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.
Phase I Done Right
The problem for many pilots is that they really don't know what flight testing entails.
And Out They Come
Drilling out rivets can seem like a step backwards for any builder, but you can also look at it from another direction and realize that if you need to do it, you NEED to do it--and therefore, it is a step forward towards completion, or in this case, in the direction of finishing a repair.
ADSB-Out–Two of Four Complete
Trying to keep number of family airplanes flying and up to date is never easy, and since one or two fly a couple of...
Ninety Knots
My AirVenture NOTAM booklet came fairly late this year, despite having ordered it the day it was available. Not to worry--I downloaded the document...
Torsion
Well, we have a plan for getting our Tundra back into the air, and I think it is a good one--partly because we think...
Grounded! (Well, sorta…)
Continuing the theme of flight testing--one of the hardest things for a builder/pilot to do, especially when their airplane is new and they are...
Tweaks
No airplane is perfect right out of the box--that is, really, why we test them isn't it? Of course, there are lots of kits...
Phase 1 Complete – Testing Continues
With a marathon fight of nearly four hours to gather cruise performance data (take advantage of the smooth air when you can get it!),...
Spars – The Heart of the Wing
I haven't reported much recently on our Xenos Motor glider project, mostly because the past half year the push has been to get our...
In Case You Missed It
Light Stuff
Sport Pilot rules make it possible to fly a powered parachute or flexwing trike at night, but make sure you have the right equipment.
Experimotive
Whats in Jean, Nevada? Most of the year, not much. But when the alternative engine crowd comes to town, the place starts to buzz. By Rick Lindstrom.
Maintenance Matters
Veteran A&P Steve Ells explains the basics of setting up and organizing your home workshop, and the tools you'll need to complete and maintain your project.