Most of us killed the long hours at home during lockdown by cooking, watching TV or playing computer games. The more ambitious （有雄心的）tried their hand at learning a new language or taking up an instrument. However, Ashok Aliseril and his family took on the project of building a plane.
The 38-year-old engineer from Billericay and his wife Abhilasha Dubey, 35, had wanted to buy an aircraft, in which they and their two young daughters could sit. However, on the market, it was too small or too expensive. So their dream hadn't been realized.
Therefore, MrAliseril decided to build one, so he bought all the parts a plane might need online. He began building it in the garden in March 2020,with just the online videos for guidance(指导). Like all worthwhile hobbies, the project took over not just Mr Aliseril's free time but his free space. Once the plane began to take shape, it soon became far too large for the garden. The couple eventually had to hire a larger field, moving the plane in parts. Now, almost two years later, it is finished and ready for approval(许可). If it passes, he and his family will be able to take to the skies.
The plane is red and silver with enough room for the family. Mr Aliseril said that he had spent 1,500 hours on the project. Ms Dubey said her children could not wait to take a flight in the aircraft.
The family hopes to travel to Manchester to visit friends, cutting their journey time by three hours. It usually takes about four hours in the car. They also plan to fly to the Isle of Wight for family summer holidays. Mr Aliseril is a Manchester United fan and intends to use his self-made plane to attend more matches, avoiding traffic jams on the game day.
