A Look at Experimental Aircraft

     An experimental aircraft is a category of aircraft in which the production and manufacturing has not been certified as a standard certified aircraft. In a nutshell, this is the world of homebuilt aircraft.

     Since the beginning of homebuilt aircraft some 80 years ago, the advancement of experimentals has grown significantly. From a predominantly wood and fabric type construction popular in the 1930, technology has now grown into all metal and even composite type structures we see today.

     So what are the advantages of experimental/homebuilt aircraft? Well, there are several. First being the cost advantage. Comparing 2 popular aircraft from both certified and experimental categories we have the Cessna 172 and a Van's RV-8. The Cessna, being one of the most popular training aircraft ever built has a price tag of over $300,000. The Van's, a popular 2 place sport plane can have a price ranging anywhere from $50,000 to a little over $100,000 depending on chosen engine and avionics. Now lets compare the speeds of these aircraft. A Cessna 172 with an IO-360 engine cruises around 120-130 knots on an average depending on winds. An RV-8 on the other hand, with the same exact engine can cruise at over 200 knots with favorable winds at a fuel burn similar to that of the Cessna. Another advantage of experimental/homebuilt aircraft is the option to build your own from scratch, plans, or kits. This gives the builder endless customization options that are not possible with Certified aircraft.

     Now lets talk about a disadvantage. Most people who tend to avoid experimental aircraft avoid them because they are, in fact, experimental. Although an experimental aircraft gets conditional inspections similar to annual inspections that certified aircraft receive, their manufacturing and building process is not proven to be held to the standards of certified aircraft. Although these aircraft may seem to be less safe because of their nature, a study by the FAA as said by the EAA, experimental aircraft have an accident rate of less than 1% higher than the general aviation fleet.

     I believe that experimental aircraft hold a vital role in todays aviation infrastructure. With over 30,000 registered experimental aircraft in the United States, it is easy to image the amount of money flow experimental aviation creates.

     I find experimental aviation to be a vital role in my career because I hope one day to have a job in some aspect of experimental aircraft. Wether that job may be a representative for a specific company or simply a transition training flight instructor, I hope to see myself surrounded by this wonderful aspect of aviation as my career.