Table of Contents

October 2009 Issue

Builder Spotlight

Builder Profile: Fly on One…You’ll Understand.

Matt Hlavac’s open-air Breezy is a simple, fun way to fly … and, oh, the view! By Mary Bernard.

Builder Profile: Fred & Pam’s Great Big Airplane Adventure

Fred Darnell’s Murphy Super Rebel Moose is a real heavy hauler, and a pussycat to fly. By Bill Repucci.

Build a Bear: Taking Stock

The big truck bringing Dave Prizio’s Texas Sport Cub arrives, and the inventory and painting processes begin.

The Home Machinist

All tapped out? Bob Fritz lets you in on his secrets for retrieving broken, over-torqued and stripped screw heads.

The Independence Project: Tackling the Tail

Dave Martin and the builders of Chapter 292 break out the rivet guns and bucking bars, and work on the RV-12 tail.

Flight Testing: Static System Error, Theory and Practice

Flight testing requires precise airspeed calibration and measurement. A less-than-optimal pitot-static system can compromise those numbers. Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem. By Kevin Horton.

Completions

Builders share their successes.

Shop Talk

Shop Talk: V-Block Drill Jig from Scrap

Having problems drilling a precise hole in a tube? Ishmael Fuentes has the perfect–and inexpensive–solution with this nifty, easy-to-make V-block drill jig.

Aero ’Lectrics

If you’ve got sticker shock after shopping for a main electrical system junction box, Jim Weir will ease your pain with a junction box you can build (and a cool color-coding system, to boot).

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

Got separation anxiety? Vortex generators can keep the airflow attached where it belongs. By Barnaby Wainfan.

Exploring

Around the Patch

Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook explodes the not-invented-here myth, and explores what makes our panel equipment ergonomically sound…or not.

What’s New

Belite Aircraft’s prototype meets Part 103 weight requirements; Continental Motors unveils the new O-200 Lightweight Engine for Light Sport and kit aircraft. Edited by Mary Bernard.

25th Anniversary: Engine Monitoring Comes of Age

What’s happening behind that firewall? Marc Cook traces the lineage of engine monitors over the past 25 years.

Buzz Words: Understanding Dihedral Effect

While certified airplanes have to meet Part 23 requirements for positive dihedral, amateur-built airplanes are exempt. Ed Kolano looks into the details of dihedral, and how you can use it to your airborne advantage.

Down to Earth

Music to a mother’s ears. Amy Laboda preps the family Kitfox for her older daughter’s primary training.

Experimotive

What’s in Jean, Nevada? Most of the year, not much. But when the alternative engine crowd comes to town, the place starts to buzz. By Rick Lindstrom.

Engine Beat

Steve Ells explains the science of alternators, and offers some tips for understanding and troubleshooting problems with the system.

Ask the DAR

DAR Mel Asberry clarifies what notification the FAA expects when a prop has been changed. His advice? Treat it like a major mod.

Light Stuff

The Texas Sport Cub is the latest in a line of planes with the venerable Cub lineage. Dave Martin flies one and discusses the various licensing options available.

Kit Bits

Letters

List of Advertisers

Builders' Marketplace

The Classified Builder

Kit Stuff

Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.

Download KITPLANES® in PDF

Download the complete October 2009 issue of KITPLANES® in one PDF file.

Photo by Richard VanderMeulen

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Garmin 796At AOPA Summit in Hartford, Garmin will unveil its latest portable, the touchscreen aera 796. Take a video tour of the navigator's features, which include synthetic vision, enhanced chart functions, and a new touchscreen interface.
par100exKITPLANES talked to PS Engineering’s Mark Scheuer about the new PAR100EX Experimental-class audio panel with a communication radio.
Sebastien Heintz at SNF 2011KITPLANES talks with Zenith Aircraft’s Sebastien Heintz at Sun ‘n Fun 2011.
garmin g3xKITPLANES gets the scoop on Garmin’s developments and rebates for the G3X EFIS at Sun ‘n Fun 2011.
Dynon DX15KITPLANES caught up with Dynon Avionics at Sun ‘n Fun to get a glimpse of the new DX15 handheld com radio.
whirlwind-snip2KITPLANES tours the Whirlwind Propeller factory where the firm's fixed-pitch and ground-adjustable propellers are made, as well as the blades for Whirlwind constant-speed props.
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