The perception of homebuilders and certainly homebuilt aircraft has evolved from the "crazy outsider" stages to the corporate giant phase and now we all stand to reap the benefits, hard won by an adventurous minority - minority, that is, until you step foot into Sun 'n Fun. In the beginning of the homebuilt movement, you could get plans for an airplane that would be built entirely from raw materials that you purchased and by your own hands. The design may have been wood and fabric, tube and fabric, foam and fiberglass. You might attach to the front end a VW engine that you sawed in half and - after a few years labor - fly off in your new baby at 50 or 80 MPH. That hasn't changed, but today, the range of possibilities has increased substantially. Today, you can buy what looks like an almost-finished airframe, acquire professional builder's assistance, strap a turbine onto your craft and set out on a 1,000 mile cross-country at 250 KTAS. Still, the evolution goes farther. Cirrus Designs, Lancair International and Zenith are just a few of the "kitplane" manufacturers who've turned the corner by turning out finished "turn-key" products that (unlike some of their other products) actually come with their very own FAA type certificate and fly upon delivery. These new products have invigorated a stagnant general aviation market and from the mocking faces of good-ole Piper, Cessna and Beechcraft drivers, a new generation of expressions can be seen - and it's usually a bit greener. Still, there's more to the market shift than a more accepting public.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/air-shows-events/sun-n-fun-2001-hot-fun-in-the-sunshine