Kerry Fores
Kerry Fores was born and raised in Oshkosh, WI and was interested in homebuilding by age 12. Between 1998 and 2003 he scratchbuilt and polished a Sonex, which he named Metal Illness. Kerry logged nearly 500 hours in Metal Illness and was awarded Plans Built Champion at AirVenture 2006. Kerry is retired from a 21-year career at Sonex Aircraft, most of it dedicated to supporting builders.
Getting Repair Help
It happens every year. A landing mishap renders an airplane stranded. A flat tire renders an airplane immoveable. A dead battery renders one a...
Lightening the Arion Lightning and Builder Assist for All
It's not often a kit manufacturer keeps a significant upgrade to one of their products quiet, but Arion Aircraft has. When I met with Nick...
Early Bird Jenny – Gen 2
Timber Tiger Aircraft, who made the classic shape of the Ryan ST accessible to the homebuilding world, has reached farther back in time to make...
Sonex Celebrates 25 Years with 19th Homecoming Open House
Sonex LLC held its 19th open house on Sunday, July 23rd at their multi-hangar campus on the east side of Oshkosh’s Wittman Regional Airport....
VW Type I Engine Cases – Change is In the Air
Production of the venerable VW "Beetle" engine case quietly ended in mid-2022 and, over the next 9 months, the worldwide supply of new cases...
Homebuilts at AirVenture: All The Wright Stuff
Growing up in Oshkosh certainly exposed me to the world of aviation. When the convention landed in KOSH in 1970, I was six-years old....
Ripples
I wrote this in April to meet a May deadline for this September issue of KITPLANES®, which came out before AirVenture in July. I...
Bill Brennand Lied to Me
You’d be forgiven if you don’t recognize the name. Bill Brennand went quietly about his life yet a life so full it warrants a...
It’s Not Like You’re Building an Airplane
The skills needed to build an airplane are not unique to aviation, nor are they uncommon.
Pilot Not In Command
An audible sigh and an acceptable landing punctuated the end of a stuttering cross-country. It punctuated it on a Wednesday, however, not the previous...
In Case You Missed It
Design Process: Cantilever Wings
Last month we began our discussion of the structural layout of the wing with...
The Home Machinist
Taking that first cut into the sheet metal of an aircraft panel can be daunting, and being as precise as youd like is even more so. Author Bob Fritz eases your anxiety about the process with some tips about how to use the right tool for the right job, so that the hole you get is the one you wanted.
All Over the Map
When the FAA inspector or DAR (Designated Airworthiness Representative) arrives to award you your...
