Table of Contents
January 2012 Issue
Buyer's Guide
The 2012 Plansbuilt Buyer’s Guide features 138 designs for those who prefer the challenge of building an aircraft from scratch.
Flight Reports
The Steen Skybolt is a fabric-covered, wood-ribbed biplane that is built for aerobatics—and doesn’t disappoint. By Ed Wischmeyer.
Builder Spotlight
Wendell and Martha Solebee’s experience in the automotive restoration business came in handy when it was time to prep their Lancair Evolution for paint. By Dave Prizio.
Electrical components ahead of the firewall are crucial to the operation of the engine and aircraft systems. Stein Bruch presents a primer on wiring these vital elements of your electrical system.
Mel Asberry looks at who can and cannot sign off on homebuilt aircraft inspections.
Veteran A&P Steve Ells explains the basics of setting up and organizing your home workshop, and the tools you’ll need to complete and maintain your project.
Designer's Notebook
Barnaby Wainfan explains the challenges designers face in creating viable STOL aircraft.
Exploring
Editor Mary Bernard discusses the reward of simplicity that a homebuilder can find when building from plans.
ZuluLog offers a pilot logbook for Android devices, Zenith and UL Power announce a firewall-forward kit for the CH 650, and Garmin introduces the aera 796, its new flagship portable navigator.
Marc Cook reminisces about the hours of enjoyment he found working on his GlaStar Sportsman.
Van’s Aircraft founder Richard VanGrunsven considers flight safety, and how improving our building and piloting skills would do more to reduce the number of mishaps than additional regulations would.
Electric Light Sport Aircraft are few and far between, owing primarily to the heavy batteries eating into LSA weight restrictions. The Alternair Amp is poised to change all that. By Dean Sigler.
Homebuilt aircraft played a key role in bringing aid to the Bahamas after Hurricane Irene. Amy Laboda explains how you can join in future relief efforts.
Interested in ultralights? Roy Beisswenger explains what is available and how to make the right choice for your needs.
The words “test pilot” conjure images of steely-eyed derring-do, but the reality is often a world away from all that. By Paul Dye.
Kit Bits
List of Advertisers, Builders' Marketplace and the Classified Builder.
Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.
Download the complete January 2012 issue of KITPLANES in one PDF file.
What's New
ZuluLog
Zenith Aircraft
Garmin
Steen Skybolt
Steen Aero
Lancair Evo 4
Lancair
All About Avionics
Battery Tender Jr.
Maintenance Matters
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
Avery Tools
Aviation Tool Supply
Brown Aviation Tools
Harbor Freight
Plane Tools
Snap-On Tools
Summit Racing
U.S. Tool
Alternative Energies
Alternair, Inc.
CHAdeMO charging systems
eXtreme Capacitors, Inc.
LaunchPoint Motors
Down To Earth
Bahamas Habitat
Charities that need help from pilots
View Reader Links from previous issues
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Diesel engines are beginning to make tiny inroads into the Experimental aircraft market, although they're a ways from gaining market share. At the Aero show in Friedsrichshafen, KITPLANES saw an interesting three-cylinder model from a company called FlyEco.
New side-by-side testing by Rotax reveals that the 912iS yields substantially better fuel economy than the company originally claimed. In this exclusive KITPLANES video, Rotax's Alexander Mitter reveals the test details.
We get a detailed look at Garmin's new G3X package. Paul Bertorelli talks to Garmin's Jim Alpiser at the Aero show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
At Sun 'n Fun 2013, KITPLANES editor Paul Dye flew his RV-3 into Lakeland. In this video, he gives us a tour of the airplane's unique design and construction.
Superior Air Parts is showing the new XP-400, a 215 hp variant of the popular four-cylinder powerplant.
Zenith Aircraft introduced a new version of its CH750, the Cruzer. It's intended to be faster than the STOL version of this airplane.
