Building an airplane is not a low-cost endevour. The main cost drivers are the kit itself (or raw materials if not building from a kit), and the engine chosen. On the extreme low-cost end of the spectrum, a plans-built small plane with an auto-conversion engine can fly for around $6000, and thousands of hours of time. On the other end of the spectrum, a high-end Lancair can absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars before leaving the ground (see Lancair PropJet photo, borrowed from Lancair).

The author hopes to achieve first flight (build complete, potentially without final instruments and such) for no more than $40,000. This includes approximately $15,000 for the CH 701 kit (purchased in sections), approximately $15,000 for the Jabiru engine and engine accessories, and an additional allocation both for accessories and avionics, and for education expenses during the build.

This page will keep a record of expenses incurred during the project. Expenses will be tracked in three categories. Education expenses include workshops and other training tools. Capital expenses are primarily tools and workshop development - physical objects that don't end up in the air. Airplane expenses include the kit, the engine, and everything else that ends up leaving the ground. Relevant incidental costs (travel, shipping, etc.) are included in the category that incurred them.

Chris Heintz's original 1986 CH 701
Photo borrowed from Zenith

On September 5th, 2008, the author ordered his plans from Can-Zac. This was an education expense of $425, including shipping.

On September 13th, 2008, the author attended a Copper Wall Hangings Workshop through the PCA. As a member, the cost of this workshop came to an educational expense of $65 for attendance and $30 for materials.

On September 19th and 20th, 2008, the author drove to Mexico, Missouri from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend an Open Hangar Day at the Zenith factory (see photo from Zenith, with the author in the red Ozone). Incurred education expenses were $285 for travel, $70 (with $10 discount) for DVDs on building the horizontal tail and wings, and $28 for a one-year subscription to the Zenair newsletter.

On September 30th, 2008, the author purchased a varied collection of tools from a builder who abandoned their project (see partial photo). This capital expense of $322 (including shipping) was made instead of a planned purchase of Zenith's similar (but more complete) tool kit. Future required tool purchases include a compressor, an Olfa P-800 knife, and more copper clecos.

On October 19th and 20th, 2008, the author attended a rudder workshop at Can-Zac Aviation, in the Waterloo area. Travel and lodging incurred an education expense of $230. The author purchased his entire tail kit, rather than just purchasing the rudder. The rudder was shipped to Can-Zac for assembly at the workshop; the rest is on delivery to Pittsburgh for home assembly. Airplane costs including boxing and shipping to Canada, but omitting freight collect shipping to Pittsburgh, were $1485.

On November 1st and 2nd, the author attended a sheet metal workshop through SportAir in Indianapolis, Indiana. To make the most of the weekend, he also attended a session on building a kit plane, visited the Air Force museum in Dayton, OH and visited Larry Zetterlind's CH 701 in Piqua, OH. Travel, lodging, and workshop tuition yielded an education expense of $485.

Total expenses have been
Education: $1618
Capital: $322
Airplane: $1485
as of October 5th, 2008