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Paul Dye

Paul Dye
903 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.

The Test Pilot’s Role

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I was reading a discussion on an internet forum dedicated to experimental aviation the other day, and the topic was gross weight. Someone was...

Dimple Stick

1
How to dimple when you don’t have the room.

Three Vs. Three

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A rare chance to get solid numbers on two new-generation composite props.

Positive Capture

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Aircraft fasteners that are critical almost always have a positive capture design or mechanism.

What Do I Call It?

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According to all of the Facebook reminders popping up on my feed, its been almost exactly two years since I did the first flight...

Turned On—We Fly an Electric Xenos!

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The electric Xenos is a bonafide motorglider. Paul Dye previews the aircraft.

There Are Always Alternatives

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My recent Kneeboard Note on drilling bolts to create lighter weights for prop balancing generated a fair number of responses - all the way...

The Future of Homebuilding: Builders

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If we could magically transport a modern homebuilder back to the 1960s, they would probably be amazed at just how far we have come....

Final Steps to Flight

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Part 4: Overhauling Your Own Lycoming

Hollow Bolts for Propeller Balancing

5
Lighten the steel bolts for dynamic propeller balancing.

In Case You Missed It

Homebuilt Aircraft Directory 2022

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Here we are again with our annual “directory” of homebuilt aircraft that are available...

Checklists: Live By Them

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There isn’t a pilot alive who doesn’t know what a checklist is. There are, however, pilots no longer with us who failed to use one.

2019 Engine Buyer’s Guide

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In search of the good stuff.

Completions

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Builders share their successes.