Table of Contents

February 2012 Issue

Buyer's Guide

2012 Rotorcraft 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

Kitfox Super Sport

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.

Build It Better

Paul Dye debuts his new series on the myriad considerations that go into building and flying Experimental aircraft.

Engine Update

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.

Ask the DAR

What builders need to know about Light Sport Aircraft Repairman Certificates. By Mel Asberry.

Completions

Builders share their successes.

Shop Talk

Aero’Lectrics

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

Wind Tunnel

Learn how wingtip vortices are generated and how wake turbulence can affect your aircraft. By Barnaby Wainfan.

Exploring

Editor’s Log

Editor Mary Bernard introduces the new “Build It Better” series by Paul Dye and praises Kitfox Aircraft for its ongoing development efforts.

What’s New

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.

Viewfinder

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.

Unusual Attitude

Doug Reeves, creator of the Van’s Air Force web site, shares his personal philosophy about what it takes to fly safely and responsibly.

The Dawn Patrol

Dick and Sharon Starks mix it up with the “big boys” and draw their own crowd at Oshkosh AirVenture 2011.

Alternative Energies

Dean Sigler was on location at this year’s Green Flight Challenge in Santa Rosa, California, and he offers a report.

Light Stuff

Ready to jump into gyroplanes? Roy Beisswenger explains the options available and the regulations for this exciting segment of aviation.

Kit Bits

Letters

KITPLANES Marketplace

List of Advertisers, Builders' Marketplace and the Classified Builder.

Kit Stuff

Drawing on experience; by cartoonist Robrucha.

Download KITPLANES in PDF

Download the complete February 2012 issue of KITPLANES in one PDF file.

Photo by Richard VanderMeulen

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:
PO BOX 8535
Big Sandy, TX 75755

We look forward to serving you from our new location.

whirlwind-snip2KITPLANES 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.
Garmin 796At 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.
cubcrafters-adventure-kit-snipCubCrafter's Randy Lervold gives us the skinny on the new Carbon Cub Adventure package introduced here at Oshkosh.
sportsman-tc-interview-snipGlasair Aviation’s Mikael Via introduces the new turbocharged, carbon-fiber-bodied Sportsman TC at Oshkosh 2010.
Video Archive