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RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 Kits to Be Retired This Fall

Kitplanes - 0
van's rv-4
Van’s Aircraft will retire the RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 kits after Sept. 30, 2025, but will continue to offer parts and support for these legacy models.

FISK Arrival Now Included in Garmin Navigation Database

Kitplanes - 0
garmin fisk arrival
FISK arrival now selectable in Garmin avionics with full route details—available in Garmin Pilot, SmartCharts, and 2507 Navigation Database update.

iFly EFB X7 Aviation Tablet

Kitplanes - 0
X7 Aviation Tablet
The iFly EFB X7 is a 7″ Android aviation tablet featuring a 2,600-nit display, MIL-STD-810G ruggedness, IP68 sealing and a 7,000 mAh battery—pre-orders open July 18.

Van’s Flight Test Flight With the New RV-15 Tail

Kitplanes - 1
maxresdefault
Van's tests RV-15 with new, longer tail cone ahead of AirVenture. Rian Johnson flew the updated design.

Deburring the Back of a Hole

Eric Stewart - 0
two-way deburring tool
The Burraway tool deburrs both sides of a hole—even inside tubes—when space is tight.

Mini-Max USA Relaunches to Carry Forward a Homebuilt Classic

Kitplanes - 0
Mini-Max 1550V V-MAX
Mini-Max USA relaunches to modernize its iconic aircraft kits, improve builder support, and preserve the legacy of this homebuilt aviation line.

Video Series

Magazine

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Exploring

KITPLANES Flies the RV-15!

Kitplanes -
2
Kit Bits

Hearing Things

Lisa Turner -
0
Shop Talk

Building a Custom Engine Mount

Eric Stewart -
0
Designer's Notebook

Build, Test, Refine and Fix—Part 5: High AoA Pitch Characteristics

Barnaby Wainfan -
0
Exploring

Chris Tena Mini-Coupe

Ron Wanttaja -
0
Builder Spotlight

Second Chance Six

Tenley Ong -
1
Shop Talk

Taking a Shine To 6061-T6 – Part 1

Kerry Fores -
1
Builder Spotlight

The Hummingbird Airworthiness Inspection

Vic Syracuse -
0
Builder Spotlight

Eating the Elephant—Part 4

Paul Dye -
1
Flight Reports

Home-Rolled XCub

Paul Dye -
0
Builder Spotlight

Adding a Taillight to a Completed Rudder

Andrew Robinson -
2
Shop Talk

Cable Ties For Ballast

Vic Syracuse -
0
Exploring

Snapshots From the Whirlwind

Tom Wilson -
0
Builder Spotlight

Assembling a Gyro Technic VX-2

Mark Timney -
1
Exploring

Change Is a Constant

Paul Dye -
1

Flight Reviews

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Flying the Groppo Trail

Luca Perazzoli -
How to say ‘mountain flying’ in Italian.

Home-Rolled XCub

Paul Dye -
Traditional or nosewheel, the XCubs are now available as kits.

Risen — The Master of Efficiency

Marc Cook -
It is crazy fast for the horsepower!

ScaleBirds P-36 Hawk

Paul Dye -
ScaleBirds, a newcomer to the kit manufacturing scene, chose to start their line of replica fighters with one of the first all-metal U.S. military pursuit ships of WW-II—the P-36.

Kitfox Speedster 916

Marc Cook -
The feistiest Kitfox gets feistier yet.

Sling Shot

Paul Dye -
Rotax’s 916 enlivens Sling’s four-seaters.

Builder Spotlight

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Eating the Elephant—Part 5

Paul Dye -
Perfection isn’t a goal—it’s a trap.

Second Chance Six

Tenley Ong -
As Oshkosh 2025 nears, Tenley rallies support and tackles critical inspection tasks to get RV-6 N2165U flying again.

The Hummingbird Airworthiness Inspection

Vic Syracuse -
A DAR walks through the paperwork and practical steps needed to get an Experimental helicopter inspected—and reflects on what it means to finally fly.

Eating the Elephant—Part 4

Paul Dye -
Dealing with repetitive tasks.

Adding a Taillight to a Completed Rudder

Andrew Robinson -
A creative, low-impact solution for mounting a light without cutting up your rudder.

Assembling a Gyro Technic VX-2

Mark Timney -
A pilot chases his dream of building and flying a gyroplane with help from Gyro Technic in Minnesota.

Why Alternative Engines Rarely Save Money

Paul Dye -
You can try it, but don’t expect to come out ahead—or airborne—without a fight.

Building the 750 SDXTREME: Part 16

Jon Humberd -
Tubeless tires, prototype gear, and cabin mods—follow the ongoing adventure of getting the highly modified 750 SDX on its feet.

Shop Talk

Oil Cooler Shutter

Dana Hague -
Ditch the duct tape— an adjustable fix for oil coolers.

CAD for the Home Shop

Bob Hadley -
Explore how EAA members use Solid Edge and 3D printing to design, model, and build aircraft parts—affordably and efficiently with modern CAD tools.

Building a Custom Engine Mount

Eric Stewart -
How a custom engine mount for the SR-1 was CNC’d, stress-tested, and welded for strength, weight savings, and tight packaging.

How to Finish Snakeskin Wire Looms Neatly

Paul Dye -
Keep expandable tubing from fraying with this clean, secure lacing trick—learned from a truck mechanic and proven in countless homebuilt projects.

Taking a Shine To 6061-T6 – Part 1

Kerry Fores -
Polishing aluminum transforms gray metal into a mirror finish—cheap, timeless, and endlessly messy but deeply rewarding.

DIY Tail Stand for Taildraggers

Paul Dye -
A simple homemade tail stand helps level and secure your taildragger during engine installation.

Exploring

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Sitting Up Front Again

Tom Wilson -
From hot rods to homebuilts, a new editor takes the stick at KITPLANES—with steady hands, clear skies, and a love for hands-on aviation.

KITPLANES Flies the RV-15!

Kitplanes -
Paul Dye flies the RV-15 prototype and shares first impressions of Van’s high-wing backcountry design.

Chris Tena Mini-Coupe

Ron Wanttaja -
The VW-powered Mini-Coupe—with twin tails and all-pushrod controls—remains a standout among 1970s homebuilts.

Snapshots From the Whirlwind

Tom Wilson -
Pilots demand ADS-B privacy, sport air racing shifts to weight-based rules and affordable Oshkosh and Roswell travel tips.

Change Is a Constant

Paul Dye -
Marc Cook steps away again, passing KITPLANES’ reins as we invite fresh voices from the homebuilt aviation community.

Aircraft Modification Choices

Vic Syracuse -
Aftermarket mods for amateur-built aircraft are booming, but not all upgrades deliver on performance, safety or practicality.

Products

iFly EFB X7 Aviation Tablet

Kitplanes -
The iFly EFB X7 is a 7″ Android aviation tablet featuring a 2,600-nit display, MIL-STD-810G ruggedness, IP68 sealing and a 7,000 mAh battery—pre-orders open July 18.

KitFlight Modernizes the Aircraft Builder’s Log (Updated)

Omar Filipovic -
KitFlight makes logging your Experimental aircraft build intuitive, flexible, and future-proof—with powerful features and no subscription required.

USB-Powered CO Monitor from Radiant

Paul Dye -
Radiant's new $29.95 USB CO monitor lights up red if danger's in the air—and might just beat those old stick-on cards for reliability.

Holy Micro’s Absolute AoA: Next-Level Angle of Attack Sensing for GA Pilots

Mark Timney -
Advanced new AoA system from Holy Micro debuts at Sun ’n Fun 2025 with radar and LiDAR altimeters in tow.

Innovation Showcase Highlights New HUD Helmet and Visual Traffic Alert System

Mark Timney -
New tech at Sun ’n Fun includes a HUD helmet and a visual traffic alert system for general aviation pilots.

Pure Medical Brings New Oxygen Solution to Aircraft

Steve Ashby -
Pure Medical adapts the Inogen Rove 6 for aircraft, delivering tank-free oxygen to homebuilders at Sun ’n Fun.

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