Dave Prizio
Dave Prizio has been plying the skies of the L.A. basin and beyond since 1973. Born into a family of builders, it was only natural that he would make his living as a contractor and spend his leisure time building airplanes. He has so far completed four—two GlaStars, a Glasair Sportsman, and a Texas Sport Cub—and is helping a friend build an RV-8. When he isn’t building something, he shares his love of aviation with others by flying Young Eagles or volunteering as an EAA Technical Counselor. He is also an A&P mechanic, Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR), and was a member of the EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council for six years.
Alternator and Voltage Regulator Problems
As everyone moves toward electronic instrumentation, the alternator is taking on a more and more important role. Alternators and their indispensable partners, voltage regulators,...
Torque Wrench Basics
Torque is a twisting or rotational force about an axis such as the length of a bolt. It is measured in foot-pounds, inch-pounds or...
Carburetor Maintenance
Neglect is the biggest enemy of your carburetor. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
Magneto Timing
Checking your magneto timing is part of every yearly condition inspection, but beyond that it is something you should be able to do whenever...
Engine Overhaul Part II – IRAN vs. Overhaul
Back in September 2019, we looked at the process of evaluating a troubled engine to determine just how much work it was going to...
Buying Used: GlaStar
Comprehensive guide to purchasing a used GlaStar, detailing design, engine options, performance, and buyer considerations.
Ed Zaleski 1947–2019
Ed Zaleski was in so many KITPLANES® photos that he should have been on the payroll.
Starter Trouble
A little over five years ago I wrote a maintenance article dealing with troubleshooting starter problems. The gist of the article was don’t assume poor...
In Case You Missed It
Home Shop Machinist: Power Polishing Promise
Back in the February 2019 issue of KITPLANES®, I promised a column about polishing...
Improper and Proper D-Sub Connectors
The connector in the left photo was discovered on the back of an autopilot...
Alternative Energies
Diesel engines, anyone? How about biofuel? More builders are turning to such alternatives in the name of fuel economy, while the industry awaits fuel cells and better batteries. By Dean Sigler.
