First Home-Built Aeroplanes Ord-Hume Arthur W. J. G.

These days anybody can build his or her own aeroplane in their garage or shed but back in the 1930s it was a different story. In 1935 he published a series of articles on how to build the Flying Flea aircraft which created a sensation. Aircraft were considered too complex for the ordinary man, F J Camm, champion of do-it-yourself, thought otherwise and started Practical Mechanics magazine which told the reader how to make all sorts of things at home.

When the Flying Flea was grounded because of mishaps, Practical Mechanics again rose to the challenge with the tiny Luton Minor and told its readers exactly how to make one at home. Although this aircraft was not a success, it sowed the seeds of amateur flying in what today we know as D-I-Y Man. The 1939-45 war stopped everything and when peace returned home-built aircraft were effectively banned until Arthur W J G Ord-Hume,a post-war