With Your Own Two Hands
The SAAA began as the Ultralight Aircraft Association of Australia and later became the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia. Before the annual Ausfly event at Narromine, airshows and gatherings were held for many years at Latrobe Valley and then Mangalore, Vic, in the 1970s and 80s. With around 1100 members, the SAAA is the key organisation that is involved with VH (CASA registered) home-built aircraft, flown by holders of a Private Pilot Licence (or higher).
The essence of amateur-built experimental is that anyone can build anything they like, out of anything they like and power it however they like. There are no design standards to be met, though the completed aircraft must of course be in a condition for safe operation. Most aircraft builders tend to choose well-proven designs from any number of kit manufacturers, build from a set of commercially available plans or design their own. Metal aircraft are now the most popular by far. Kits are all CNC prepared and go together with precision.
At first glance, it seems like a mighty leap of faith to want to build your own aircraft, however the reasons for doing so are many and it begins with the ease of owning your own aircraft rather than having to rely on a hire plane being available and serviceable when you want it. And seeing as so many
