You know what I’m like with all these DIY plane enthusiasts. Well now we seem to have gone a step further - somebody has bought themselves an existing aeroplane and decided to fit it out in order to make it habitable.

You’re also more than welcome to go and take a tour so long as you give advance warning and take this advice to heart :

The aircraft is in its final position, but the landing gear are resting on temporary platforms. Be careful around the left main gear platform, which is the least stable. The wings, although not yet welded, are securely attached to the fuselage and are reasonably safe. For the time being, there are railroad tie towers below (but not touching) the left wing, and they should be avoided or negotiated with caution. The interior is a bit hazardous in some areas due to a few missing floor panels, so watch your step at all times. You’re welcome to stop by for a tour so long as you read, understand and agree to the safety information and disclaimer as follows. Unless we’re already well acquainted, be sure to contact me to arrange a time before paying a visit. Bring a pair of scrupulously clean slippers, or be prepared to walk in your socks - the aircraft is clean inside, and must be kept that way. Otherwise casual or destitute rural class clothing is best.

Please go and take a look round the chap’s site as it’s chock-full of pictures, information and requests for cockpit bits.

And to think us British had a monopoly on being eccentric.

This really intrigues me.

You see, when I check through my referrals to The Tinbasher, I find a couple a day coming here because they want to know more about building homemade aeroplanes.

A couple of weeks ago I also found two referrals from Boeing with the search term ‘how to bend sheet metal’, or words to a similar effect.

Will somebody please tell me what on earth is going on? There’s one thing in life that I’ve never gotten used to - flying. I’m also fairly sure that I’m not the only one who shares this apprehension.

However, although it doesn’t quite strike the fear of God into me that we have DIYers wanting to cobble flying tin cans together and Boeing possibly unsure as to how to, it does make me slightly more apprehensive.

So, in order to kill two birds with one stone (apologies for the turn of phrase) I’ll send you both over to Kent White, who calls himself The Tinman and is an expert metal worker. This particular article is entitled Aluminum Welding Using Oxy-Fuel Welding on Aircraft Aluminum Sheet.

Maybe that’ll clear a few things up for all interested parties.

One of Kent’s babies.

I don’t know whether this is purely an American thing, but I’ve never heard of anyone making their own plane, but it obviously happens and obviously they do it quite well.