Build Your Skills: Fabric

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Who knew there was so much to consider when selecting a fabric for your aircraft project? Cotton or polyester? Light weight or heavy? STCs, TSOs, PMAs, FAA requirements. Poly-Fiber or Ceconite systems? Ron Alexander unravels the alphabet soup and explains how and why each fabric may be the way to go for a specific project.

All About Avionics

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Much of our focus in this series has been on the latest and greatest electronic gadgetry. But traditional instrument packages, the so-called six-pack, have their benefits. Avionics wizard Stein Bruch extols their virtues and explains their vices in this months installment.

Continental Pushrod Tube Modification

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Owners of a certain type of Continental engine, the cam-at-the-bottom variety, are undoubtedly familiar with the annoying seepage of oil from swaged pushrod tubes and rubber pushrod seals. Now there's a cure, and author Ron Darcey describes the fix.

Found From Space

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A technology developed by ham radio operators, called automatic position reporting system (APRS), coupled with low-cost GPS receivers, a decent antenna and the World Wide Web, have made it possible to track light-aircraft flights without incurring access or subscription fees. Yes, you'll need to get a Technician license for radio operators, but thats a minor obstacle if this system is something you want or need to use.

Completions

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Builders share their successes.

Setting Up Shop

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Before you decide you cant build a plane because you don't have enough shop space, think again. After all, as author Bob Fritz points out, projects have been built in apartments. This article wont go quite that far, but it does detail some pitfalls to avoid and makes suggestions about maximizing the ease and efficiency of working in a limited-space environment.

Aero ‘lectrics

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Using LEDs for lighting an aircraft has much to commend it. Low draw, reasonable cost, long life, good visibility. This month, Jim Weir takes us through the beginning steps of building these lighting systems yourself, using off-the-shelf parts and a little ingenuity.

Wind Tunnel

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Pitch is not the only axis involved in making an airplane fly well. Yaw and roll are also important, and this month Barnaby Wainfan turns his attention to lateral/directional stability and its effect on flying qualities.

Turbine Moose: The Ultimate Amphib

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Its said that sailors make good floatplane pilots because they understand the nature of wind on the water. Sailboat racer and pilot Rick Orchard took that sentiment to heart in a big way when he decided to pump up an already large homebuilt (the Murphy Moose) by adding Aerocet amphibious floats and a 550-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 turbine engine.

The Staaken Z-21A Flitzer

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Intended as an inter-war sportplane, the VW- or Jabiru-powered Staaken Flitzer delivers the goods in both performance and agility. These planes may not appear sleek, but they’re a blast to fly.

In Case You Missed It

Editor’s Log

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On with the shows!

Limitless

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Justin Meaders’ racer won gold first time out, embodying its owner’s outlook on life.

Getting a Good Start

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Sonex T-Flight program.

Home Shop Machinist

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Manifold destiny—3D printing a manifold.