[anonoholic]

Not sure it's fair to call a $120K - $140K† kit (not including the cost of having the engine and avionics professionally installed) "homemade", but still an impressive flying achievement for the 17 year old pilots.

† https://www.airplanefactory.com/aircraft/sling-4-kit/

[stagger87]

Build time is approximately 1300 hours. Even if it is a kit, that is really impressive.

[taneq]

I had the same thought, but if the team of 20 all pitched in equally that's only $7k each. Still not pocket money but it's much more attainable that way. If they got a grant then it could have been even less.

[not_a_cop75]

I'm glad he's able to fly a plane but at this point it really feels like we're cheering on the mid upper class for their accomplishments. I want to see some kid from the slums build a real plane from spare junk yard parts. That would be much more impressive to me.

[stronglikedan]

> but at this point it really feels like we're cheering on the mid upper class for their accomplishments.

We are, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[ohaideredevs]

There is - the kid's parents having money is not his/her accomplishment.

[thaumasiotes]

And we aren't cheering them for buying the kit. Assembling it successfully is significant.

[stronglikedan]

Money doesn't build a plane.

[taneq]

If I could buy my kid an aeroplane I'd feel pretty damn accomplished tyvm.

[burfog]

I was still really impressed by the 12,000km (7,455 mile) trip... until I saw they made 6 stops.

Getting that distance in a little plane would be impressive. Somebody even went around the world, so it can be done. One ends up flying a wing-shaped carbon-fiber fuel tank.

[newyankee]

there was a story like that from India somewhere, but can't find it now