Flight Reports
Builder Spotlight
Lancair Evolution
Lancair Aircraft is revolutionizing its already successful turboprop line of kits with the new Evolution, a 750-horsepower, Pratt & Whitney-PT6A-powered, carbon-fiber composite, 380-mph four-seater to be available later this year.
Wag-Aero Super Sport
The easy-to-build, high-wing Wag-Aero Super Sport CUBy combines the Cub’s classic looks with modern technology and materials, increasing both maximum weight and payload. Using engines of up to 150 horsepower, the Cub offers great short-field performance, high roll rates and easy glideslope control—a great option for those who can’t afford vintage prices.
A Sign of the Zodiac (Part 4)
Builder Rick Lindstrom’s Zenith Zodiac 601 XL project continues as the Corvair engine is installed and the panel takes shape. Lindstrom selects instruments and avionics for his project and uses templates to plan the panel.
A Futuristic Anachronism
Ultimate experimenter Paul Lipps has used his own homebuilt, a Lancair 320, as a test bed for his many innovations, which include reflexed flaps, an ultra-long pitot tube for more accurate readings, a solar-powered fan for the cockpit, a cowl scoop for ultra cooling of the magneto, extremely close clearances between the spinner and the prop, and a one-of-a-kind propeller.
Build Your Skill: Composites, Part 5
In this series installment, author Bob Fritz takes you through the basics of building a carbon fiber tank, including measuring, layout, patterns, cutting, epoxy-flox application, sanding, sawing, epoxying and finish work.
All About Avionics, Part 6
Whether portable handheld or panel-mounted, GPSes are the wave of the future in avionics, and these units can store and display a remarkable amount of detailed information. With nifty docks, handhelds can perform much like the panel-mounts in the cockpit, yet be removed for use in other vehicles.
Vertical Power
This brand new power management system harnesses CPU power to eliminate the need for much of an aircraft’s wiring by consolidating major electrical functions into a single box. It comprises three units: a display, controller module/panel housing and mag controller. Bundled into the setup are radios, instruments (including GPS, EFIS and engine monitoring) and lights. Each flight phase is broken down into the tasks normally performed manually by the pilot, and the VP-200 addresses them more or less automatically, while also providing override capability in the event of a system failure.
Simple Green
Extreme Simple Green – Aircraft is a new product designed to clean your aircraft safely without damaging finishes. It’s effective in removing oil and other dirt from the exterior surfaces as well as the interior, and is used by Boeing on its family of airplanes. It’s available at specialty stores and aviation supply houses.
Completions
Builders share their successes.
Shop Talk
The Home Machinist, Part 6
Paying attention to the working environment and maintaining machining tools in tip-top shape can yield a more polished finished product, while also making the fabrication process easier.
Engine Beat
Exhaust systems do more than just get air into and out of aircraft engines. Exhaust system design, in terms of exhaust pipe length, diameter and tuning, affect the efficiency and performance of the engine, for better or worse.
Aero 'Lectrics, Part 3
In Part 3 of this series about building an aircraft strobe, the author beefs up the project using off-the-shelf parts to provide a brighter, more frequent flash without running down the plane’s electrical system.
Designer's Notebook
Wind Tunnel
The author discusses the theory and effect of constant-speed propellers on piston-engine airplane performance, and compares fixed-pitch versus constant-speed props, effect on thrust HP and propulsion, the comprises involved in choosing a prop, how props perform in various conditions and phases of flight, how variable-pitch props work, and why a constant-speed prop is the best choice for high-performance aircraft.
Exploring
Around the Patch
Taking a measured, conservative approach to the development of new technologies and basing decisions on real-world experience rather than hearsay is the best way to move forward in homebuilding.
What's New
Drill holes without a template using a transfer, get around an airport with a foldable mobility scooter, auto-darkening smart welding helmets are introduced, and relays can save your avionics.
Builder Liability and You
There are ways to protect yourself from lawsuits when you sell a homebuilt aircraft. These include accurate and complete documentation of the building process, adherence to manufacturer’s instructions during the build, a good record of safe flight over a period of time, third party liability insurance protection and a signed liability waiver.
Light Stuff
The author reviews the Kappa KP-5 LSA, imported by Kappa Aircraft from the Czech Republic. This is a conventional, low-wing, trigear configuration airplane, with a staggered seating arrangement that allows more room for each occupant, while keeping the cockpit narrow. The KP-5 is powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine and a Woodcomp three-blade prop, and has a useful load of 583 pounds. Full-power airspeed is stated as 138 mph. Avionics equipment includes a Dynon EFIS and engine monitor, Garmin GPSMAP 496 and Garmin transponder.
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