Table of Contents
July 2009 Issue
Flight Reports
Chuck Berthe flies the turbine-powered Comp Air CA9, an impressive work in progress. With a combination of a massive airframe and a Honeywell turbine, the CA9 is a heavy hauler that will really scoot.
Bob Grimstead has way too much fun and gets plenty of wind in his face as he flight-tests the plansbuilt Taylor Monoplane.
Builder Spotlight
Designer Spotlight: Lawrence B. Sperry
Amy Laboda takes a look at the life of inventor Lawrence Sperry, whose childhood fascination with a spinning top led to his development of critical flight control systems...and even the aircraft seat belt.
More power! Bob Fritz takes a close look at what makes batteries go, what kind is best for your plane, and how to get the most out of your battery.
Jeff Van West flight-tests two popular EFISes in a Remos GX LSA, and examines their accuracy, user interface and reliability. After all the stones have been unturned, your choice can be simplified: Are you a Mac or a PC?
It’s 90% done with 90% to go! Bob Fritz has a flyable airplane and a semi-long list of things still left to do to improve it.
Builders share their successes.
Shop Talk
Jim Weir uses quarter-wave magic to make a coaxial balun and a VOR/LOC splitter.
Designer's Notebook
Tail stalls have been in the news lately—Barnaby Wainfan dissects this phenomenon, and clarifies what to do and what not to do.
Exploring
Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook takes a moment to put life’s challenges in perspective as Senior Editor Bob Fritz enters the fight of his life with his characteristic positive attitude.
CubCrafters ships CarbonCub kits; Forward Vision’s EVS-100 system will be available in RotorWay Experimental/Amateur-Built helicopters; and MotoPOD will produce cargo pods to haul a street-legal motorcycle underneath the RV-10. Edited by Mary Bernard.
625 exhibitors in 11 exhibit halls? Amy Laboda was up for it at AERO Friedrichshafen, Germany’s extravaganza of a trade show. Engines of all kinds were the order of the day.
Product Review: Wicks Adel Clamp Pliers
No hangar assistants or third hand to wrangle those tricky wiring or tubing installations using Adel clamps? Wicks has come up with the perfect kit to help. By Marc Cook.
Navigation expert Langley R. Muir, Ph.D.’s in-depth study of the SPOT Personal Tracker reveals its capabilities…and what you need to know to use it most effectively.
The Little Bush Plane That Could
Amy Laboda takes a slow flight down Memory Lane. The rich history of the Kitfox over the last 25 years has had its challenges and happy endings.
As Dick Starks rouses the Dawn Patrol, he recalls his aeronautically inspired familiarity with grain crops, and a nimble performance of the “Nieuport Stomp.”
As Lycoming and Continental vie for market share, the two power players are updating and improving long-existing engine designs and introducing new products to meet demand. By Steve Ells.
As environmental regulations and market pressures converge on avgas’ boutique industry, Amy Laboda investigates what’s going on in energy research… and what’s to come.
Do you need to run your engine for the DAR? How does using a certified engine and prop affect your Phase I test period? How about the gray areas regarding dual flight instruction? DAR Mel Asberry gives you the straight scoop.
A bit of Brazil: Dave Martin flies the Paradise P-1 SLSA at the Sebring LSA Expo show.
Attendance may have been down a bit with the slumping economy, but that didn’t stop innovators from introducing new products for homebuilt aviation. A Staff Report.
Kit Bits
Download the complete July 2009 issue of KITPLANES® in one PDF file.
Web Links in this Issue
Follow these links to visit the web sites of companies you read about in the July issue.
What's New
Cub Crafters
RotorWay
Forward Vision
MotoPOD
CompAir
CompAir
Taylor Monoplane
Taylor Monoplane
EFIS
Dynon Avionics
TruTrak Flight Systems
Adel Clamp
Wicks Aircraft
SPOT Test
Independent test of the SPOT system in California by CNET news
Info on 406 MHz beacons
Tests by USA Today reporter in New York
Down to Earth
AGE85 STCs
Light Stuff
Paradise Aircraft
* * *
View Reader Links from previous months:
Table of Contents and Reader's Links from December 2006 to Present
Other Aviation Publications
Aviation Consumer
Aviation Safety
AvWeb
IFR Magazine
IFR Refresher
Light Plane Maintenance
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At 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.
KITPLANES talked to PS Engineering’s Mark Scheuer about the new PAR100EX Experimental-class audio panel with a communication radio.
KITPLANES talks with Zenith Aircraft’s Sebastien Heintz at Sun ‘n Fun 2011.
KITPLANES gets the scoop on Garmin’s developments and rebates for the G3X EFIS at Sun ‘n Fun 2011.
KITPLANES caught up with Dynon Avionics at Sun ‘n Fun to get a glimpse of the new DX15 handheld com radio.
KITPLANES 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.
