Flight Reports Grinvalds Orion Jean Grinvalds’ plansbuilt four-seat pusher design was ahead of its time, predating the Bede BD-5, VariEze, Prescott Pusher and Cirrus VK-30. By Geoff Jones. Builder Spotlight Meet the Grizzly AeroTek Aviation’s Beaver-size amphibious kit airplane, the Grizzly, showcases the company’s 550-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine conversion, which has also flown in the Murphy Moose. By Ed Wischmeyer. Shockwave There’s a new anti-icing option for high-end Experimental/Amateur-Builts. It’s called Therm-X. By Jack Cowell. Air Power The art of porting cylinder heads, whether by hand or by CNC machine, is a valuable part of blueprinting detailed engine builds or overhauls, and surprisingly subtle changes can determine how efficiently the engine will breathe. By Tom Wilson. The Home Machinist If you need to send a part out to be built by a professional shop, a good drawing, well identified, is essential. The KISS principle applies, and be sure you don’t request closer tolerances or more exotic materials than you really need, or it will cost you. By Bob Fritz. To Launch a Light Sport This month builder Bob Fritz searches for a better alternative to last-century circuit technology for his panel and finds it in a Polyfuse. Build Your Skills: Fabric Everyone could use a little sunscreen, and the fabric on a fabric-covered aircraft is no exception. This month’s installment, the last in the series, discusses pre-paint protection to minimize sun damage. By Ron Alexander. Completions Builders share their successes. Shop Talk AeroLectrics The subject this month is Schmitt triggers and digital gates, which can be employed for a variety of purposes in homebuilt aircraft including use with switches and sensors or panel lighting. By Jim Weir. Designer's Notebook Wind Tunnel Aerodynamics Engineer Barnaby Wainfan dissects one of the most common and possibly least understood flight maneuvers: turns. Exploring Around the Patch Recent casualties in the kit-aircraft universe including AirlinkTECH, Pillar Point Avionics and Superior Air Parts reduce services available to builders and potentially eliminate some healthy competiton. By Marc Cook. What’s New The 6000th RV flies, there’s a new quick reference checklist for Garmin portable units, and a new engine mount for Rotax engines is available. Edited by Mary Bernard. AirCam Adventure When a former editor of KITPLANES gets an invitation to fly with a group of AirCam pilots to the Bahamas, resistance is futile. By Dave Martin. 25th Anniversary: Builder Assistance Builder-assistance programs continue to grow and change to accommodate both builders’ needs and FAA regulations. By Mary Bernard. Ask the DAR This month our DAR answers questions about the size and placement requirements for N numbers on Experimental aircraft. By Mel Asberry. Anywhere Map Travel Companion Bob Fritz takes Anywhere Map’s new PDA Travel Companion for a test ride, and discusses what features are winners and what comes up short. Down to Earth How do you build and fly a homebuilt aircraft while still maintaining a good relationship with spouse and family? That is the question, and Amy Laboda offers some answers. Light Stuff It’s two aircraft in one: The Jabiru J230 is being sold both as a kit and as a Special (factory-built) Light Sport Aircraft that’s ready to fly. By Dave Martin. Kit Bits Contributors Letters List of Advertisers Builders' Marketplace Kit Stuff Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha. Download KITPLANES® in PDF Download the complete April 2009 issue of KITPLANES® in one PDF file.
Follow these links to visit the web sites of companies you read about in the April issue.
KITPLANES' exclusive video highlighting the Europa Monowheel built by Kim Prout. His Europa is one of the highest-time examples in the U.S., and amply shows off the superb combination of agility and utility.
In this exclusive KITPLANES video, we get the low down on the new Garmin G3X with synthetic vision.
CubCrafters' Carbon Cub EX may look old-timey on the outside, but it's high-tech on the inside, not just in the materials used but in the production processes.
KITPLANES sits down with Advanced Flight Systems' founder Rob Hickman to examine his new synthetic-vision EFIS.
JPI's Lance Turk explains the features of the new JPI EDM-740.
Ever wonder what it takes to be the largest kit manufacturer in the world? KITPLANES editor Marc Cook takes a tour of Van's Aircraft in Aurora, Oregon.
Flight Reports
