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.
A Quaint Little Place—With History!
Riverside Municipal Airport is home to numerous flight and maintenance schools, and is what most people would think of if you referred to as the Riverside Airport. Most, but not all. For pilots in the know, a quaint little field a few miles away is almost considered "Oshkosh West."
Yes, you can…maybe!
Can I use my experience in building an airplane as the basis for getting my Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic's certificate?
First Fly-in of Spring
Despite the forty feet of snow in the mountains above our home, despite this week's northeastern snowstorm, despite the fact that it is mid-March...
Adding Rigor
Getting some formal training is always beneficial, whether it is in the air or on the ground, because we should always keeping learning. Whether you decide to make the leap to an A&P certificate after a lifetime of working on airplanes, or simply attend a weekend workshop on aircraft wiring - learning is good, because it opens our minds to the fact that nope, we will never know it all.
First Tires
One surprise that catches many first-time builders who have finished their projects and turned into flyers is short tire life. While some of this...
Choice and Consequences
Our choice was to build an RV-3 - an airplane that we have thoroughly enjoyed for just about 600 hours of flying now. The consequence - an RV-3 has very little room between the back of the engine and the firewall.
Puyallup's Northwest Aviation Conference in Full Swing
We spent the day at the Northwest Aviation Conference, happening this weekend at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, east of Tacoma, and south...
Now THAT's a flow bench!
We paid a visit to Precision Airmotive in Arlington, WA today to check out their facility. Located on the southwest corner of the Arlington...
In Case You Missed It
Early or Late?
Long before I wrote for aviation publications, I was doing testing—of airframes, engines, avionics,...
Easy Blue Plastic Film Removal
A near-zero-effort way to remove the protective blue plastic film from large sheets of aluminum.
Build Your Skills: Fabric
If you want sound and long-lasting fabric covering, proper shrinkage is essential. And an accurately calibrated iron is a means to that end. Ron Alexander details the process and offers tips on how to avoid damage to the underlying structure during tautening.
Firewall Forward: Choosing a Prop for Your Project
Wood or composite? Constant speed or fixed pitch? The choice of propeller should be made just as carefully as the choice of an engine. Dave Prizio outlines some of the important factors to consider.