Kitplanes

Cover Story

Texas Sport Cub

The Texas Sport Cub’s combination of classic good looks and today’s technology will appeal to those who are looking to rekindle an old flame or those hoping to initiate a new love affair; by Marc Cook.

Homebuilt Aircraft Directory

2008 Engine Directory

Powerplant developments over the last year have occurred in fits and starts, with many projects not yet reaching fruition. But this comprehensive listing of available aircraft engines will provide food for thought when making one of the most important decisions about your homebuilt project.

Flight Reports

Texas Sport Cub

The Texas Sport Cub’s combination of classic good looks and today’s technology will appeal to those who are looking to rekindle an old flame or those hoping to initiate a new love affair.

Builder Spotlight

Synergy Air Energizes Builders

Thanks to a new course in Oregon, RV enthusiasts have another way to help finish building their airplanes more quickly and get flying sooner.

All About Avionics

Which engine monitor is best? Author Stein Bruch may not offer a definitive answer for all builders, but he details the factors that should be considered before arriving at a final decision, along with tips on how to achieve a successful installation.

Build Your Skills: Composites (Part 11)

Author Bob Fritz offers a middle way to paint your airplane yourself, without surrendering your first born or breaking the bank. Hint: Preparation and the right equipment are essential.

Completions

Builders share their successes.

Shop Talk

The Home Machinist

Taking that first cut into the sheet metal of an aircraft panel can be daunting, and being as precise as you’d like is even more so. Author Bob Fritz eases your anxiety about the process with some tips about how to use the right tool for the right job, so that the hole you get is the one you wanted.

Aero 'Lectrics

This month, author Jim Weir lays the groundwork for a solar battery charger, complete with preliminary circuit board considerations drawn from a “rat’s nest” and details about how to order a pre-fabricated board.

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

Flight testing for longitudinal stability problems continues this month as columnist Barnaby Wainfan details tests for stick force as related to trim and stick-free stability of an aircraft. The object is to gather data and analyze it to see if the hypotheses about the nature of the problem hold up under scrutiny.

Exploring

Around the Patch

A recent announcement that a major manufacturer would no longer be making and selling carburetors came as a shock. Although another company has taken up the challenge and will supply carbs, at least for the time being, this news may be the impetus needed to move more aviators toward fuel-injected power for their homebuilt aircraft.

What's New

Meet a new South African import LSA, read news from Jeppesen about updating your Chelton system, and a paint sprayer/respirator combination unit may interest the would-be plane painters among you.

Down to Earth

When pilot/builder Amy Laboda planted the seed in her husband’s mind that the most suitable next airplane for them would be a glass-panel RV-10, the suggestion was met with something akin to a sneer—despite her sincere offer to help with the build. Still, the project has turned out to be a joint effort, complete with all the give and take one would anticipate in such an endeavor.

Light Stuff

Columnist Dave Martin had the good fortune to be able to tour the new Rotax engine factory in Gunskirchen, Austria, and he offers a report on the trip including a side trip to Salzburg’s Hangar-7.

Kit Bits

Contributors

Letters

List of Advertisers

Builders' Marketplace

The Classified Builder

Kit Stuff

Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.