2010 Plansbuilt Buyer’s Guide If you’ve got the itch to build from scratch, this year’s edition of the Plansbuilt Buyer’s Guide features a buffet of 142 kit aircraft models you can build and fly. Compiled by Cory Emberson. Click Here for the full Table of Contents for the January 2010 Issue
Simple Log Celebrates 5th Anniversary ExperCraft's Simple Log has been providing aircraft builders and restorers a valuable resource for tracking and sharing projects online since its release in November 2004.
FAA Suspends New Certification of Zenith CH 601XL and CH 650 Aircraft The ongoing saga of the Zodiac series took a new turn Thursday, November 12, as the FAA advised Designated Airworthiness Representatives that they could not issue new airworthiness certificates until the applicants could prove the aircraft had undergone modification.
Garmin to Offer Online Training Garmin has announced the expansion of its eLearning computer-based training program and will soon offer training through an online portal. Starting in late November, customers for the first time will be able to access online training for the GPS MAP 396, 496 and 695/696, and the G1000.
Video Brief: Grand Rapids HX Kitplanes' editor-in-chief, Marc Cook, hosts a short segment on flying with the Grand Rapids Technologies' Horizon HX synthetic-vision EFIS. Featuring footage from actual flights, this Video Brief gives pilots an in-the-cockpit view of this stunning new technology.
Garmin's New Touchscreen aera GPS Kitplanes' sister publication, Avweb, has posted a new video on Garmin's touch-screen aera handheld GPS. The bulk of the flight testing was done aboard Kitplanes' editor's Glastar Sportsman. Avweb Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli reports on Garmin's latest offering.
FAA Releases New Advisory Circular Governing Homebuilt Approvals After a lengthy wait and more than a bit of hand-wringing on the part of builders and kit manufacturers, the FAA has finally published Advisory Circular 20-27G, which forms the approval basis for Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft. In the preamble, the FAA says that, "This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to comply certification and operation requirements of amateur-built aircraft." However, virtually…
Lycoming Extends Engine Offer Lycoming Engines has extended its offer to sell customers a zero-time rebuilt engine for the price of a factory overhaul to December 4, 2009. The offer was originally scheduled to end in August.
News from Van's: 3000th RV-8 Kit Delivered, First Customer RV-12 Flies Despite a flaccid economy, the Van's Aircraft RV line is holding steady. Word has come that the 3000th RV-8 kit has been delivered. Tom Carter, of Big Fork, Montana, is the lucky recipient. “The RV-8 was everything I wanted,” he says. “You look out both sides of a big bubble canopy. It can fly like a fighter or I can put it on autopilot and relax on a fast cross-country flight, too."
The FAA Publishes “51% Rule” Committee Findings, But Not Final Rule The FAA has published the final report from the Amateur-Built Aircraft Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that was re-formed in 2008 to take another shot at the advisory material controlling Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft.
Sennheiser Offers Wireless Headset with Purchase Customers who buy any Sennheiser aviation headset between September 1, 2009, and November 7, 2009, will receive a VMX 100 Bluetooth wireless mobile phone headset free.
Fritz Jabiru Flies! KITPLANES Senior Editor Bob Fritz sees his Jabiru J250 Light Sport well and truly launched.
Video Brief: Hlavac Breezy Building a Breezy is a special task for a special person. Meet builder Matt Hlavac in this Kitplanes exclusive video.
Video Brief: Dynon Avionics Kitplanes Magazine visits Dynon Avionics in Woodinville, Washington, to get an inside look at how the company builds and tests its electronic flight instruments.
New Owner for Safari Helicopters CHR International has acquired Safari helicopter, the Experimental kit formerly known as the Baby Belle for its resemblance to the Bell 47.
Roll Your Own Although the KK-1 is scratch-built, builders Ken Scott and Ken Krueger have used all of the modern tools at their disposal to expedite the design and building process. This month, Scott discusses the more than satisfactory results of load-testing the wing and horizontal stab. Avoiding Mayday When a Swissair MD-11 crashed in 1998 just 30 miles from the Halifax, Nova Scotia, runway it had diverted to, the incident quickly attracted the attention of the FAA, pilots and airline passengers alike. As the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada concluded its investigation, it determined the cause of the crash was likely a fire triggered by a wire-arcing event related to an inflight entertainment network power-supply cable. Pondering Powerplants Since the beginning, homebuilders have gazed upon the engine lurking under the cowl of a certified light aircraft and thought, “There has got to be a better way.” Rick Lindstrom looks at several aeromotive engine conversions, from the practical to the semi-exotic.
Zenith STOL CH 750 Changing with the times, Zenith Aircraft has introduced an improved version of a design that debuted some 20 years ago. With a larger payload, more robust landing gear and greater visibility among other features, the CH 750 is tailored for today’s sport pilot; by LeRoy Cook. Headset Buyers Guide, Part 1 Passive noise reduction units under $200. Headset Buyers Guide, Part 2 Passive noise reduction units over $200. Headset Buyers Guide, Part 3 Active noise reduction units. Fly-in Flying Before you venture out to special events, take to prep. The Safe Homebuilt Take these tips into consideration when it comes to safe homebuilding and piloting. Calculating Weight and Balance This lazy man's guide removes some of the headaches. Selling Your Aircraft These tips will help you market your aircraft. Selling Aircraft Documents Prebuy Checklist, Purchase Agreement, Builders Release. Metal Workshop Setup Every great homebuilt starts with a comfortable and efficient workshop. Engine Comparison Selecting a good alternative engine is about separating fact from fiction. Engine Spreadsheets Here's the additional auto and aircraft engine data referred to in the Engine Comparison article. Weight and Balance Spreadsheets Click here to download a weight and balance spreadsheet you can customize for your own airplane. More
News from AVweb
Get an inside look at how Dynon builds and tests its electronic flight instruments.
Kitplanes Magazine contributor Ed Kolano takes a first look at the Sherpa utility aircraft.
In the Pattern Over EAA AirVenture 2009
Video Brief: Aircraft Spruce - the leading supplier for the experimental and kit market.
