Free Flight
Perfection is unattainable for most builders, yet it is what many strive for. Paul Dye posits that sometimes “good enough” may be just what you need to finally get out of the shop and into flying.
The Dawn Patrol
Dick and Sharon Starks help a fellow member of The Kansas City Dawn Patrol ready his WW-I replica aircraft—a Mariner amphibian in 1918 Curtiss Seagull livery—for its FAA airworthiness inspection.
Build It Better: What’s Your Backup Plan?
The word “redundancy” is often heard in aviation, and with good reason. But a well-thought-out backup plan involves more than just having two of everything.
Ask The DAR
DAR Mel Asberry answers a reader’s question regarding the Experimental/Amateur-Built eligibility of an airplane he’s building with parts salvaged from a Cessna 175.
Super Cub Kit Comparison
Super Cubs are beloved by many a backcountry adventurer, and several kits offer options to meet the demand of builders interested in these sturdy workhorses.
Understanding Experimental Light Sport Aircraft
Dave Martin explains the different designations of factory-built and Experimental Light Sport Aircraft and how they continue to evolve.
All About Avionics
Stein Bruch explains how bringing smart phones and tablets, with a bevy of aviation apps, into the cockpit have helped him become a better—and safer—pilot.
Finding the Source
While on a routine technical counselor consultation, Paul Dye discovered hidden treasure: Richard VanGrunsven’s original RV-1. He details a bit about its history and preparations for its planned tour this summer.
Fabric, Demystified and Non-Toxic
Marc Cook takes part in a three-day, fabric-covering course offered by Stewart Systems, learns about the company's water-based product line, and picks up a few pointers along the way.
The Ultimate Upgrade
As Martha and Wendell Solesbee near completion on their Lancair Evo, they encounter the minor setbacks that make the “90% done, 90% to go” expression ring true.
In Case You Missed It
Rotax Factory Tour
Paul Bertorelli takes a tour of the Rotax factory in Austria and discusses the company’s new 912 iS engine and what it has to offer to homebuilders.
Prepare for a Charge
The battery you install in your homebuilt kit will have nearly the same kind...
Light Stuff
This month, Light Stuff columnist Dave Martin briefly reviews the history of single-seat ultralights and predicts their future as ELSAs. Assuming they are neither fat nor too fast, getting the required training may still be a stickler.
Various and Sundry
Awash with ideas and follow-up chores, the writing workbench is looking about as disheveled...