Table of Contents
February 2012 Issue
Buyer's Guide
The 2012 Rotorcraft Buyer’s Guide includes 49 designs for those who may be interested in building a kit helicopter or gyroplane.
Flight Reports
Marc Cook reports on the process of developing a new Lycoming O-233 engine package for the Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport and samples the result.
Builder Spotlight
Garmin aera 796: Portable Syn Vision
Garmin builds on its portable product line with two new navigators: the aera 795 and 796. Paul Bertorelli reviews these synthetic-vision capable units.
Paul Dye debuts his new series on the myriad considerations that go into building and flying Experimental aircraft.
Lycoming makes a push into the Light Sport Aircraft market with its new O-233 engine. Though similar in appearance to the venerable O-235, it’s an entirely new design poised to take on some heavy competition. By Marc Cook.
What builders need to know about Light Sport Aircraft Repairman Certificates. By Mel Asberry.
Builders share their successes.
Shop Talk
The FAA provides a wealth of user-friendly information on its web site. Jim Weir takes us on a tour of the highlights.
Designer's Notebook
Learn how wingtip vortices are generated and how wake turbulence can affect your aircraft. By Barnaby Wainfan.
Exploring
Editor Mary Bernard introduces the new “Build It Better” series by Paul Dye and praises Kitfox Aircraft for its ongoing development efforts.
MGL Avionics announces its new XTreme EMS engine monitoring system, the RANS S-19 Venterra has joined the FAA’s official 51% eligibility list, and Wicks Aircraft Supply adds a new Dual XGPS150 universal Bluetooth Receiver to its product lineup.
Marc Cook reflects on the years of on-the-job lessons he learned while formation flying and shooting air-to-air photography.
Inside KITPLANES: How We Do Aerial Photography
Marc Cook explains the nuts-and-bolts of how we achieve the aerial photography that appears in the magazine, and offers a few pointers on how to capture your own plane in flight.
Doug Reeves, creator of the Van’s Air Force web site, shares his personal philosophy about what it takes to fly safely and responsibly.
Dick and Sharon Starks mix it up with the “big boys” and draw their own crowd at Oshkosh AirVenture 2011.
Dean Sigler was on location at this year’s Green Flight Challenge in Santa Rosa, California, and he offers a report.
Ready to jump into gyroplanes? Roy Beisswenger explains the options available and the regulations for this exciting segment of aviation.
Kit Bits
List of Advertisers, Builders' Marketplace and the Classified Builder.
Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.
Download the complete February 2012 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 February 2012 issue.
What's New
MGL Avionics
RANS Designs
Wicks Aircraft Supply
Kitfox Super Sport
Kitfox Aircraft
Garmin aera 796
Garmin
How We Do Aerial Photography
GoPro cameras
XCOM patch cable
Engine Update
Lycoming Engines
The Dawn Patrol
Airdrome Aeroplanes
Culver Propellers
D-Motor
Daher-Socata Aircraft
Experimental Aircraft Association
Kansas City Dawn Patrol
Replica Fighters Association
SCI Aviation (Sadler Radial Engines)
Valley Engineering, LLC
Viking Aircraft Engines
Alternative Energies
CAFE Foundation
e-Genius
Eco-Eagle
Lindbergh Prize
NASA Challenges
Phoenix Air (1)
Phoenix Air (2)
Pipistrel (1)
Pipistrel (2)
AeroLectrics
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
View Reader Links from previous issues
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IMPORTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTICE TO KITPLANES SUBSCRIBERS:
The Kitplanes Magazine Customer Service Center has moved from Palm Coast, FL to Big Sandy, TX. Our toll-free number, 800-622-1065, and website, kitplanes.com, remain the same. All mailed correspondence, including subscription invoices, renewals, and gift notices, will bear our new address:
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We look forward to serving you from our new location.
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.
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.
Advanced Flight Systems' Rob Hickman details the company's new 5000-series big screen EFIS at Oshkosh 2010.
Spidertracks introduced a new, smaller, less expensive GPS tracker here at Oshkosh 2010. Rachel Donald explains the main features of the unit and the website that supports it.
CubCrafter's Randy Lervold gives us the skinny on the new Carbon Cub Adventure package introduced here at Oshkosh.
Glasair Aviation’s Mikael Via introduces the new turbocharged, carbon-fiber-bodied Sportsman TC at Oshkosh 2010.
