Table of Contents

December 2009 Issue

Homebuilt Aircraft Directory

2010 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide

Looking for a new project? This year’s edition of the Kit Aircraft Buyer’s Guide features a feast of 313 kit aircraft models you can build and fly. Compiled by Cory Emberson.

Flight Reports

Bush Hog

How do you say ginormous in Russian? Bush Hog. Ed Wischmeyer flies the E-7 prototype, and finds the development team is on top of things.

Builder Spotlight

Avionics Special: Surfing the Rapids

Marc Cook’s installation of Grand Rapids Technologies’ Horizon HX synthetic vision EFIS is darned near plug-and-play, and works beautifully.

Build a Bear: Put the Fabric in Fabrication

Dave Prizio evaluates the two major fabric covering systems – PolyFiber and Air-Tech – and sets to work, patiently covering his Texas Sport Cub airframe.

The Independence Project: We Start the Finish Kit

The Independence Project presses on, this time tackling the multiple tasks that make up the finish kit on the RV-12. By Dave Martin.

Shop Talk

Aero 'Lectrics

Jim Weir borrows a trick from the world of computers to provide a cool breeze to your radio stack.

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

Barnaby Wainfan brings aerodynamics to life with an illustrated field guide to the various devices seen at AirVenture 2009.

Exploring

Around the Patch

Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook reflects on the past year’s celebration of KITPLANES’ first quarter century, and finds that predictions for the next 25 years don’t come easily.

What's New

CHR International acquires the Safari helicopter kit, formerly known as the Baby Belle. Flight Data Systems unveiled its T-30 digital tachometer. Edited by Mary Bernard.

Down to Earth

Amy Laboda discovers that a newly installed EFIS, six-weeks away from her RV-10 and an acute caffeine deficiency challenge her inner student.

Experimotive

Ben Haas’s STOL Zenith 801, featuring a Ford V-8 auto conversion, made quite a first impression at AirVenture ’09. This month, he tells Rick Lindstrom what makes it all work.

Light Stuff

Dave Martin revisits the Evektor SportStar, and even after a three-year hiatus, he found the Max IFR to be a forgiving and delightful airplane.

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 December 2009 issue of KITPLANES® in one PDF file.

Web Links in this Issue

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.
Video Archive