The Mountain Home area’s aviation community has added another homebuilt aircraft.
Paul Blankenship of Lakeview recently completed a SkyReach BushCat, earning a Certificate of Airworthiness from the Federal Aviation Administration after about 11 months and roughly 700 hours of work.
The project began in his home workshop and was finished in a hangar at Baxter County Airport.
The light sport aircraft can carry two people, hold 24 gallons of fuel and fly up to 4.5 hours at speeds of 90 to 100 miles per hour.
Blankenship said the build was a group effort, crediting his wife Mona and members of the local aviation community for their support.
A private pilot, Blankenship said the aircraft meets most of his flying needs and is ideal for recreational trips over the White River and area lakes.
He is a member of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 775 and encouraged others interested in aviation to get involved, noting the strong support system among local pilots.
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