Best Ultralight Aircraft Plans
Anything you make starts with a plan and that plan becomes either your recipe for a successful outcome or for a dismal failure. Thus, it is important for your plan to be well thought out and studied before starting whatever process you are undertaking. Anyone that has ever baked a cake using a faulty recipe can attest that the list of steps must be accurate and lead to the desired result.
This is exceptionally true when the project is a costly endeavor such as building an ultralight aircraft. You can toss out an inedible cake, but what are you going to do with a plane that doesn’t meet your requirements? So before you do a quick search on the Internet and order the first set of ultralight aircraft plans that you see, take some time to figure out exactly what type of ultralight plans you need to produce the end result that you want.
Below are just a few of the items you need to consider before you decide which aircraft plans to purchase.
- Length, Height and Wing Area – You need to consider not only the space where you will be building the aircraft but also where it will be stored.
- Build Time – How much time do you intend to dedicate to building your aircraft? If you can only spare 2-3 hours a week and the aircraft is rated to take 100 to 200 hours, it is going to take you well over a year.
- Expertise Needed – If you are going to go with plans instead of a kit then it is likely you are going to need certain skills and equipment, such as with welding and drilling critical holes. Be sure you factor in the cost to hire someone to do these steps if you are not qualified.
- Speed of Aircraft, Fuel Capacity and Fuel used at Cruise – You have to consider where you will expect to fly and determine what capacities you will require to make those trips, both for ability to get there in one fuel-up or whether there is somewhere you can refuel to make it to your destination. Speed will be important as you consider how long your expected trips will take.
- Other Performance Factors – Other specs may be of importance to you such as the climb rate, take off roll, service ceiling and glide ratio. Be sure the aircraft will be able to do what you expect it to do. Be sure to note on what weight of pilot the performance numbers are rated for and adjust as necessary if your weight is different.
- Seating – Be sure to get the plans for the aircraft that will seat either just you or also another qualified flyer depending on what you need.
- Cost – Set up a budget both for the construction of the aircraft and also for the maintenance and look at plans that will fit those budgets. The only thing worse than not fulfilling your dream of owning a plane, is having one you cannot afford to fly.
- Weight Capacity – Be sure the aircraft is rated to carry both the weight of its pilot(s) and that of any cargo or luggage you anticipate wishing to carry.
As you look through ultralight plans online you will gain an understanding of the variety that is available. You must already be familiar with the various terms such as engine hp, wingspan, VNE performance, stall speed, useful load, build time and so forth in order to properly assess which aircraft will meet your criteria.