The inventorâs spirit has long lived in the heart of the aviation enthusiast. The dream has been alive since perhaps the dawn of man, but building a flying machine that can carry man into the skies to fly with the birds has only recently become a reality. It is this spirit that drives certain individuals to plan and build their own aircraft regardless of the availability of production aircraft. There has never really been a lull in the experimental movement. As time and technology marches on, the movement continues to gain in popularity and numbers. Design innovation and the availability and use of the most technologically advanced materials has kept the fire burning while opening up doors to efficient structural and aerodynamic design.
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 2,260. Engine 220- hp Lycoming. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 132. Cruise mph 124. Stall mph 64. Climb rate 1,000. Takeoff roll 750. The original Junkers became synonymous with the abbreviation “Stuka,” from the word Sturzkampfflugzeug, which is a term applicable to all dive bombers. Like the original, the Langhurst replica Stuka is […]
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,500. Empty wt. 1,100. Hull length 14′. Engine 85-hp Continental. Fuel 18. PERFORMANCE: Top cruise mph 58. This creation was born in November 1987, growing out of the hull of a 1948 Orlando Clipper. And yes, it really flies.
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,540. Empty wt. 850. Fuel capacity 232. Wingspan 26’6″. Length 21′. Engine 100-hp Continental. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 172. Cruise mph 120. Stall mph 52. Climb rate 700. Ceiling 14,000. Takeoff run 600. Landing roll 850. Range 620. Besides designing the Super Emeraude, Claude Piel has also created the Diamant and Beryl. […]
STANDARD DATA: Seats 2. Gross wt. 2,000. Empty wt. 1,150. Fuel capacity 57-85. PERFORMANCE: Top cruise mph 220. Cruise mph 210. Stall mph 60. Climb rate 1,800-3,000 fpm. Ceiling 24,000′. Range 1,200 sm. From Williston, Florida, this gull-wing homebuilt is a good performer with a snappy 120°-per-second roll rate. With miserly fuel management, the company […]
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,650. Empty wt. 1,188. Fuel capacity 20. Wingspan 28’3″. Engine 140-hp Corsa. PERFORMANCE: Cruise mph 100. Stall mph 60. Range 300. Powered by a 140-hp Corsa engine, the Tinker Toy was built around a Fly Baby wing and makes use of a pusher prop to keep the cabin quiet. The powerplant […]
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 952. Empty wt. 628. Fuel capacity 16. Wingspan 22′. Length 19′. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 146. Cruise mph 127. Stall mph 47. Climb rate 900 fpm. Takeoff run 855. Landing roll 900. Range 500. The Tourbillion (Whirlwind) is a single-seat, amateur- built, and lightweight low-wing plane that comes from France. It is […]
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 456. Empty wt. 306. Fuel capacity 5. Wingspan 23’9″. Length 15’9″. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 95. Cruise mph 85. Stall mph 34. Climb rate 600. Takeoff run 195. Landing roll 150. Range 200. Few homebuilts weigh less than this VW-powered mid-wing model. The Troyer Sportplane weighs only 306 pounds empty. Oddly enough, […]
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,500. Empty wt. 900. Fuel capacity 29. Wingspan 20’10”. Length 18′. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 200. Cruise mph 175. Stall mph 65. Climb rate 2,000. Takeoff run 300. Landing roll 900. Range 500. The Thorp T-18 is without a doubt one of the most popular homebuilts in existence. This two-place speedster can […]
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 6,800. Empty wt. 2,500. Engine, hybrid rocket motor, 18,000 lbs. of thrust. Initial rate of climb, 198,000 fpm. Max speed Mach 3.3. Landing distance 3,000′. Burt Rutan’s Scaled Composites built the composite three-seater with a hybrid rocket propulsion system provided by SpaceDev of Poway, California. Hybrid propulsion uses nitrous oxide—also dubbed […]
Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE
