Paul Dye
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.
Whither the Weather
A common question for first-time AirVenture attendees is “what weather should I expect during the week?” Well, as a person raised in the upper...
Planning for the Storm—on the Ground!
There is one thing for certain about a week in Oshkosh in July - you WILL worry your way through at least one strong...
The Arrival Show
It’s considered bad form—but a whole lot of fun—to line up five friends along runway 27 at Oshkosh, each with a large piece of...
The Fisk Arrival – It’s Not Magic
People make a big deal out of the VFR arrival to Oshkosh during AirVenture, and of course, I understand why. The “Notice” is 32...
Mental Prep
A funny thing happens to me in early July - I begin to psych myself up for the trip to Oshkosh, and honestly, it...
How They Build Them in South Africa
During my recent visit to Sling Aircraft in Johannesburg, South Africa, to fly the new High Wing on this month’s cover, I was given...
Coping With Fear
Aviation, especially Experimental aviation, carries along with its benefits an intrinsic risk that is hard to completely dismiss.
Top Gun Slinger
One of the best things about going out to visit kit companies—aside from the airplanes of course—is meeting the people that make up our...
In Case You Missed It
Around the Patch
The FAAs John Hickey and Frank Paskiewicz got an earful at the AirVenture forum assembled to illuminate proposed changes to the 51% rule. Although some of the comments ran far afield, many more homebuilders posed thoughtful and challenging questions in an effort to help them understand where they stand with regard to the new regulations; by Marc Cook.
Effect of Fairings on Speed
Compared to the high cost of horsepower, reducing drag is a much less expensive way to go faster.
Build It Better: When 1+1 Does Not Equal 2
Paul Dye explains how to achieve unlike (or dissimilar) redundancy on the various systems in your homebuilt.
Aero ‘lectrics
If you want to keep your paint and other supplies from freezing next winter, try this relay and heater (made to work in conjunction with last month’s temperature sensor project).