If you loved building model airplanes as a kid and you’re in need of a project, building your own real airplane may be just the thing you’ve been looking for. Building a plane can take years so you’ll have time to work on your pilot’s license while you’re completing the build. Here’s more information about how to take on this supersized DIY.

It’s a Major Financial Investment

You don’t have contracts with hardware distributors or flight system manufacturers, so don’t expect any discounts here. You’ll be spending approximately $50,000 for base models, up to a quarter of a million for kit planes that will carry four passengers and have all the perks. When you compare that to buying a four-seater Cessna for about $30,000, you can see that building your own plane is an investment in the project and the process, not a way to save money on a plane.

It’s a Lot of Time

You’ll spend anywhere from 500 to 1,500 to build your plane depending on its complexity. If you want to build an aircraft that can fly high with a pressurized body, you’ll be spending more time than a basic kit. If you work a standard 40-hour workweek for 50 weeks of the year, you’re spending 2,000 hours at work. Working full-time means you don’t have that much time to work on your plane kit. Give yourself at least a couple of years to get your plane finished. Remember, it’s the journey for a project of this complexity and cost.

It Has To Be FAA Approved

Finally, the FAA will have to inspect your aircraft and have you complete a test flight program before you’ll be allowed to use your aircraft regularly. Once you’ve completed the program, you’re ready to fly. You can’t hire yourself out in your kit plane but you can use it for your personal transportation and enjoyment.

Building a plane is a labor of love. If you’ve got the money and time, you can point to a plane and say, “I built that!”