Kitplanes

Flight Reports

Floating The Dream

Rick Lindstrom revisits Canada’s Dream Tundra, this time when it’s on floats. Dream Aircraft Founder Yvan Desmarais spent 10 years developing the prototype for this design, with the intention of building and kitting a better bushplane. Lindstrom says he’s achieved that goal and then some.

Builder Spotlight

Rocket Life

All it took for author Doug Rozendaal to gain additional respect for his F-1 EVO Rocket was a couple of months without it. Even though he didn’t have to go cold turkey and had other airplanes to fly, they weren’t the same. He offers an appreciation for airplanes with that fighter feeling.

Two Years to Solo

Ken Pollock did not come by his interest in flying in the usual way. His father was the first to want to learn, but then when he changed his mind, his son took up where Dad left off. All this despite the fact that Ken had broken his neck in a car accident, and had no use of his legs, and little use of his arms and hands.

What's the Future of Homebuilding?

Some builders of Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft are builders in name only, deferring primary construction of the aircraft to the pros. So concluded the FAA, which is determined to clamp down on those who would flout the 51% rules. What does it mean to “regular” homebuilders? Those who are building now will be unaffected, but for future builders, the FAA’s guidance revisions could be significant.

You've Got to Start Somewhere

Many of those who attend the big airshows, Oshkosh AirVenture or Sun ’n Fun, for example, stroll right past the buildings where would-be builders are trying a building technique on for size. Not so our intrepid contributor Cory Emberson, who got a schedule, circled three sessions of interest, and not only completed each class but lived to write about the experience.

Completions

Builders share their successes.

Unusual Attitude

Guest columnist Bob Collins takes on those who would rush the airplane building process in the name of “getting real” about the project. To him, the journey is as important as the destination, and he believes he has his priorities straight when he occasionally puts family and friends ahead of spending an extra hour or two in the garage.

Shop Talk

The Home Machinist

Using a real computer-assisted design (CAD) program to design your panel has multiple benefits. It’s a three-dimensional rendering, which means that you can “plug in” various avionics units to see if they fit, allowing you to test-fly your design. Once the design is finalized, it can be sent to a laser shop that will create a precisely cut panel from your drawing.

Aero 'Lectrics

Jim Weir continues the project he started last month as he attempts to bring a little intermittence to a homemade tone generator so that it will go beep, beep instead of one long beeeeeeeeep when alerting you to an out-of-norm condition.

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

This month Barnaby Wainfan turns his attention to the control system and how various aspects such as linkages, the elevator planform and tail aspect ratio, and trailing-edge treatments affect pitch control.

Exploring

Around the Patch

Editor in Chief Marc Cook was skeptical early on about using the Primary Category to address the problem of over-reliance on commercial builder assistance. But further consideration made him think it may have a role to play in the FAA’s revised guidance.

What's New

Two RANS kits return to production, Aircraft Spruce offers the Castleberry electric attitude indicator, and two Six Chuter SLSAs are certified.

Survival of the Smartest

Surviving an emergency or crash landing in a remote area is just the beginning of staying alive long term. Thinking about what you might need and equipping yourself adequately for the type of flying you intend to do are essential to making it until help arrives.

North to Alaska

When faced with the choice of going commercial or flying his RV-6 to Alaska, author Ken Scott opted to be pilot in command. Having never flown his plane on trips long enough to require an en-route fuel stop, he figured it was time. What ensued was the trip of a lifetime, with scenery only Alaska can offer, glimpses of aviation history, and flying challenges tempered by friendly encounters with the “natives.”

Dan's World

Sometimes it’s surprising to see homebuilt aircraft kits languishing in garages or hangars or workshops. Especially the quickbuilds, which raises the question of whether there’s something about buying a QB kit that leads to procrastination. Columnist Dan Checkoway ponders the question, looking to his own experience for an answer.

Light Stuff

Now in its fourth year, the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, aka Sebring Expo, continues to grow, and presents a golden opportunity for Light Sport aircraft enthusiasts to see the latest and greatest additions to the category. Jim Lauerman of Avemco Insurance was also on hand to present a forum about insurance for LSAs.

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Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.