Clif's Homebuilt Aircraft Project

Research

Trying to decide on the "perfect" airplane is a daunting task. First one must decide what the plane will be used for. Then budgets must be taken into account. Also the builder's capabilities must be weighed.

I decided the plane I would build should have the following characteristics:

Capable of Cross-country as well as local sight-seeing.
Cruising Speed of ~150kts.
Range of 750 - 1000 nm.
Seat two comfortably (seating four would be better.
The panel should have enough room for an IFR setup.
A tricycle gear, rather than a tail-dragger.

Even though it was the building of a Europa which started me thinking about building, I would prefer not to build a composite. I'm simply not comfortable with it. This leaves metal and tube and fabric, and wood.

It has come down to a choice between three aircraft. The Skystar Kitfox Series 7 or the Zenith CH-640 and the Barracuda.

The Skystar Kitfox Series 7 is a tube and fabric design. It has a cruising speed of 150 kts and a range of about 800 nm. The Kitfox seats two with a cabin width of 43". The panel has ample room for an IFR setup.

The Zenith CH-640 is an all aluminum design. The construction is assembled with Cherry-Lok^TM rivets (essentially pop-rivets), which means no bucking. It has a cruising speed of 150 kts and a range of about 617 nm (with extended range tanks). The range is a little less than my wish list, but everything else sounds good. The CH-640 seats four and has a cabin width of 46". It's panel also has ample room for an IFR setup.

The Barracuda is an all wood design. It's not a kit per se, but Aircraft Spruce and Speciality does have a spruce kit which supposedly contains all the necessary spruce for the spars and body.
Also, I have just learned that Wicks Aircraft Supply has a "Material Breakdown" for firewall back which lists many (although probably not all) parts available through their catalogue.
I thought seriously about building the Barracuda and even went so far as attepting to purchase the plans, but an on-line order on the website produced an error and an email to Mr. Buethe was returned as undeliverable (mailbox full).

After all was said and done, I final;ly decided to go with the CH-640. I've dropped the idea of building a kit and have elected to scratch build.

Here is a spreadsheet which shows my research so far (note, the Barracuda is not a kit and so is not on the list):

Note: There are undoubtably some kit planes that you like that aren't on the list. There are many reasons why I have left them off, far to many to try to explain.
Suffice it to say, this is my list and I may or may not add to it.