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.
Three-Hour Rudder
The trapezoidal box arrived from Mexico (Missouri) a few weeks ago, but we just recently had the time to open it up and begin...
Five-Hour Phase One
Yesterday I completed the shortest Phase 1 flight testing program I have ever done - it was for a neighbor's ELSA RV-12, an airplane...
Old Dog… New Trick?
So I opened a fresh box of Tempest oil filters today, and on top of the filters was the notice that you see in...
Single-seat Economics
I love flying single-seat airplanes. In fact, for pure, unadulterated aeronautical fun, it is hard to beat a single-seater. Since they are generally smaller,...
Necessary Tedium
There comes a time when you realize that your assortment of aircraft hardware has reached a point where you have to hunt and peck...
Six in Six
One of the problems with living in a beautiful western mountain setting is that it is hard to maintain instrument currency. Back on the...
Are you Ready for AirVenture!?
Ok, so maybe you want to wait until your spot in Homebuilt Camping dries out just a little bit... but Oshkosh is a great...
In Case You Missed It
To Launch a Light Sport
Once the spinner was in place, it was time to fit the cowl, and surprisingly simple tools helped along the installation. By Bob Fritz.
Record Opportunities
Disqualified from flying under the U.K.s strict aeromedical requirements, Steve Wood has nonetheless made a life of piloting his own airplane and promoting aviation while acquiring numerous world records along the way.
Worktable Suggestions
I like to use white melamine-faced particle board for my worktables. The tabletops are...