Using The A10 D Aircraft Kit To Build Your Own Ultralight Airplane

If you have dreamed of flying your own aircraft but have shelved the thought for want of funds, it would be a good idea to revive your dreams and have a look at the variety of aircraft building kits that are available at nominal prices in the market. Maybe there is some little aircraft out there waiting to be your own.

One of the best affordable ultralights you can build is the A-10D airplane. It has a cruise speed of 60 mph; a range of 300 nm; seats one and it takes about 100 hours for a beginner to build.




So which A10 are we talking about? All A10s are essentially the same. The D models may differ because of the fiberglass pod or podsterior and fiber glass trim pieces. The D models also have an electric start which is not present on the B and so on. These are only cosmetic differences between the airplanes. The innards of the plane are the same.

What's In The Kit?

The kit will have the inboard wing, the two outboard wings, two rudders, two stabilators in a semi-assembled condition. It will also contain the tubes for the cage assembly. These tubes will be predrilled or pre-bent and all that needs to be done is to put them together with the instruction manual or video that comes with the box. Of course the kit will also contain the wheels, axles, brakes, instruments and everything that your plane needs. However, you will need to equip yourself with the rivets and you will have to familiarize yourself with the assembly process by watching the video or reading the manual several times.

Assembling The Kit

First Steps:

To reiterate, you will have to watch the video several times and read the manual again and again till you are familiar with the steps. When you feel confident that you know the process, spend some time looking at the different parts in the box and figuring out how they fit into each other. This is not very different from assembling Lego pieces that entertained our childhood. Take your time about this, as it will make your job easier and more fun as you go along.

Next Steps

Fit the wings together. There is a rudder hinge assembly that is attached to the outboard wings and that is where the process begins. Now position the wheels under the completed wing. Assemble the cage as per instructions with all the bolts loose so that you can fit them to your wing without stress. Now tighten the wing attach points, then move on to tightening the bolts on the first part of the cage.

Now pause awhile and study what the engine mount looks like. The supports will be designed to mount the engine you want to use with your plane. The engine will be tucked into the mount and occupy very little space. However, it is important to understand that weight and balance can make a lot of difference to the feel of your aircraft after assembly. So it may be a good idea to watch the video once more at this point or refer to the manual before proceeding.

Now you can go ahead and install the wheels, brake assemblies, seat, fiberglass pod, instruments and other parts of your plane.

The process is so simple that you will have fun doing it. Of course it will be a lot of hard work but the creative in you can be unleashed without fear. You will have an A10 ultralight airplane that you can be proud of!

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