time but is very rewarding. before you decided on a design you like you have to think about what skills it will require, what your piloting skills are, and do you have a wife that will leave you because you are spending more time with plane than her.
Quote:I am also wanting to buidl my own aircraft but I have to pick between 3 aircraft types.
1. aerobatic
2. cross country
3. speed
Now you see what I have to choose if I could I would have all 3 in one aircraft what kit plane will let me have aerobatic touring and be able to fly at 200kts? and under $50,000 to build?
you want a plane that can do some aerobatics and fly at 200 for crosscounty? i think that you should checkout vans rv series. they will do what you want for under 50k (can cost more depending on if you want full ifr panel).
here is a link to my site
www.geocities.com\kstwind
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