Experimental Amateur-Built is an FAA certificate category for aircraft built from kits or scratch by individual builders rather than certified factories. It is the largest and fastest-growing part of general aviation by new registrations: Van's Aircraft RV series alone has produced more than ten thousand flying examples, and the category also includes CubCrafters EX and FX models, Kitfox, Zenith, Rans, Glastar, and hundreds of other designs. Many are powered by the same Lycoming and Continental engines found in certified aircraft; others run Rotax or even turbine powerplants that would never pass certified-category approval.
The ownership case for experimental aircraft is built around two advantages: flexibility and maintenance access. Under FAR Part 43, the original builder of an amateur-built aircraft may obtain a Repairman Certificate and perform essentially all of their own maintenance and inspections — a benefit that can cut annual costs dramatically compared to taking a certified aircraft to an A&P for every squawk. Experimental aircraft can also run non-certified avionics such as the Garmin G3X or MGL glass suites at a fraction of the certified-equipment price, and they can be modified without an STC. The trade-off is that the aircraft cannot be used commercially, and insurance underwriters price the category somewhat differently from certified makes.
The listings below are the aircraft in our inventory whose title or description includes the word "experimental." This captures the majority of experimental-category aircraft — most classified listings note the category in the title or body — but always confirm on the source listing and review the aircraft's airworthiness certificate. For a used experimental, the builder's log is the most important document: it records the entire construction with photos, signatures, and inspection sign-offs, and its completeness tells you a great deal about how carefully the aircraft was built.
