Mullingar man builds two-seat aircraft in garden shed and prepares for first flight

David Murray with the plane he built himself from a Savannah kit, a project that took two and a half years in his garden shed before being moved to the FunFly Aerosports hangar in Offaly for final checks. Picture: Chani Anderson

When David Murray first told friends he had built an aircraft in his garden shed, they assumed the mechanical engineer was referring to a model toy plane.

Two and a half years later, they are seeing just how much the Mullingar man has achieved as he prepares to take to the skies with the flying machine next week.

David was able to purchase the parts from FunFly Aerosports in Offaly, which has affectionately been dubbed the “IKEA for airplanes".

With aircraft kit prices starting from €31,950, the former mechanic, who has a private pilot licence, says the skies are more accessible than ever before. 

His friends and family were still astonished, however, to see his ambitious project take shape. 

David insists the finished product — an ICP Savannah two-seat ultralight aircraft — was worth all the graft.

“Some people thought I was talking about a model airplane,” David told the Irish Examiner. 

“They were picturing the little ones that get stuck in trees. A couple of people were very confused, asking 'what do you mean you can sit in it?'" 

Their misconceptions couldn’t have been further from the truth. David says he has devoted 600 hours to the build.

David Murray sits in the cockpit of the plane at the FunFly Aerosports hangar in Offaly. Picture: Chani Anderson

“It’s strange to think that this had just been sitting in a box a few years ago. 99% of the aircraft was built in my garden shed. It is built the same way it would be in a factory. 

"This is no different to buying a Volkswagen Golf, only instead of buying the whole car you are buying the parts to make it. I logged every hour that I worked on it. 

"When it comes to a build like this, talent will only get you so far. It’s all about perseverance and that was what got me through.

"It’s really difficult on those winter nights when all you have is a tiny little heater blowing hot air at your feet but you have to just keep going regardless. 

A build like this is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

David is a member of the FunFly Aerosports Flying Club and was inspired to take up flying by his grandmother Elizabeth.

“She took care of me. I think she always had an interest in airplanes. I was taken to all the airshows in Abbeyshrule [Co Longford] in the 90s. I can remember taking in the visuals and the smells and energy of the planes. 

"Country kids are usually into machinery and cars since they like the independence of being able to go places. 

"Because they grow up isolated, kids from rural places often dream of travelling — and flying is the pinnacle of getting around the country. 

"My grandmother, who passed away in 2021, didn’t get to travel a whole lot, which is probably why she had a bit of a thing for airplanes and getting away. 

"If she was still here today she would be so excited to hear that I built my own aircraft. 

"She would also have made sure she was the first to come up in it.” 

David cast his mind back to where it all began. 

“I became self-employed in my early 30s and I had a few quid. I was socialising a bit less. I used to book myself in for a flying lesson on the Sunday morning to keep me out of the pub on Saturday night. 

"My first flying lesson was at the end of 2014. I can remember first going down to the airfield, and being told to come back another day because of the weather. 

"On the way back I stopped off for lunch in a local hotel. A young girl nabbed me to buy a raffle ticket. On the Wednesday I got a call to say I had won a flying lesson. I was nearly crying, I was so ecstatic. 

"I played hurling and football but this was so different to any of the other hobbies I had. That lesson led to lots of other lessons and eventually my licence. 

Mark Brereton of FunFly Aerosports with David Murray in the hangar in Offaly. Picture: Chani Anderson

"My grandmother was very proud. She had everybody told when I was flying. Of course, any plane that flew over her back garden was me.” 

David spoke about his path to building an aircraft. “I befriended one of my flying instructors, Luis, who is from Madrid. 

"I was fixing his car one day and he commented on the way my work tools were all laid out in such an organised and precise way. 

"He got me involved in maintenance at the club. For someone, who I had only known for two years, he had a huge impact on my life. He told me that I should build an airplane. It meant a lot coming from him as he is also an engineer. 

"When my girlfriend was doing her accountancy exams I decided to give it a shot. 

"It’s a super hobby. Having the support of everyone at FunFly Aerosports Flying Club was great because there is always someone to lean on for support. You can add to your confidence throughout the build. 

"When it come to the challenging parts like the electrics and the plumbing you can learn and benefit from the support of others.” 

The aviation enthusiast said he would recommend the pastime to anyone.

“It’s just like doing your garden. It would be a lovely thing to do with your grandson or if you are retired. I have flown a lot but the build is really rewarding.” 

He described the sense of escapism that comes with flying.

“When you are on a Ryanair flight you have no concept of where you are starting and where you finish. It’s amazing to look at a map and fly so low off the ground.

"Flying across the British Channel and seeing England to your left and France to your right is spectacular. You see the ground get browner as the temperature rises and you’re heading South. It’s amazing to see the world in this way.” 

Mark Brereton, an accountable manager at FunFly  who formerly worked as an electrician and for a civil engineering company, said his company attracts people from all walks of life.

Mark Brereton, accounts manager at the FunFly Aerosports flying club in Offaly, painting, sanding, and assembling a Savannah kit plane. Picture: Chani Anderson

“Things were different when I was a child. I had a friend whose father flew airplanes and I would look through the fence and think, 'I’d love to go flying,' but you could never afford it back then. 

"Every now and again his dad would bring him flying. Years later I went to Australia when my friend rang me and asked me if I fancied learning how to fly. I told him that I would, to which he replied, 'That’s great, I have us booked in for a course in France in two weeks' time.” 

"That was how it all started. It’s a really good community. We look after each other because we are all going to be learning together and we are all friends. 

"Most Saturdays and Sundays we’ll go for the '€100 burger'. 

For anyone who doesn’t know what the €100 burger is, it usually involves us flying to places like the Aran Islands to eat a €10 burger which is really €100 when you factor in how much it costs to fly.”