Kitplanes
Kitplanes Magazine: Your Homebuilt Aircraft Authority. We cover topics relevant to anyone who has ever dreamed of building or owning a homebuilt experimental aircraft.
In the Pattern Over EAA AirVenture 2009
Sitting in front of your computer thinking how awesome it would be if you could at least get up in the air for a...
Dynon Announces Release Date for Next-Gen EFIS
At AirVenture, Dynon Avionics showed more versions of its next-generation EFIS displays and offered details on the system architecture and launch features. It is committing to a December 1, 2009, release date for the new screens.
Vertical Power Adds Features to VP-200
The advanced power management hardware that Vertical Power introduced three years ago has continued to gain features and capabilities. At Oshkosh, VP showed an update to the VP-200 that provides a mode interface with an external EFIS display.
AV8OR Ace Debuts
Honeywell has introduced its AV8OR Ace, a 7-inch touch-screen handheld GPS that provides geo-referenced FAA charts, eliminating the need to carry paper charts.
Zenith Aircraft Offers Hot Deal on CH 701
By combining the economical Jabiru 2200A engine with the LSA-legal CH 701 airframe, Zenair has been able to produce a complete kit package for a remarkable $29,980.
RANS to Build Airplane-Friendly Bicycle
Among the many interests of RANS Aircrafts Randy Schlitter is bicycle manufacturing, which he does with an uncommon philosophy of design and ergonomics.
RANS S-7 Survivor Celebrated
As RANS says in its short description of N11632, one of three airplanes featured at the company's booth, it is not the shiniest or newest among the many airplanes on the field today."
Maxwell Propulsion Upgrades Its Four-Cylinder Options
Thanks to a stroke increase bumping the four-cylinder, single-overhead-cam Subaru engine's displacement to 2.6 liters, the current iteration of the Maxwell Propulsion firewall-forward package now produces 205 horsepower.
American Legend News on FloatCub, Avionics
American Legend Aircraft announced a new amphibious FloatCub on Baumann floats and the Legend "Smart" Cub, which features an optional Garmin GPSMAP 696 multi-function display.
Lycomings IE2 Flying, Other Projects Continue
At a press conference Monday, Lycomings General Manager, Ian Walsh, proudly announced that the first Lancair piston Evolution had concluded its initial testing with the firms electronic engine controls and was at Oshkosh/AirVenture for all to see.
In Case You Missed It
![Careful planning and determination will get you to your goal of building and flying your own airplane. [Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Pulsar-Sunset.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Last Bits")
Last Bits
Of course money matters in aviation, but most of the time we never actually sit down and run the calculations.
Starduster Too
This Starduster Too is more than just a smart-looking biplane with unique elliptical wings and eye-catching paint. Careful reconstruction and modifications have made it into one sweet-handling ride. By Ed Wischmeyer.
The Ultimate Upgrade
Could a plane as large, expensive and complicated as the Lancair Evolution be completed by an experienced homebuilder? We have the answer to that intriguing question.
![A Zenith STOL CH701 on Zenair amphibious floats rests on a sandbar on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. [Credit: Zenith Aircraft]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/zenair-floats-STOL_CH_701a-Topaz-Gigapixel-2x-scale-Topaz-Gigapixel-2x-scale.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Zenith STOL CH 701 at 40: The Iconic ‘Sky Jeep’ Design Audit"){kind=tracking}
Zenith STOL CH 701 at 40: The Iconic ‘Sky Jeep’ Design Audit
In 1986, a Canadian aeronautical engineer named Chris Heintz pulled the first STOL CH...