The free flight of birds inspired the first forays into manned flight—a perfect example of the concept of biomimicry. Editor in Chief Mary Bernard sees a similar resourcefulness in plansbuilders who look at a set of drawings and create an airplane from scratch.
If you want sound and long-lasting fabric covering, proper shrinkage is essential. And an accurately calibrated iron is a means to that end. Ron Alexander details the process and offers tips on how to avoid damage to the underlying structure during tautening.