Homebuilt aircraft have been a core figure in the EAA since its formation in 1953 and will continue to be an integral part of the organization and aviation at the 70th EAA AirVenture this July. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will host an array of aircraft at the week-long event, including several homebuilt aircraft celebrating special anniversaries the same year EAA celebrates the 70th rendition of its fly-in convention.
“Homebuilding has been at the core of EAA since the first meeting in Milwaukee in 1953 with homebuilt aircraft continuing to represent a substantial percentage of the 10,000-plus aircraft that fly into AirVenture every year,” EAA’s Homebuilt Community Manager Charlie Becker said. “As we celebrate our organization’s 70 years, several popular designs are celebrating their own anniversaries, and we invite all owners of those aircraft to come to Oshkosh to help commemorate the occasion.”
Some of the homebuilt aircraft coming to Oshkosh for AirVenture will celebrate an anniversary, like the Wittman Tailwind and Sonex. Anniversary aircraft, including those in the vintage aircraft and ultralight/lightplane category, will be featured throughout the week in forums, flying demonstrations and displays.
Hiperbipe 50th Anniversary
The Sorrell Hiperbipe is a two-seat, negative stagger, conventional landing gear-equipped cabin biplane that was designed in kit form for amateur construction. Introduced in 1973, the SNS-7 was created to give a full and unlimited aerobatic performance without giving up the ease and comfort of a cabin-style aircraft.
According to Kit Planes, John Sorrell returned from active military duty in Vietnam and went straight to flight-testing his aircraft. The original variant, the SNS-6 was displayed at Oshkosh in 1973 and won the Outstanding New Design award and the eventual designs and modifications led to the SNS-7. The Sorrell family then began designing build kits after the SNS-7 was met with increased popularity and demand.
The name Hiperbipe stems from the phrase, “HIgh-PERformance BIPlanE,” and despite Sorrell Aviation closing its doors in the 1980s, Thunderbird Aviation acquired the rights and tooling and has been producing kits since 2015.
Sonex 25th Anniversary
On Feb. 28, 1998 EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame member John Monnett left Oshkosh in a new aircraft, beginning the history of Sonex. After years with Monnett Aircraft and the development of the Sonerai series of sportplanes, Monnett and Pete Buck teamed up to modify a new version of the two-place Sonerai to fit into the microlight category in Italy. The pair have to work to comply with a 40 mph stall speed requirement and eventually, the new aircraft the Sonex, was born.
The pair were long-time friends and members of the aviation industry, with the ultimate goal of creating an airplane with roughly the same cost as an average car. The original Sonerai was built in the early 1970s and cost $1,200, which was cheaper than a new VW Beetle. While Sonex was built with the standards of car prices in the 1990s rather than the 1970s, the initial idea was to make the cost of an airplane no greater than a car, since the purpose of these homebuilt planes is often to takeoff and land at the same airport. The first flight for Sonex N12SX was a trouble-free flight into Oshkosh, with 25 years of history to follow.
Midget Mustang 75th Anniversary
The Long Midget, or Midget Mustang, has long been admired in the homebuilt aircraft community. It was designed in 1948 by Piper chief engineer David Long as a Goodyear Midget Racer and intended to enter production as a post-WWII sport plane. It debuted at the 1948 Cleveland National Air Races, taking second in the elimination heat before dropping out of the final due to engine problems. While this Mustang never entered the market for sport planes, it has become intertwined within the homebuilt family.
Homebuilders have been drawn to the good looks, handling and flying qualities since its inception. These home-built aircraft have even proven to be a hit at AirVenture, with a total of four Midget Mustang Oshkosh EAA Grand Champions. The aerobatic plane can also be used for cross-country flying, due to its strong structure and low-power loading.
Thorp T-18 60th Anniversary
The original T-18 was designed by John Thorp in 1963. The T-18 is an all-metal two-place side-by-side performance aircraft. It was designed to be built from sheets of aluminum, with the ribs and fuselage frames hand formed with a mallet over plywood form blocks.
The T-18 was designed to be small and strong, with good takeoff and landing performance. It was one of the first all-metal homebuilts and the first to use a stabilator or all-flying tail. This stabilator was first designed by John Thorp and later used by Piper for Cherokee aircraft. This homebuilt was the first to fly around the world and to fly to both the geographic and magnetic north poles, completed by Don Taylor in the early 1970s.
Van’s RV-10 20th Anniversary
This four-seat, low-wing plane was designed by Dick VanGrunsven and is part of the world’s most popular series of homebuilt aircraft.
While the RV-10 has a shorter history than many of the other homebuilts on display, it provided Van’s Aircraft with a new opportunity. Up until the RV-10 was designed, Van’s aircraft were two-seaters. When it became apparent there was a need for a four-place RV on the market, the RV-10 was born.
The RV-10 was designed to carry four adults, a full load of fuel and baggage. The kits were designed similarly to the RV-7/9 kits already sold, with matched-hole metal portions. The new four-seater did differ in some ways, with material ready to hold four people rather than the traditional two. Based on the now 20-year history of the RV-10, Van’s accomplished the goal.
On the morning of May 29, 2003 the RV-10 was on the runway and taking off for the first time. Now, 20 years later, the RV-10 has established itself on the market as a high-speed and powerful RV with the short-field capability the brand is known for.
Wittman Tailwind 70th Anniversary
Sylvester J. Wittman developed the C-85-powered “Flying Carpet” in 1953, later renaming it Tailwind. This became the first aircraft covered in the FAA Experimental category and certified to carry a passenger. The two-seat light aircraft is a popular homebuild. The Tailwind is a high-wing, braced cabin monoplane of traildragger configuration, comprised of a steel tubing fuselage, wood wings and fabric covering.
After Wittman and his wife were killed when an aircraft of theirs, similar to the Tailwind crashed, the rights to plans and materials for the plane were acquired by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co of Corona, California in January 1996.
The classic design for this 70-year-old homebuilt is difficult for many to recreate, but worth it for those that do. The design of the Tailwind understands that many homebuilders do not have access to a welding set or hacksaw, according to Kit Planes. The plane has many features of an old-school homebuild but still appeals to modern aviators.
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The celebration of homebuilt aircraft is one of the many events and celebratory offerings during the week of AirVenture. The 70th anniversary of EAA AirVenture includes many other commemorative events, like a celebratory beer with a different design for each day of the event, each representing a piece of aviation history. There will also be numerous warbirds attending and a special event to honor Vietnam War veterans.
Anniversary aircraft involved in the featured celebrations need to pre-register before the event.
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