Just by watching videos on YouTube, an Ethiopian man made his own plane

On Asmelash Zerefu's social networking site, people gave him lots of compliments like the Wright brothers in the United States because of their effort to create a plane of their own.

Asmelash Zerefu next to his plane.

It can be said that Zerefu is really a man with a great confidence. This Ethiopian man has suffered many barriers that prevent him from becoming a pilot. Although he had never been on a plane, let alone flying a plane, this amateur aircraft inventor never gave up his dream.

Fifteen years ago, Zerefu decided to leave the school chair to pursue his airplane interest, although his academic performance was excellent, with a GPA of 3.8 / 4.0.

Zerefu planned to leave Alemaya University to apply for an Ethiopian airline practitioner, but was immediately rejected from the parking round. He expressed: " I was rejected, I was not tall enough to be a pilot. I was only 1cm short. "

Zerefu is determined to pursue his plane's passion.

This rejection for many others is probably the end of their ambition to become pilots, but Zerefu is different. He said: " This is my most important moment, this is when I decided to build my own plane to make my lifelong dream come true. That was the year. 2001. "

And since being rejected, Zerefu devoted his life to his aviation ambition. From a person too low to be admitted into a pilot training, Zerefu decided to build a plane from empty hands, and in a 9th poor country in the world.

Zerefu decided to build an airplane from empty hands.

Zerefu had to use up all his brain power to develop the meticulous details of the aircraft. He spent more than a decade studying the books fixing airplanes, surfing the Internet frantically for airplane designs, and learning how to assemble airplanes via Youtube.

And after 10 years of planning, it was time for Zerefu to embark on the construction of Ethiopia's first homemade airplane. After incorporating the design of Clark-Y Airfoil Wing into his design, and referring to a few other aircraft designs, Zerefu began the long and arduous task of searching and collecting. Collect the parts and materials you need to build your own plane.

He said: " I went to collect materials from car garages and mechanical workshops, and at Merkato market - Africa's largest market. I used both new and second-hand goods to build my aircraft. . "

He collected materials from the garage and mechanical workshop to build aircraft.

After erecting his wooden plane, Zerefu attached his plane to the frame of an old Suziki car. The plane had been spent designing and fabricating for months, but once completed, Zerefu simply attached the suit to his existing frame. The body of the plane has been finished and Zerefu is now paying attention to its engine problem.

Zerefu said: "My plane uses the engine of the old Volkswagen Beetle, this is a 40-hp, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder engine and the revving engine can reach 3000 rpm. "

The wooden propeller he built himself was the last necessary technical part he attached. It weighs nearly 7kg, built to withstand the 1,285 cc engine. Then finally he coated a white paint for the plane. The plane was only waiting to be named and was able to take off.

Zerefu spent more than 10 years studying aircraft repair books and learning how to assemble via Youtube.

Zerefu said: " I named it K-570A. K represents my mother's name, Kiros. 570 is the number of days I have to spend to perfect this plane, A represents the aircraft (Aircraft). "

The complete 2-seater K-570A is a light personal aircraft with parasol. This aircraft is designed by Zerefu to be slow and low. This product consumes Zerefu's 160,000 birr (nearly $ 7,000), and it takes him nearly half his life to create this work.

The name of the aircraft is K-570A.

He said happily: " I had to go through a lot of challenges to build this plane, every family around me told me crazy. The plane has also experienced many tests and many errors. "Economic problems are another limitation for me. But despite these difficulties and barriers, I am still moving towards the goal of making my dream a reality. "

His biggest disappointment was probably in June last year, he flew his K-570A for the first time in a real runway. After unusual friction, the propeller broke, the plane's smoke escape structure was broken, and he almost had to rebuild his aircraft.

Simulation drawings of Zerefu's homemade aircraft.

But no matter what, Zerefu continues to be optimistic to pursue his dream so that one day can touch the sky.

Zerefu was advised by an aviation expert about his case, he was advised to reduce the weight of the K-570A. After that, Zerefu followed suit and his plane gradually worked well.

Although Zerefu's plane has not been able to take off, his dream has taken another step. He received a full scholarship to study at the Inholland University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, majoring in aeronautical engineering.

Hopefully, with his efforts, Asmelash Zerefu can fulfill his childhood dream in the near future.