ADEL — Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy and everyone does it a little differently. Some open online stores, while others open brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Some go all in and invest their lives into a new venture, while others start a new business as something to do on the side. Regardless of the type, entrepreneurs help drive the local economy.

Bill Clapp, owner of Azalea Aviation, started his business to fulfill his dream of designing planes about six years ago.

“It’s my dream to design airplanes,” he said. “(Opening the business) comes from that. I’ve got several designs in my head. And the business is the best way to get to the end of my dreams. No one is going to pay me to fulfill my dreams.”

Now that the company is open, it has officially designed, tested and sold approximately 12 do-it-yourself airplane kits.

The airplane kits are for Clapp’s own design: Saberwing. The Saberwing is a cross country airplane that can be built in 500-1,000 hours.

Clapp designed the plane with the comfort of modern pilots in mind.

“In the ’60s, the average pilot was considered to be 150 pounds and 5-foot-8,” Clapp said. “One of my goals was to make airplanes that fit a lot of different people and also for me.”

Clapp said in the past he has given flights to individuals who are 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, and that planes aren’t built for someone who is that tall.

Since opening, his business has grown significantly, Clapp said. In the last three years, the company has added a second location at the Cook County airport, 18,000 square feet of additional work space and four new employees.

The Adel move occurred because Clapp wanted to do more than sell kits. He wanted to help his clientele build the airplanes, maintain them and the Cook County Airport was accommodating to his requests.

And while the business still has an office in Valdosta and is named after the Azalea City, Clapp found the Valdosta Airport would have been too busy to accommodate his business.

Clapp said there isn’t as much air traffic in Adel, which benefits his clients.

“This airport was pretty empty as far as activity,” he said. “We wanted to be a business about experimentation and (general aviation) pilots.”

Currently, Clapp has about five different designs for the Saberwing in his mind. Each design represents a different category of plane. One will have a lower top speed and another is a glider. He plans to slowly release the new designs during the next few years.

Right now, Clapp is looking to expand the business and begin marketing his kits.

As it stands, when a kit is sold, it is delivered in pieces. Clapp wants to be able to deliver the plane all at once.

To do this, he will need to buy pieces and parts in bulk rather than as they are needed, he said. But buying in bulk requires more capital.

So, Clapp is looking for locals to invest in his business.

“Really, right now, we are looking for local capital investors to help us get to the next step, to reach that next growth point,” he said. “We want to keep it local.”

Clapp said he wants to keep the money local even though he services a worldwide market. Some of his Saberwing kits have been sold in Africa and Australia, he said.

In the meantime, Clapp is maintaining planes, selling kits and designing new planes.

Azalea Aviation is located at 170 Airport Road, Adel, and 3390 Old Staten Road, Valdosta. It is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (229) 834-8996 or visit www.azaleaaviation.com.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.