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.
High Wing Sling on Safari
Our man Paul Dye is in South Africa this week flying the all-new Sling High Wing airplane. The company has pulled out all the...
First Impressions of the Sling High Wing
Our man Paul Dye is in South Africa this week flying the all-new Sling High Wing airplane. The company has pulled out all the...
Sling Aircraft Tour: Keeping the Pipeline Flowing
Our man Paul Dye is in South Africa this week flying the all-new Sling High Wing airplane. The company has pulled out all the...
A Boot “What’s-it?”
While trolling through the bins of assorted parts and treasures at the B&B Airparts booth today, we ran across this odd piece of rubber...
Teaching Tool
While wandering around Sun ‘n Fun this afternoon, we were stopped by this excellent demonstration of cylinder technology on the table at the Superior...
They’re Not Kidding!
When Sun ‘n Fun posts a warning sign about the local wildlife in Florida, those folks who “aren’t from around here….” would do well...
Preparing for the Wonder!
Sonex Aircraft doesn’t have an official booth at Sun ‘n Fun this year, but they do have a presence—at the EAA tent! Sonex company...
Into Every Show, a Little Rain Must Fall
It seems that no week in April can go without at least one thunderstorm in central Florida and this week was no exception. Although...
Challenge: What’s-it?
You can find dang near anything at a fly-in (with vendors) the size of Sun ‘n Fun. For instance there is an aircraft surplus...
In Case You Missed It
Wind Tunnel
When is an airplane in trim? At least to the pilot, the airplane is trimmed when no stick force is required to maintain equilibrium. So how do we achieve this? Barnaby Wainfan explains any number of ways to go about it, including the use of trimtabs, spring systems, sparrow strainers and variable incidence tails.
Comp Air 9
Chuck Berthe flies the turbine-powered Comp Air CA9, an impressive work in progress. With a combination of a massive airframe and a Honeywell turbine, the CA9 is a heavy hauler that will really scoot.
Editor’s Log
Editor Mary Bernard introduces the new “Build It Better” series by Paul Dye and praises Kitfox Aircraft for its ongoing development efforts.