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.
Repetition
Repetition is a big part of building an airplane. Fortunately, for many builders, it is also good for the soul.
The New Aviation Rituals
It used to be that anyone who worked on airplanes knew how to time a magneto, clean an aviation spark plug, and safety-wire an...
Just Don’t!
It is always amazing to me how many people simply make things up when working on airplanes. Either they don't know the right way...
Flight Test Note… Check the Screws
It is easy to get wrapped up in the flying aspect of flight testing when taking an airplane through phase 1. We preflight, then...
Dissolving Foam
Last winter, with a storm howling and rattling the hangar doors, I decided to make an intake duct for our Tundra project. The male...
Weight Watchers
There is no doubt that the lighter the airplane, the better it performs and the better it generally seems to handle.
It Flies!
With a fresh airworthiness certificate in hand, pre-fight inspections complete, and gorgeous spring weather (cool with no winds) in the Smith Valley, there was...
Timeless Weather
In 1922, Then-Lieutenant James H. Doolittle flew a DH-4 from Jacksonville Florida to San Diego, California in less than 24 hours. He began his...
In Case You Missed It
All About Avionics: We Came, We Saw
There are seemingly few more mundane tasks than making holes, but there are as many ways to do them, as there are different sizes and shapes of holes. This month, Stein Bruch describes how to cut holes in the panel yourself, using tools you may already have around the shop.
Ask the DAR
Do I qualify as a Sport Pilot if I’m already a Private Pilot? Does the installation of skis constitute a major change? How can I get an N number? DAR Mel Asberry answers these questions.
Brake Turn
My local airport, Corona Municipal in Southern California, sits in the Prodo Dam basin...