Financing Experimental and Homebuilt Aircraft

FLYING Finance gives buyers and builders a rundown for unusual financing needs.

Saturday, June 06, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Experimental amateur-built aircraft are a significant and growing part of the U.S. general aviation fleet, with new MOSAIC regulations expected to further expand market accessibility for pilots.
Financing completed experimental aircraft involves unique challenges for lenders, including a "25-and-3 rule" for market valuation, higher minimum down payments (15%), and generally shorter loan terms (10-20 years) compared to certificated aircraft.
For builds-in-progress, traditional staged kit-build loans are largely unavailable; a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is often the most practical financing tool for the construction phase, with refinancing into a standard aviation loan possible upon completion.
Owners also face higher insurance premiums due to unique risk factors and require comprehensive documentation (build logs, photos, inspection records), though the expanding market may positively impact future financial infrastructure.

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Experimental amateur-built aircraft are no longer a niche curiosity at the far end of the ramp.

According to testimony the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) delivered to Congress in 2023, amateur-built aircraft account for more than 17 percent of the entire active single-engine piston fleet in the U.S., and the community adds approximately 1,000 new homebuilt aircraft to the National Airspace System (NAS) every year. The active amateur-built fleet has grown more than 30 percent over the past two decades, and in 2025 fatal accidents in that segment declined by more than 25 percent compared to the previous decade.