The Best Place to Build a Kitplane

Two popular choices for most builders are to either utilize available space at home or a hangar at the airport.

Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 10:35 AM ET

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This Sonex fuselage, one wing, tools and a small fridge are ready for the journey to the airport via snowmobile trailer. [Credit: Jon Croke]

Key Takeaways:

Builders have two primary options for their airplane kit workshop: a home space like a garage or an airport hangar, each with unique pros and cons.
While airport hangars offer abundant space and direct access for flight, they often present challenges regarding comfort, utilities (power, climate, internet), security, and potential travel distance from home.
Building at home is a highly feasible and convenient option, even in limited spaces, by constructing major components separately and planning for door widths when moving parts.
Transporting the completed major components from a home workshop to the airport for final assembly is a manageable task, typically accomplished using a simple trailer.

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You and your airplane kit deserve a comfortable workshop area for the many days of building that lie ahead. If you are a first-time builder or are considering an aircraft kit purchase, one of the very first questions you may be asking yourself is, “Do I have enough space to build this thing?”

The two popular choices for most builders are to either utilize available space at home or to build in a hangar at the airport. Everyone’s situation is different so there is no “one size fits all” here. For example, let’s be jealous of those who live on an airport property as their building and flying all take place in the same location.