Homebuilt Ultralight Helicopters
Many ultralight enthusiast build their airplanes on their own. They use kits or work "from scratch". The produced ultralight airplanes are known as Experimental/Homebuilt Aircraft. Although doing this requires a lot of work and passion, it does not require engineer skills or high level knowledge. These enthusiast are just people like me and you who are eager to achieve their dream to fly.
Being a helicopter fan, when I found out about the homebuilt airplanes I was immediately interested in having a homebuilt helicopter. Is it possible? Yes, of course. Am I the first who thought about that? Of course not!
The helicopters by default are much more complicated vehicles than the airplanes. But the experimental/homebuilt industry took care for that and created many simplified models. They are perfect for building a helicopter on your own in your garage or personal workshop.
Some of the most poplar simplified homebuilt ultralight helicopter models are the famous G-1 ultralight helicopter, the Indian Ultralight Helicopter or OMH-Eagle Ultralight Helicopter. There are of course many other models with plans available on the Net.
Photo from http://www.vortechonline.com
What do you need to build an ultralight helicopter on your own?
Of course you can purchase a kit and make the things easier. The kits are available for most experimental models and are easier to build up than if you do it from scratch.
The real fun however is to start with a construction plan and your two hands. This will not only save you money (and cost you time), but also give you a lot of entertainment and make you a proud owner of an aircraft that you have really built on your own.
If you choose the second route, you only need standard parts and materials which can be bought from an auto store. The plans which are sold for building experimental homebuilt helicopers consider working with approachable parts.
Isn't it too risky?
The practice shows that the homebuilt helicopters are as safe as any other ultralight helicopters available on the market. Of course, you need to follow the instructions in the construction plans and consider flying in good weather conditions.
As many people in the ultralight aviation like to say, flying is as safe as good the pilot is. Saying this, it's good to know that some countries (USA) don't require pilot's license to fly on homebuilt helicopter (if they weight at the range between 150-190 lbs), so the accidents mostly happen because of inexperienced pilots.
The costs of your homebuilt helicopter
If you start from the scratch the parts might cost you as low as a thousand of US dollars. The kits prices start from several thousands USD. The total cost can be kept under $10,000 just like the advertisement of the Indian Ultralight Helicopter says.
Of course, there are much greater models whose kits can cost $20,000 - $25,000 - but even this is nothing compared to the price of a regular helicopter.
Another thing to consider is that the ultralight helicopters are not so hungry for fuel like their bigger brothers.
If you have decided to build an ultralight aircraft or helicopter, it costs you almost nothing to try. The plans start from just $20 and rare exceed $100. Many sites offer digital plans for download so you can start right away!
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User comments:
Adam at Oct, 26 '07 06:14
Great to see people supporting this ever growing niche market of the helicopter industry. So many have fallen by the wayside because of lack of support eg: Cobra 2 seat pison powered, Predator single seat turbine powered (long before the Helicycle), Mustang and Lonestar single seat 2 stroke powered helicopters and many more.
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rizwan at Oct, 27 '07 00:44
i am small auto electrition.my dreem is flying in whool sky my own sport light glider.i want made my home simple light glider.my own /please help me and send me plan catalouge with building phootose.i am not rich man.i born in pakistan.middle family.pakistan private avition coasts to long.i dnt pay this coasts.i undarstand no body help me.......................its my dreem built flying machine own hand thanks ....god bay.
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Charles at Apr, 04 '08 03:45
rizwan,
please email me and I will try to help.
ae1god at hotmail
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mike anderson at Apr, 11 '08 23:01
Save your money. OHM eagle offers no support. I paid and recieved a crupt download fron Roe Aviation and was told its not out problem. Tried to call, they have no listed number in MD.
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Bob at Apr, 17 '08 16:08
Hey Mike, I'll try to contact them and see if they can get it sorted out.
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Mr Rowe at Apr, 18 '08 17:32
I have tried to talk with mike anderson, he is unreasonable.
I even sent him an additional free download, and he still posts this?
We have had hundreds of people download these same exact plans, and never a problem.
He downloads it an says the file is corrupt. We contacted him, and told him to try it from a different computer, and gave him an additional free download. We have been more than helpful with him, yet he refuses.
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Bob at Apr, 18 '08 17:34
Thanks for taking the time to reply here, mr Rowe
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mazen at May, 03 '08 01:09
Hey,
Rizwan i am fro egypt, "kif il hal".......i share your same dream and i also need help...so charles this is my e-mail "vip_mazen@hotmail.com" if you can help me too then please do!!
Reply to this comment
mazen at May, 03 '08 01:10
Hey,
Rizwan i am fro egypt, "kif il hal".......i share your same dream and i also need help...so charles this is my e-mail "vip_mazen@hotmail.com" if you can help me too then please do!!
Reply to this comment
Fon at Aug, 05 '08 07:06
For homebuilt ULH need:
1. Define main parameters of ULH, because UL machine are very sensitive to optim of parameters/..
2. to define prototype (it isn't problems
My hand book "Designing a home buil ULH@ can help to builders. Book sold in ten countrie USA, Canada, Belgium, Poland, Italy, S. Korea, New Zeiland, Iran etc.
please e-mail
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JERAMIE T. at Aug, 10 '08 17:30
I am thinking that building a "home-built ultralight helicopter" it would be theriputic & productive for me! I will first tell why I think it will be "THERIPUTIC" for me. On December8th 2003, I was driving a KIA RIO ! I had a Head-on collision, my air-bag or seatbelt didn't function! I was imaditaly in a comma for 2 & a-half months! When I wokeup I was told "In your accident you fractured both thigh-bones, shattered both knee-caps,broke your left ankel & got a TBI (TRAMATIC BRAIN INJURY)! I am still making a "slow recovery" I have wanted, since I aas 8, to fly a HELICOPTER, since I was 8 & hooked on the TV show AIR-WOLF!I also think that " doing somthing with my hands , that is far more productivein the long-run, than spending money to visit the OT-THERAPIST in the office multipule times a week! this way I get to enjoy the therapy @ home making my life worth more each day & the fact that I PERSONALLY am working to fullfill a DREAM SINCE i WAS 8! If you will find a digital copy of the plans & instructions, email them to me: papatesky@gmail.com, I will work on them Dilligantly" & when I am finished building I will fly my "ULTRALIGHT" to where-ever you are to give you $7000 CASH as a thankyou, pay for the plaan &pay you for being my "COUNSOLER"!
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