Kitplanes

Flight Reports

It’s a Cub Thing

With a bigger engine and lighter airframe, CubCrafters’ Carbon Cub EX kit aircraft takes the Cub experience to a higher plane. By Marc Cook.

Builder Spotlight

Fixed-Pitch Props

Choosing a prop for your homebuilt is always a compromise that involves consideration of cost, performance, how you’ll fly and more. Still, sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. By Ishmael Fuentes.

All About Avionics: Pitot-Static

While there have been many attempts by homebuilders to make their pitot-static systems better than the rest, the tried and true methods remain sound. By Stein Bruch.

Brake Tech for Builders

Marc Cook talks theory, practice, technology and maintenance with Matco Manufacturing’s George Happ and Grove Aircraft’s Robbie Grove. Consider it a primer for all things brake-related.

Cover Story: Building a Custom Cushion

Learn how to measure, cut and assemble the foam pieces that constitute the seat cushion. By Mike Manning.

To Launch a Light Sport

After being hauled on a trailer down a winding mountain road, the Jabiru J250 unintentionally has its first short flight (at the airport). By Bob Fritz.

Completions

Builders share their successes.

Shop Talk

AeroLectrics

It’s time to revisit the DIY wind tee project—but with improvements fueled by experience. By Jim Weir.

Designer's Notebook

Wind Tunnel

Stall flutter is the result of the elastic axis of a wing’s surface being aft of the aerodynamic center, resulting in instability. A vicious cycle of lift, twist, stall and lift may ensue. By Barnaby Wainfan.

Exploring

Around the Patch

A visit to the CubCrafters factory in a rural area of Washington state can get a guy thinking about leaving big city life behind. By Marc Cook.

What’s New

MGL extends its warranty, Grand Rapids introduces the Sport SX EFIS, Vertical Power has a new system, and more. Edited by Mary Bernard.

Product Review: J.P. Instruments EDM-740

JPI is offering a new compact, capable engine monitor that is built and priced for the homebuilt market. By Marc Cook.

Product Review: PS Engineering PMA5000EX

At its heart, the PMA5000EX is a four-place stereo intercom in an audio panel that supports two each of coms, navs, switching aux inputs, music inputs plus having five unswitched aux inputs and a front-panel input for a music source or cell. By Marc Cook.

What’s in Your Hangar

The FAA’s Order 5190.6B has stirred ire in the hearts of many pilots, developers, aviation-related business owners and airpark residents who see further enforcement of land-use restrictions as unnecessary meddling by the feds. By Dennis Douglas.

Ask the DAR

What are the lighting requirements for homebuilt aircraft that will fly at night, and do you need a wet compass if you have an EFIS in your panel? By Mel Asberry.

The Dawn Patrol

When Sharon Starks’ Airdrome Aeroplanes’ DH-2 replica fighter was ready for its airworthiness inspection, The Dawn Patrol was hoping for a perfect score. By Dick Starks.

Engine Beat

When it became clear that some ECI Titan cylinders were having cylinder head failure problems, the FAA issued an AD identifying the impacted cylinder assemblies. Now what? By Steve Ells.

Light Stuff

The flight-test program for Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSAs) is much different from the one Experimental/Amateur-Built kit builders would employ, but they both require a plan. By Dave Martin.

Kit Bits

Letters

List of Advertisers

Builders' Marketplace

The Classified Builder

Kit Stuff

Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.

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Download the complete May 2010 issue of KITPLANES® in one PDF file.