Upcoming in Home Machinist
The Wright brothers were first with powered flight. But who supplied the power? Without Charlie Taylor, 1903 would have been just another year of...
Video: Lancair Evolution Makes First Flight
Lancair International sent us this video of the first flight of the turboprop Evolution, which took place on Friday, March 21. Well-known test pilot...
Amy's RV-10: Is This Builder's Remorse?
Was he just contemplating his work, I wondered, as I walked toward my husband, who was sitting catatonic in a green plastic chair in...
Marc's Sportsman: The Second “Annual” Begins
I snuck out to the hangar in late February to make a simple modification to my Glastar Sportsman and inadvertently began the annual condition...
RANS Chaos and Sakota Aerobats Are Back
Due to popular demand, the RANS S-9 Chaos and S-10 Sakota midwing one- and two-place aerobatic kit aircraft are back in production, the company...
FAA Issues Emergency AD on Precision Fuel Injection Systems—Experimental Pilots Should...
The FAA on Wednesday announced an Emergency Airworthiness Directive on certain Precision Airmotive RSA-5 and RSA-10 fuel injection servos to be inspected before further...
AEA Advises FAA: Evolution Not Revolution on ADS-B
The Aircraft Electronics Association commented recently on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast technology. (ADS-B employs Mode S...
Tool Tech: Does That Bolt Need a Washer?
Do all bolts need washers? Usually, only two factors are involved. Is the hole oversized, and is the bolt configured to work without the...
Products: Castleberry Attitude Indicator
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty is now carrying the Castleberry Instruments & Avionics attitude indicator, which is an approved substitute for the previously mandated rate...
Commentary: Experimental "51%" solutions—is Primary Category the answer?
In February, when the FAA published the final report from the working group looking at “major portion” guidance, another proposal was floated to help...
In Case You Missed It
Van’s RV-12
In typical fashion, Vans Aircraft refused to rest on its laurels after the RV-12s prototype debut last year, and sought to improve on an already good design. The new production airplane has changed (beyond its color), with a castering nosewheel, toe brakes instead of a grip, reshaped control sticks for better clearance, ground-adjustable seats fore and aft as well as in tilt, and the list goes on. Best of all, this day/VFR machine is still a delight to fly; by Ed Kolano.
Virus Motorglider
Ed Wischmeyer samples the Pipistrel Virus, a versatile Slovenian composite motorglider that can be built or bought ready-to-fly.
Build Your Skills: Composites (Part 7)
Author Bob Fritz explains how to set up a vacuum-bagging operation in your home shop, using readily available equipment and supplies, which will get you great results on small- to medium-size parts. The object is to mechanically squeeze out excess epoxy for a good-ratio part with maximum weight savings and strength.