Magazine

Builders share their experiences.

This month Home Machinist Bob Fritz answers readers letters and passes along some of their better ideas.

Columnist Jim Weir puts two, two, two LED lights in one hole, angled to ensure the maximum nav light visibility in any direction. He explains how to put the system together and explains why heat matters.

The discussion of lateral/directional stability continues with an examination of dihedral effect and the effect of roll;

Test pilot Chuck Berthe flew the Arion Lightning not once but twice, in two different factory demonstrators.

The BD-5's reputation precedes it: long in development, company bankruptcy, investor losses, challenging to fly, early accidents. With an introduction like that, who would think this micro plane would be such a positively straightforward blast to fly?

Velocity Aircraft has been acquired by Rocket Racing Group, and Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook discusses the implications for the company specifically and the industry in general. Also, Dick Starks has a new book out that regales readers with tales of his wacky Dawn Patrol adventures.

The first diesel-powered LSA debuts from IndUS Aviation, Stafford Manufacturing offers a variety of mounting collars, and AirGator improves its handheld electronic flight book (EFB).

Were all used to the standard red canister fire extinguisher, often encased behind glass, that we've grown up with at school, work and at home. But the need to put out flames in racecars has brought about a new generation of extinguishers, suitable for aircraft, which offers effective protection in a small and attractive package.

Columnist Dan Checkoway appreciates the flexibility of owning a homebuilt rather than a certified aircraft. On a recent condition inspection of his RV-7, he detected small cracks in the front spar of the horizontal stabilizer. A week later he was working on replacing it, without any intervention from the FAA.