Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson is an aerospace engineer who spent half his career in airplane and rocket design with the major aerospace companies before accidentally falling into telecom. He mentors EAA youth builds on Saturday mornings in conjunction with working to finish his Thorp T-18 so that he can get back to flying.
![[Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/737_VGs2.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Vortex Generators")
Vortex Generators
From a KITPLANES reader: Why do vortex generators creating turbulence help wings create lift at high angles of attack? Good question Shawn, and thanks...
![Roscoe Turner, a pilot who defined flamboyance with his waxed mustache, a uniform that included jodhpurs, and a pet lion named Gilmore that flew with him. [Credit: Associated Press]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Colonel_Roscoe_Turner_and_Gilmore_1930.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Colorful and Notable Characters in Aviation")
Colorful and Notable Characters in Aviation
Most of our dads were/are characters to varying degrees, everything between a genial 1950s TV dad to Clark Griswold in Family Vacation. As I...
![The Spirit Engineering SE-1 gleaming in repose. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_8605.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Spirit Engineering SE-1")
Spirit Engineering SE-1
I will admit to having a weak spot for polished aircraft, particularly vintage aircraft, whether it be a DC-3, an original Electra, a P-51,...
![My 36 year old clipboard from when I started at Boeing. Engineering ruler and fastener/fastener hole cheat sheets. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Liaison_clipboard.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "What Is a Liaison Engineer?")
What Is a Liaison Engineer?
This column is geared more toward the younger crowd looking to enter aviation, so if you know anyone that might benefit from this, please...
![At Sun ‘n Fun 2026, Viking Aircraft Engines surprised the crowd with its first complete kit — the V-42, a high-wing twin powered by two Honda-based engines. Here’s an early look. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/P1020293.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Viking V-42 Twin")
Viking V-42 Twin
Outside the exhibition hangers at Sun ‘n Fun, Viking Aircraft Engines had its usual location and as I walked up, I was greeted by,...
![[Credit: Wikimedia Commons]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Odd and Unusual Aircraft")
Odd and Unusual Aircraft
If you look at the books in my library, and by that, I mean the ones on the shelves, not the ones next to......
![Dragging it in low and slow for the STOL competition. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/SnF_dragging_in.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Sun ’n Fun 2026 Recap: Avionics Upgrades, Thorp Kits, and STOL Action")
Sun ’n Fun 2026 Recap: Avionics Upgrades, Thorp Kits, and STOL...
I made my annual foray down to Lakeland Linder International (international for almost ten years now!) airport for two days of sweating off a...
![Making rare use of my drafting tools for the internal timing. [All Images Credited to Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/P1010535.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Conquering the Magneto, Part 2")
Conquering the Magneto, Part 2
The second installment continues demystifying the aircraft magneto, with deeper detail on service and troubleshooting.
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AdobeStock_262642207_AGCuesta.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Winging It")
Winging It
Sometimes an aircraft feature matters a great deal, and sometimes the air simply doesn't care one way or the other.
![Andrew bought a Thorp T-18 project, which started him down the road to experimental aircraft project ownership and construction. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_7725-scaled.jpeg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Winging It")
In Case You Missed It
Light Stuff
Dave Martin revisits the Evektor SportStar, and even after a three-year hiatus, he found the Max IFR to be a forgiving and delightful airplane.
Murphy and the Flight That Almost Wasn’t
Most of us fly airplanes for fun. I would even venture to say that...
Engine Update: New Life for Old Radials
Barrett Precision Engines has taken the nine-cylinder Vedeneyev M14P radial engine to a whole other level with a fuel-injection upgrade and new ignition system. By Marc Cook.