If you love the smell of sawdust, the hum of a bandsaw, and the satisfaction of building every single part yourself, the scratch build route is pure craftsmanship. You purchase a set of detailed Mini-Max plans and source your own materials locally. Every rib, spar, and gusset is shaped in your own shop, giving you maximum pride (and ultimate bragging rights) when you taxi out for the first time.

Pros

• Lowest possible starting cost

• Complete control over material sourcing and build process

• Immense satisfaction from true “built it all myself” status

Cons

• Longest build time

• Requires woodworking tools, workspace, and skills

• Higher chance of re-work if parts aren’t made precisely

Want to skip the part where you source every stick of lumber, sheet of plywood, piece of metal and hardware, but still want a hands-on build experience? We offer kits—either Mini-Kits (one section at a time) or Full Kits (everything in one shipment). Each part is precisely cut and ready for assembly, saving you dozens of hours while keeping the build entirely in your shop.

Pros

• Faster start than scratch building

• All parts cut accurately to factory specs

• Flexible: build section-by-section (Mini-Kits) or go all-in with a Full Kit

Cons

• More upfront cost than plans-only

• Still requires time, tools, and assembly space

If time is your most precious resource, a Quick Build Kit is your shortcut to the skies. We manufacture as many prefabricated assemblies as possible (bulkheads, ribs, brackets, landing gear etc.) so you can focus on final assembly, covering, and finishing touches at home.

Pros

• Significantly reduced build time

• Some major assemblies already precision-built by factory pros

• Less chance for measurement or alignment errors

Cons

• Higher cost than standard kits

• Less “hands-on” for builders who want to make every piece themselves

Come to our facility in Niles, MI, and work side-by-side with our experienced team. We’ll guide you through critical steps, show you tips and techniques, and help you avoid costly mistakes. You’ll leave with a partially completed aircraft you can finish at home—or in some cases, ready to fly.

Pros

• Learn from the experts

• Shorter learning curve, fewer mistakes

• Great confidence boost for first-time builders

Cons

• Requires travel to our facility

• Additional labor cost compared to at-home builds

Prefer to skip the building entirely? We can build your aircraft for you. For ultralights, we deliver a finished, ready-to-fly Mini-Max. For future S-LSA models, we’ll handle the certification and all compliance steps. You simply show up, climb in, and go flying.

Pros

• No build time—fly immediately

• Factory-built to exact specifications

• Ideal for pilots without time, tools, or space

Cons

• Highest cost option

• Misses the satisfaction of a personal build