Kitplanes

Flight Reports

Arion Lightning

Test pilot Chuck Berthe flew the Arion Lightning not once but twice, in two different factory demonstrators. The first flight raised concerns about the trim system and longitudinal stability, while the second flight (months later) impressed with improvements to the trim system and the consequent betterment of the airplane’s handling characteristics.

Builder Spotlight

Designer Spotlight: John Thorp

John W. Thorp has had a profound influence on both homebuilding and on aviation in general. If you’ve flown Piper Cherokees or know of the all-flying tail, you’re familiar with his design principles, and his T-18 is still a favorite worldwide; by Amy Laboda.

Build Your Skills: Fabric

This month, fabric expert Ron Alexander discusses attaching the fabric to the aircraft parts using either a pre-sewn envelope or individually cut pieces of fabric. The process is optimized for strength in flight as well as aesthetic appeal.

All About Avionics: Cutting The Metal

Here’s something to ponder: By the time you get to the point where you are ready to build the panel in your homebuilt aircraft, you’ve already mastered many of the skills and techniques you’ll need to do it by virtue of completing the airframe. That statement is all the more credible when it comes from someone with a vested interest in the subject, our own avionics expert Stein Bruch.

To Dream The (Almost Impossible) Dream

Almost from the beginning of aviation, the idea of a plane you could drive/car you could fly has captured both the popular imagination and the hearts of some dedicated experimentalists. The dream remains alive, and realization, the author says, is fettered only by the lack of willing investors; by Murry L. Rozansky.

To Launch A Light Sport

Author Bob Fritz got the bad news that he would likely not pass his FAA medical and was faced with a choice: Finish the RV he was working on and resign himself to flying with a partner, or try to find a suitable Light Sport Aircraft that he could build and fly solo. In this first installment in the series, he details his search for the right design and reveals the decision he ultimately made.

Completions

Builders share their experiences.

Shop Talk

The Home Machinist

This month Home Machinist Bob Fritz answers readers’ letters and passes along some of their better ideas.

Aero 'Lectrics

Columnist Jim Weir puts two, two, two LED lights in one hole, angled to ensure the maximum nav light visibility in any direction. He explains how to put the system together and explains why heat matters.

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

The discussion of lateral/directional stability continues with an examination of dihedral effect and the effect of roll; by Barnaby Wainfan.

Exploring

Around the Patch

Homebuilt aircraft manufacturers are sometimes reluctant to admit that they have created a less than perfect design, let alone offer a fix. Arion Aircraft’s Nick Otterback is bucking that tide; by Marc Cook.

What's New

Cub Crafters introduces a Carbon Cub kit, a new study of LSAs may affect insurance rates, and AeroLEDs offers new LED anti-collision/landing lights; edited by Mary Bernard.

Down to Earth

A month after the engine was first started on the RV-10, author Amy Laboda and her husband, Barry Marz, scheduled a visit from DAR Ray Howell, received the airworthiness certificate, and commenced ground runs. It sounds simple, but so much effort went into getting that little piece of paper.

Light Stuff

As Light Sport Aircraft become more popular, so too will the desire to learn more about maintaining one of the most common engines used in these designs, the Rotax four-strokes. Columnist Dave Martin goes back to school to learn about routine Rotax maintenance as well as safe operation of the popular engine.

Kit Bits

Contributors

Letters

List of Advertisers

Builders' Marketplace

The Classified Builder

Kit Stuff

Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.