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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.

Rites of Passage

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Throughout human history, societal groupings of like-minded people have developed certain requirements for new members aspiring to join their fraternity. Whether it be a...

Tool Migration

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It could be happening right now, while you're safely at your desk or on your couch. It happens quietly, when your guard is down....

Light it Up!

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How many times have you been working in the depths of your aircraft's fuselage, a flashlight in your mouth, and a work light burning...

Mixing it Up

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There are all sorts of things I would like to know, but never take the time to learn - so much stuff, so little...

Point Designs

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Point designs are the answers to a particular, well-defined problem. They don‘t necessarily answer any other problem.

Well There's Your Problem!

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Dan "Nordo" West's 248 mph RV-8 held its place in the Sport Bronze race today, but wasn't able to move up because it started...

Aerodynamic Marvels

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Reno Racers go to incredible lengths to gain a fraction of a mph on their rivals (I know that we use knots as a...

Reno – Right-sizing the Races

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It is no secret to those that attend the Reno Air Races every year that there has been some downsizing in recent years. It's...

Look Ma – No Wings!

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Something changed radically in the shop this past week - a milestone came and passed - and so did those huge long wings for...

DAM!

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One of my earliest "jobs" in aviation was as an unpaid (but compensated with experience and flight time) line-boy/hangar rat. I'm sure that was...

In Case You Missed It

Pedal Power

6
Building a classic biplane for the next generation of aviators. By Tom Brusehaver.

2019 Engine Buyer’s Guide

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In search of the good stuff.

Homebuilt Accidents: Passing the Engine Baton

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How does the Rotax 912 compare to traditional engines used in small homebuilts?

Comp Air 9

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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.