Paul Dye
Paul Dye has been the Editor-in-Chief and Editor at Large. He retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 50 years of aerospace experience on everything from Cubs to the Space Shuttle. An avid homebuilder, he began flying and working on airplanes as a teen and has experience with a wide range of construction techniques and materials. He flies an RV-8 and SubSonex jet that he built, an RV-3 that he built with his pilot wife, as well as a Dream Tundra and an electric Xenos motorglider they completed. Currently, they are building an F1 Rocket. A commercially licensed pilot, he has logged over 6000 hours in many different types of aircraft and is an A&P, FAA DAR, EAA Tech Counselor and Flight Advisor; he was formerly a member of the Homebuilder’s Council. He consults and collaborates in aerospace operations and flight-testing projects across the country.
Editor’s Report from SnF – Day 1 – Tuesday, April 21
The Sun n Fun Fly-in opened to improving weather today, and many pilots worried about making it to the annual event in Lakeland were...
Superior Engines Announces 100 HP Diesel Program
This morning at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-in, Superior engines announced their new diesel engine program, starting with a 100 HP three-cylinder (six piston)...
Editor's Report from SnF – Set-up Day – Monday, April 20
Lakeland, Florida is welcoming the 41st Sun 'n Fun Fly-in this week, and today was set-up day for vendors and show volunteers. We got...
Celebrate the Centennial of NASA's Predecessor: The NACA
Many homebuilders don't know of the debt they owe to an organization that would have been 100 years old today - the National Advisory...
Marking Rivet Locations
Laying out rivet patterns can take a lot of time, especially when the drawings specify distances from a leading edge or other reference mark,...
Making Parts
Building an airplane is, without a doubt, a daunting task. Whether you are starting with a kit, plans, or scratch-building, going from that first...
In Case You Missed It
Straight Floats to Amphibs
Fed up with the restrictions of being able to land on water only, builder Mervin Zinck came up with a design to add retractable gear to his floats. By Don Ledger.
Grinvalds Orion
Jean Grinvalds’ plansbuilt four-seat pusher design was ahead of its time, predating the Bede BD-5, VariEze, Prescott Pusher and Cirrus VK-30. By Geoff Jones.
Preparing For First Start
Steve Ells discusses the preparation and procedures for starting your new or newly overhauled engine for the first time.