Following Footsteps
I was an airplane nut for as long as I can remember even though I had no family exposure to aviation. My father was...
Archive: August 1991
Nat Puffer’s Cozy Mk IV was the cover subject of our August 1991 issue. Don Downie caught up with Nat and wife Shirley Puffer...
Length Matters
Last month I wrote about AN washer usage. This month I’ll take on AN bolts—specifically, their grip length. Riveting stuff, huh? No? Somewhat captivating?...
Bad Weld
Sometimes welding should be left to those more skilled in its practice. I don’t think I would trust this repair that was made to...
Light Sport’s Next Steps
At AirVenture this year—just before it, actually—the FAA released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking encompassing MOSAIC, short for Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates. The...
Ranting About All Those &%#@$! Screws
It’s condition inspection time again for the ol’ box kite, hence my grumbling mood. It’s like this every year. I curse the zillion little...
Spinner Bulkhead Clocking
Spinner woes were the topic of midsummer musings on Van’s Air Force this year. Specifically, Bill from Virginia commented how, after getting his Hartzell...
Forever Learning
Way back when I was working for NASA, I used to get mail addressed to “Dr.” Paul Dye, which always amused this college graduate...
In Case You Missed It
Evaluating a Used Engine
How do you decide, without taking an engine completely apart, whether or not it will give you at least several years of good service?
2011 Engine Buyer’s Guide
We take another look at the current offerings of traditional aircraft engines. Compiled by Marcie Moody with text by Marc Cook.