Cobbler builds his own aeroplane

A Chinese cobbler who left school with only a basic education has completed a maiden flight in his home-made aircraft.

Huang Jianjun, 34, of Taoyuan county, Hunan province, spent six years designing and building his aeroplane.

"I always had the dream of making a plane for myself," he told the China News Network.

Despite the protests of his family, he gave up his job making shoes in 2004 and started buying and studying aviation books to learn all he could.

Huang poured more £10,000 of his savings into the project and spent the following years collecting parts and assembling them.

Finally he was ready for take off and his plane reached a height of more than 500 metres before returning successfully to earth.

Huang says he is still not ready to find a job and instead plans to continue improving his design and enjoy flying his plane.