Construction amateur of plane

The construction amateur of plane is the construction of a Avion by one or more people of which it is not the trade. That can be undertaken from nothing, just of the plans or starting from a kit to be assembled. The word amateur is not to take in its pejorative direction, but well in the direction not remunerated, the achievements being very often of good quality: it is the manufacturer who flies then with.

History

One can almost consider that construction amateur starts with the birth of aviation. Even if Clement Ader, the Brothers Wright and the following had commercial objectives, their first planes were planes of amateurs: impassioned people of which the goal was to fly.

Aviation will rock in industrialization with the First World War (1914 - 1918). The post-war period thus will see arriving of many machines for tourism exits of the industry which must continue to produce and seeks outlets other than military. But these apparatuses are accessible only to very rich. In 1928, Henri Mignet will propose in the newspaper the wings , the plans of a plane, the HM-8 which can be easily built at home by Mister (or Madam) All-the-World. In 1934, it repeats with HM-14 , the famous Pou of the sky , which it proposes in its book the sport of the air . These planes meet a true need and much will be built.

In 1936, it is creation in France network of the amateurs of the air. Many apparatuses amateurs of all types start to appear and, in 1938, the legislation is modified to take into account this irrefutable fact, the restricted Navigability certificate of aircraft (CNRA) is created.

The Second world war will stop the movement. But, as of the end of the hostilities, it reprend.
In 1946 appear:

as70 of Andre Starck;
the RA14 of Roger Adam;
the n° IV of Jean Van Lith.

And, in 1947:

the n° 7 of Andre Brodeau;
the MB50 of Maurice Pike.

But, meanwhile, the French administration removes the CNRA. The RSA, Réseau of the sportsmen of the air will be born fine 1946 to negotiate with the administration in order to soften the system of certification aircraft: an amateur does not have the means of a company.

And the continuous motion, in 1948 appear the Criquet of Émilien Croses and the famous baby Jodel of Jean Délémontez and Edouard Jolly.

The engines gain in power and of reliability. Engines of 65 horses seem the Continental C-65. Other engines for car are recovered and installed, as the famous engine of the Coccinelle which will be very much used.

Certain planes of amateurs are so well designed that they will give rise to “industrial” planes, the Jodel inspire the series of DR. (like the Robin DR-400), where Jean Délémontez collaborates with Pierre Robin, Claude Piel (1921-1982) will produce Émeraude, etc

In 1952, in addition to the easing of the CNRA, it is the year of birth of Popular Flying Association to the the United Kingdom, followed the year according to Experimental Aircraft Association to the the United States.

Hitherto mainly confined with the traditional wood-fabric, the amateurs show themselves very creative: metal, composite for materials, formulates duck, autogiro for the new types of aircraft…

In France, at present (2004), there are 1.800 planes amateurs which fly. And about a thousand would be in construction (this one perhaps rather long according to the manufacturer and much do not succeed). creation of a plane of the names of Camilles. Of éveloppement of this plane place between on March 16th, 1992 and on October 30th, 1992 had. 1st put in flight on December 25th, 1992.

Types of plane

Wood and fabric

It is the oldest technology, that of the first planes and thus the most known and that where there are more specialists in associations of construction amateur.

The structure of the plane is thus out of wood, it is light and resistant. It is then cloth-lined.

The great advantage of this type of construction is not to require complex and expensive tools: saw, plane, file, sandpaper, screw clamps are sufficient.

Example of planes amateurs wood and fabric:

the Jodel, baby D-9, D-112, and most recent D-18, D-19 or D-20;
the Piel CP-30 Emerald;
the motoplanor Baker RF-5.
the Gaz' wing 2 of Serge Pennec
the Souricette of Michel Barry

Metal

Metal is much less obvious to work: cutting, formatted, riveting… but of the kits or batch-matters for a model of plane are relatively easily available (a batch-matter is the whole of materials necessary to carry out part of the plane, for example the fuselage. That exists besides for all the types of construction).

Metal used is the Aluminum and especially the Duralumin.

The advantages are work conditions less Draconian than for wood (temperature, moisture). The disadvantages are that the planes are heavier and will have to be more motorized.

Example of metal planes amateurs:

the Zenith of Chris Heintz;
the Pottier P-230 Panda of Jean Pottier;
the RV-3, RV-4, RV-6, RV-7, RV-8, RV-9 and RV-10 of Van' S Aircraft a manufacturer states-unien who also diffuses them in matter batches or kit… discover them in France with association " Van' S Club of France" and its Internet site devoted to the manufacturers and pilots of planes RV in France

Composite

One understands by composite, the moulding of Glass fiber (or Carbone or Kevlar) impregnated of synthetic resin polymerized (Polyester, epoxy).

The advantages of this type of construction are the forms which one can obtain, modern and aerodynamic. Also, the composite materials have a superb resistance ratio/weight. The principal disadvantage lies in the handling of chemicals during manufacture.

Example of planes amateurs composite:

the formulas duck like the Vari-eze of Burt Rutan;
MCR of Dyn' aero, available in kit, very powerful plane. slt

External bonds

Site of the RSA
ACV Aéro Service: Research department in light aviation - Manufacture of flying machines - aeronautical Joinery
Planes Pike: Site on the manufacturer of plane Maurice Pike
Site of Souricette, plane or ULM of construction amateur

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