Are you ready or not so sure? Begin with understanding of what you want to do and how you want to go about it. Most people build the ultralight aircraft they have been already flying. It is something they are familiar with and have a fair understanding of the different parts of the airplane.
Purchasing construction plans
| The first step in the preparation for aircraft building, therefore, will begin with purchasing or acquiring aircraft construction plans. The plans must contain complete details of all the different parts, materials, tools, drawings and instructions on how to build the aircraft. If the drawings are full size, you will be able to save time and avoid problems that arise from inaccurate scaling up operations. A complete list of materials and sources for the same will help you cut out the time and expense of scouting around for the different parts you need for your plane. |
Read more about building an ultralight airplane with construction plans.
Using Partial Kits? Why not!
If you feel that you need some expertise before investing large sums of money in building your aircraft you could take advantage of using the partial trial kits offered by some companies. The partial trial kit will focus on parts of the plane. For instance, you could buy a tail kit and assemble it. If you decide not to build the plane you can put up the tail for sale, or else you can go ahead and order the rest of the kit. The trail kits also come with an offer of on-phone help. You can call up the company for help and guidance as you go along.
Once you are done with acquiring the basic components, you will need to focus on getting yourself the necessary tools. Some building kits come with the tools, but not all of them. You need very simple tools you use for everyday things. If you have purchased a kit it will contain a table top drill press, metal cutting band saw(or hacksaw), various hand files, a dremel belt sander, hand drill, prop rivet gun and a table to build things on. You will also need a one inch tubing bender 8 radius, Jigsaw Pinking Shears, a paint brush, screwdriver, sandpaper, bench vice and so on. You will need no welding tools.
Take Care For Your Health
It is also important to remember that working with chemicals of any kind poses certain health hazards. The chemicals and resins can cause allergies. For instance, the materials used in the filler and ground glass can be health hazards. So providing yourself with dust masks and paint filtering masks with good ventilation may be a good idea. Though skin irritation and allergic reactions are rare it is commonsense to take care that you do not expose yourself unnecessarily to harmful irritants.
If you are ready with all the above, you will have to set aside around 2500-5000 hours for the building process if you are a newbie and use only construction plans without a kit. Professionals can do it for less. Beginners can do it for 500 - 1000 hours if using an ultralight aircraft kit. The fundamental idea is to take on the job slowly and systematically and not rush it.
