After 14 years of flying my second homebuilt, preceded by nine years in my first, I wish I could say that most things that can go wrong already have, but the gods might think me insolent. By now, however, I can at least say with some confidence what has worked and what has not.
Technicalities: What Worked and What Didn’t
Key Takeaways:
- The author's 23 years of homebuilding experience taught valuable lessons, confirming the worth of features like self-built retractable gear and effective Fowler flaps, while identifying others as useless (adjustable ailerons) or problematic (leaky hydraulics, stabilator icing).
- The iterative design process, central to experimental aviation, led to continuous improvements between aircraft, such as refined airbrake designs, better control feel, and more accurate fuel monitoring.
- Key design insights emphasize that increased wingspan is "magic" for enhancing range and climb performance, while wing area is "overrated," and practical considerations like system reliability and cabin access are crucial for overall usability.
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