Paul Dye
Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 40 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.
Is That Bolt Hollow?
Why yes…yes it is!
One of the clever inventions we ran into at AirVenture this year was on display at the Click Bond booth. Click...
A Clever Gadget
One never stops learning! Although I have been working on airplanes most of my life, I still smile when I get to learn something...
Power up!
Boy, I am enjoying building "simple" for a change. Most of my airplane projects are fairly complex machines with multiple EFIS screens, IFR capability,...
Smoke Season in the Sierra
It's that time of year in the western United States--smoke from wildfires reduce the visibility in the mountains for the usual 100+ miles to...
Long Spar – Meet Big Squeezer!
One good reason to make lots of friends when you get in to homebuilding--sooner or later you're going to need a special tool, and...
Not Your Father’s David Clark
While I generally use very lightweight in-the-ear headsets these days (because they allow me to wear floppy hats in my bubble-canopy airplanes) there is...
Early or Late?
Long before I wrote for aviation publications, I was doing testing—of airframes, engines, avionics, and accessories. Flight test was my field, and I have...
New Adventure in Avionics
Anyone that has followed my airplane projects over the years probably has figured out that I love to work with new avionics. I am...
Overnights
"Time to spare--go by air!" That old nut has been around since the days of early airlines that were hardy what you'd call reliable--and there are many that would say it is still true for airline travel today. Where it really has a grain of truth, of course, is when you are talking about light General Aviation aircraft, and most experimentals fit into that category.
In Case You Missed It
Go With the Flow…
When you build your own airplane, you get to design the cockpit you've always wanted, from the ground up. But facing that blank slate can be challenging and calls for a thoughtful approach.
Light Stuff
Although Van’s has been a top-selling kit manufacturer for years, the company’s foray into the SLSA (factory-built Light Sport Aircraft) market with the RV-12 has proven to be challenging—and the airplane may not ever be sold ready-to-fly. By Dave Martin.
Design Process: The Rudder
The fixed portion of the vertical tail of an airplane provides directional stability. The...
Kitfox Super Sport Series 7
Marc Cook flies the capable ready-to-fly Kitfox Super Sport Series 7 SLSA, and spotlights owners John and Debra McBean’s deft handling of the company in a crowded market and rocky economy.