Kitplanes

Homebuilt Aircraft Directory

2009 Engine Buyer’s Guide

In Part 4 of our Annual Buyer’s Guides, we present a variety of aircraft engines, among which are alternative engines and engines in development. Compiled by Julia Downie.

Flight Reports

ViperJet Redux

Before you think to yourself, “I couldn’t afford that, let alone fly it” relax a little and let your imagination run wild. The ViperJet offers glove leather interior, rosewood inlay, and performance to spare. Doug Rozendaal completes the picture.

The Eagle Takes Off

Precision Airmotive’s Eagle EMS brings electronic management to traditional aircraft engines for nearly “turn the key and go” flying. By Marc Cook.

Builder Spotlight

All About Avionics

More and more pilots are installing all-inclusive engine monitoring equipment in their aircraft, and, fortunately, today’s monitors are dully reliable. By Stein Bruch.

Roll Your Own

Weight and balance, taxi tests, first flights and debriefings. This is what it all comes down to when you design and build a one-of-a-kind Experimental aircraft. Happily, the airplane lives up to its builders’ expectations… and then some. By Ken Scott.

Build Your Skills: Fabric

Most of the hard work is done, and it’s time for dope. First, pick the right spray outfit, next find a clean, well-ventilated work area and finish your surface preparation, and then you’re ready to spray. By Ron Alexander.

To Launch a Light Sport

Once the spinner was in place, it was time to fit the cowl, and surprisingly simple tools helped along the installation. By Bob Fritz.

Completions

Builders share their successes

Shop Talk

AeroLectrics

If you need a horn to sound when the airspeed drops below a certain level or when the power is cut and the landing gear is still up and locked, an electronic circuitry solution is the lightest, most reliable and most cost-effective way to go. By Jim Weir.

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

An airplane’s horizontal tail is critical to stabilizing the airplane in pitch, trimming out pitching moments caused by the wing and providing control power for maneuverability. By Barnaby Wainfan.

Exploring

Around the Patch

Whenever he’s out and about (or in and on the phone), Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook fields questions from pilots wanting to know the best way to run an engine. His advice? Keep it simple.

What’s New

Among the new products this month are personalized wheel chocks, a new online panel planner from Aircraft Spruce, a flexible TIG welding kit, and Britta Imports’ RV faring and dimmers.

25th Anniversary: Loran and GPS take over

Today’s GPS technology has largely supplanted loran as a navigational aid in Experimental aircraft, and that’s not a bad thing. By Marc Cook.

Ask the DAR

As a builder gets ready for his airworthiness inspection, he wonders if he can hire a DAR who is familiar with his design but lives in another state. And what if your airplane doesn’t pass inspection? By Mel Asberry.

Light Stuff

Cub look-alikes have been popular for years, and CubCrafters’ Sport Cub S2 SLSA holds its own against the competition. By Dave Martin.

Kit Bits

Contributors

Letters

List of Advertisers

Builders' Marketplace

The Classified Builder

Kit Stuff

Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.