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About experimental / amateur-built aircraft.

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Amateur-built aircraft are built by individuals and licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as “Experimental.” The Experimental designation has been in existence for more than five decades. It defines aircraft that are used for non-commercial, recreational purposes such as education or personal use.

Under FAA regulations, if an individual builds at least 51 percent of an aircraft, the aircraft is eligible to be registered in the amateur-built category. They are available in kits (where some of the airplane is already fabricated), or plans (where the builder purchases or manufactures all the parts and assembles them). These airplanes are also commonly known as “homebuilts,” for the obvious reason that many individuals construct these aircraft at home, often in their garages.

Currently, more than 33,000 amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft are licensed by FAA. They represent proven aircraft designs that have been flown safely for many years.

Who constructs amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft?

People from all walks of life, including astronauts, airline pilots, military jet pilots, machinists, welders, professional people and others.

Why do they build them?

A variety of reasons: a personal challenge, education, performance, or to invest “sweat equity” into the cost of an airplane.

Costs range from under $10,000 to more than $100,000 based on desired performance characteristics and optional engine and avionics packages. By comparison, a new factory-built Cessna 172 costs more than $250,000.

Many amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft utilize composite materials that help create airplanes that are lighter, faster and more fuel efficient than similar production aircraft.

How long does it take?

An average amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft will take between 1,000 and 3,000 hours to complete. Some individuals build their airplane in less than a year; others may take a decade or more.

How are these aircraft regulated?

All amateur-built/homebuilt airplanes must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These airplanes must be inspected by an FAA inspector or a designated inspector before an airworthiness certificate can be issued.

This is a fairly rigorous process. The builder(s) must provide logs of when, where and how construction took place, along with supporting documents and photographs. If the aircraft passes this inspection, a pilot must fly between 25-40 hours of test flights in specific non-populated areas to make sure all components are operating properly. Only after that test time is flown may passengers be flown in the aircraft.

In addition, an amateur-built airplane is subject to condition inspections every 12 months, the same scrutiny required of small production aircraft.

Does a person have to be a licensed pilot to fly these airplanes?

Yes. Pilots of amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft must earn and maintain the same federal pilot training and ratings as those who fly factory-built aircraft such as Cessnas, Pipers, and Beechcrafts. They also must follow all appropriate federal regulations during each of their flights.

What does the term “Experimental” mean regarding a homebuilt airplane?

The term “Experimental” is actually a bit of a misnomer; it refers to the FAA category in which the airplane is registered, not the exclusivity or the use of the airplane.

While there are a handful of homebuilt aircraft that are original designs, the vast majority of homebuilt airplanes are built using standardized, tried- and-true kits or plans that have been successfully constructed thousands of times.

When the current homebuilt aircraft rules were first introduced in the early 1950s, there was difficulty finding a category where the finished aircraft could be registered. After all, the airplanes were not factory-built, such as Cessnas or Pipers, nor were they transport aircraft (airliners) or military aircraft. Federal officials saw the most practical category as Experimental, and created a new subcategory called “amateur-built.”

FAA’s Experimental category also includes nearly 10 other subcategories, including aircraft used for crew training, air racing, and historic aircraft (such as World War II military aircraft) flown to air shows and exhibitions.

How safe are amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft?

Studies by FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) show that amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft have an accident rate less than one percentage point higher than the general aviation fleet. In fact, the accident rate for amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft is dropping. The total number of registered homebuilt aircraft has doubled since 1994, and the total hours flown have increased by 123 percent, while the total number of accidents has stayed virtually the same.

Another good barometer of safety is insurance rates. Companies that insure both homebuilts and production aircraft charge about the same rates for owners of either type of airplane. That indicates a similar level of risk.

Are these aircraft the same as ultralights?

No. Ultralights are light, one-person flying machines that operate under a completely different set of federal regulations. All amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft are registered with the federal government in the same manner as production aircraft with corresponding “N-numbers” on the fuselage.

What does EAA do to support the amateur-built/homebuilt program?

EAA was founded in 1953 with a focus on amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft activities. Since that time, the interests of EAA members have grown to include virtually all of aviation’s broad and dynamic spectrum. The core of EAA activities continues to revolve around amateur-built/homebuilt activities.

For more than 60 years, EAA has been educating builders and pilots so they may enhance the safety of their aircraft and their individual flying abilities. For instance, EAA technical counselors, who are experienced airplane builders, restorers and mechanics, volunteer their time to visit builders and review their projects. EAA flight advisors help pilots evaluate their flying skills so they are well suited to flying this particular type of aircraft. In some cases, the evaluation will point toward more flight training before a pilot flies a newly built or restored airplane.

EAA also offers a full range of instructional books and educational videotapes, as well as a full-time staff that provides information on specific aircraft so people can embark on a project suited to their individual needs and abilities.

Simple Flying

X-planes: the usa's top 5 most unbelievable experimental aircraft.

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Bell X-1 was the first piloted aircraft to break the sound barrier. Key record-setting aircraft in US history. (109 characters)
North American X-15 set speed record, reached hypersonic speeds, conducted valuable high-altitude research. (106 characters)
NASA X-43 achieved world records for speed, fastest jet-powered aircraft, superseded by the X-51 program. (113 characters)

Over the years, numerous X-planes have been built for various research and experimental purposes. Some programs were canceled for various reasons, while others made it to the air and proved to be successful research airplanes. Several experimental planes hold world records, particularly for speeds and altitudes. This article explores some of the renowned X-planes in US history.

Rocket engine-powered aircraft

Length: 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m)
Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
Height: 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m)
Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2) ⠀
Gross weight: 12,250 lb (5,557 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors XLR11-RM-3 4-chamber liquid-fuelled rocket engine, 6,000 lbf (27 kN) thrust
Maximum speed: 1,612 mph (2,594 km/h, 1,401 kn)
Service ceiling: 70,000 ft (21,000 m)

The Bell X-1 is a supersonic research project conducted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the US Army Air Forces (USAAF), built by Bell Aircraft. Built in the mid-1940s, the aircraft performed its first flight in January 1946.

As highlighted by the National Air and Space Museum , a Bell X-1, nicknamed Glamorous Glennisand, became the first piloted aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. Test pilot Chuck Yeager established the record in October 1947. In 1948, the Bell X-1 achieved a speed of nearly 1,000 mph (870 knots, 1,600 km/h). The derivative of the design, the Bell X-1A, with a greater fuel capacity, exceeded 1,600 mph (1,400 knots, 2,600 km/h). The aircraft became the first of the series of American X-planes.

Supersonic History-Maker: The Story Of The Bell X-1

The aircraft has a fascinating history.

2 North American X-15

Hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft.

Length: 49 ft 2 in (14.99 m)
Wingspan: 22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
Height: 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m)
Wing area: 200 sq ft (19 m2)
Empty weight: 14,600 lb (6,622 kg)
Gross weight: 33,500 lb (15,195 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors XLR99-RM-2 liquid-fuelled rocket engine, 70,400 lbf (313 kN) thrust
Maximum speed: 4,520 mph (7,270 km/h, 3,930 kn)
Range: 280 mi (450 km, 240 nmi)
Service ceiling: 354,330 ft (108,000 m)

The North American X-15 was a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft developed by North American Aviation in the 1950s. The aircraft performed its first flight in June 1959 and was introduced by the USAF later that year. NASA also operated the X-15 as part of the X-plane experimental aircraft. In the 1960s, the X-15 made multiple records, including crossing the edge of outer space and returning.

Valuable data was acquired at very high altitudes to be used in future aircraft and spacecraft design. In 1967, the X-15 built a highest speed record of 4,520 mph (7,274 km/h). Pilot William Knight flew the aircraft at Mach 6.7 at an altitude of 102,100 ft (31,120 m, 19.34 km).

Amazing! How The X-15 Hypersonic Research Program Set All Kinds Of Aviation Records

The X-15's speed record remains unbroken, and (by some definitions) its altitude record wasn't broken until 2004.

3 NASA X-43

Unmanned hypersonic aircraft.

The NASA X-43 is an unmanned hypersonic aircraft designed to test the agency’s Hyper-X test flight program. During test flights, the aircraft set several high-speed records. The NASA X-43 remains the fastest jet-powered aircraft, with a record of approximately Mach 9.6. Three examples of the first series, X-43A, were built, but the first one was destroyed after malfunctioning during a flight in 2001.

The remaining two scramjets underwent slight operational improvements. In 2004, they flew successfully and established world records. Following the hypersonic tests (ten seconds of flight followed by ten seconds of glide), the aircraft intentionally crashed into the ocean. The plan to build more X-43s was canceled and replaced by X-51, a USAF-managed program.

5 Amazing Military Planes Flown By NASA

NASA finds uses for a range of ex-military aircraft - often extensively modified for scientific mission purposes.

4 McDonnell Douglas X-36

Tailless fighter agility research aircraft.

Length: 18 ft 2.5 in (5.550 m), including pitot boom
Wingspan: 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)
Height: 3 ft 1.25 in (0.9462 m)
Empty weight: 1,090 lb (494 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,270 lb (576 kg)
Fuel capacity: 180 lb (82 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Williams F112 turbofan engine, 700 lbf (3.1 kN) thrust
Maximum speed: 160 kn (180 mph, 300 km/h)
Service ceiling: 20,500 ft (6,200 m)

The McDonnell Douglas X-36 is a stealth subscale prototype jet aircraft featuring a tailless design. The aircraft design configuration was chosen to minimize the structural weight and drag on the aircraft. The design enables greater maneuverability and survivability, ideally conceptualized for fighter jets.

The aircraft performed its first flight in May 1997 and became one of the highly successful test aircraft. The X-36 performed 31 test flights, significantly exceeding the project goals. The researchers found its suitability as a fighter jet of the future. Despite that, there was never any further development in the X-36 program.

Unique NASA Experimental Aircraft Is Up For Sale

The heavily modified de Havilland Canada C-8A Buffalo comes with a reserve price of $10,000.

5 Grumman X-29

Forward swept wing experimental aircraft.

Capacity: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) payload
Length: 53 ft 11.25 in (16.4402 m), including nose probe
Wingspan: 27 ft 2.5 in (8.293 m)
Height: 14 ft 3.5 in (4.356 m)
Max takeoff weight: 17,800 lb (8,074 kg)
Fuel capacity: 3,978 lb (1,804 kg) in two fuselage bladder tanks and two strake integral tanks
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engine, 16,000 lbf (71 kN) with afterburner
Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (956 knots, 1,100 mph, 1,771 km/h)
Range: 350 nmi (400 mi, 650 km)
Service ceiling: 55,000 ft (17,000 m)

The Grumman X-29 was an experimental aircraft with forward-swept wind and canard control surfaces. Developed by Grumman in the early 1980s, the USAF and NASA used the two examples built. In addition to the swept wings and canard controls, the three-surface design also included an aft strake control surface.

The X-29 was designed with computerized fly-by-wire controls. The forward-swept wings caused aeroelastic divergent twisting due to the wings’ leading edge rotating upwards. As a result, greater lift was generated, causing the leading edge to rotate even further. The phenomenon could cause the structure to fail under stress. Using composite materials ensured the flexibility and structural integrity of the aircraft. The two X-29s built were tested between 1984 and 1991.