The Virtue of Simple
I had all the best intentions. When I bought my GlaStar, I had hoped to keep some of its very simple nature intact, but...
Mods and Ends
One of the most desirable and intrinsic benefits of building your own airplane under the Experimental/Amateur-Built rules is the ability to deviate from the...
Which Fabric Are You Going To Use?
If you are building a fabric-covered aircraft, you have multiple fabrics to choose from: polyester, Dacron, Stits, Ceconite, Poly-Fiber, Superflite or Oratex. Which one...
My Ten Favorite Tools for Building
A common question on the minds of potential builders is what kind of tools will they need to complete a kit-airplane project. A potential...
Lying to Baristas
The year is 2021. Fear surrounding the pandemic has subsided a bit and the National Championship Air Races (NCAR)—Reno, in short—are back on. Jeff...
Hand Tools: Modified, Made and Improvised
Merriam-Webster defines a tool as “A self-absorbed male prone to wearing a necklace”…wrong one…here it is: “A handheld device that aids in accomplishing a...
AirVenture Notes
Knowing that I’m mainly stealing from the upcoming Engine Buyer’s Guide, it still seems a good idea to fly by some of the big...
A Very Special Oshkosh
This year’s AirVenture set records for attendance, so says EAA. I learned this after the show, but I could have predicted the press release...
Over the Hump
For my wife and me, it was important to have our kids learn a musical instrument. We lost out to sports with our son,...
Fit and Trim
A first flight reveals truths that only air moving over an aircraft’s surfaces can reveal. Will the engine cool properly? Will the cockpit fill...
In Case You Missed It
Ask the DAR
What are the lighting requirements for homebuilt aircraft that will fly at night, and do you need a wet compass if you have an EFIS in your panel?
