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Paul Dye

Paul Dye
908 POSTS 26 COMMENTS
Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 50 years of aerospace experience on everything from Cubs to the Space Shuttle. An avid homebuilder, he began flying and working on airplanes as a teen and has experience with a wide range of construction techniques and materials. He flies an RV-8 and SubSonex jet that he built, an RV-3 that he built with his pilot wife, as well as a Dream Tundra and an electric Xenos motorglider they completed. Currently, they are building an F1 Rocket. A commercially licensed pilot, he has logged over 6000 hours in many different types of aircraft and is an A&P, FAA DAR, EAA Tech Counselor and Flight Advisor; he was formerly a member of the Homebuilder’s Council. He consults and collaborates in aerospace operations and flight-testing projects across the country.

Tune-Up Time

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Like the proverbial frog who doesn’t know that the pot of water is getting warmer, it is easy to adapt to an airplane or...

Always Another Tool

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One of the things I brought back from AirVenture last week was a kit from Flyleds to build two LED landing lights that we’re...

Grandaddy Document

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We’re helping a neighbor friend clean out the hangar of her late husband, and running across all sorts of things that he collected as...

That Looks Familiar

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Quite a few years ago (long before I moved out of Texas), we used to go visit long-time “Ask the DAR” author Mel Asberry...

Escape from Oshkosh

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There comes a time when—no matter how much fun you’re having—you have eaten your limit of brats and cheese curds, and it’s time to...

OSH23 – The REAL Kneeboard Notes

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When I put my occasional musings on the web for KITPLANES, I refer to them as “Kneeboard Notes,” jottings that come to mind as...

Trinkets and Projects from Oshkosh

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Admit it: There’s just no way that you can come back from Oshkosh without something for your airplane, or project, or living room wall!...

The Scalewings SW-51 Evolves

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Scalewings Aircraft (based in Germany) has ben busy since we got a chance to fly their first production kit aircraft last fall, and they...

Donuts Are Essential

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Anyone who has every seen my presentation on Flight Testing should know that along with a trained pilot, good procedures, and excellent weather, a...

Rumors of the Canards’ Demise

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Rumors of the demise of the Rutan canard designs have ben greatly exaggerated. Once the pinnacle of aircraft design achievement, the canard configured aircraft...

In Case You Missed It

Just Call Him Mr. Pylon

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Homebuilt aircraft builder Steve Wittman was one of Americas greatest air racers. By Amy Laboda.

Engine Theory: Forced induction

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Putting super into the intake equation.

Bead Blast for Bond Prep

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Surface preparation is easy if you have access to a bead blast cabinet.

Fuel Injection 101

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Steve Ells immerses himself in the art and science of fuel-injection systems during a weekend course at Airflow Performance headquarters.