Sorry I didn't get back to your post yesterday, but YES: Us ol' 1920's geezers actually fly those homebuilt contraptions, which are generally constructed much better than most factory airplanes built by hourly-rate employees. Check out the following picture site, which I haven't added to lately, showing the Challenger II pusher (Experimental N689FM)which I finished in 2005 and also a few other projects I built. Note the idiotic grin of sheer satisfaction in the attached photo, as I tried out the front seat in the bird while building it. Have fun while you can, eh? Best wishes from Ol' Frank
http://photos.toast.net/hezagzr
http://photos.toast.net/hezagzr