[1] The prototype Fly Baby first flew in 1962, becoming the winner of the Experimental Aircraft Association's 1962 design competition.

It is built from plans and was designed to be constructed in a garage using only basic hand tools, by a person of average "home handyman" skill in 1962.

For example, the fuel gauge is a stiff wire attached to a float poking up through the gas cap (a common application in the 1930s and 1940s, as seen on Piper and Aeronca light aircraft).

[2] Although it is not intended for intense aerobatics, the Fly Baby can reportedly be flown through spins, simple loops, and barrel rolls.

[1] The Fly Baby's wings fold up against the fuselage enabling it to be stored in a single-car garage or a car trailer.

An electrical system is optional; many Fly Baby owners hand-prop the engine for starting, and use a handheld radio.

In the United States of America the FAA categorizes the Fly Baby as an Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft.