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. fleet, with new MOSAIC regulations expected to further increase their accessibility and market viability.
Financing a completed experimental aircraft is more challenging than certificated aircraft, requiring a "25-and-3 rule" for market valuation and typically involving higher down payments and shorter loan terms.
Financing an experimental kit build is distinct, with home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) often recommended for the construction phase before refinancing into a standard aviation loan once the aircraft is completed and certified.
Experimental aircraft insurance is generally more expensive than for comparable certified aircraft due to unique underwriting factors, emphasizing the importance of thorough build documentation.

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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.