Marc Cook
Marc Cook is a veteran special-interest journalist who started as a staffer at AOPA Pilot in the late 1980s. Marc has built two airplanes, an Aero Designs Pulsar XP and a Glasair Aviation Sportsman, and now owns a 180-hp, steam-gauge-adjacent GlaStar based in western Oregon. Marc has 5000 hours spread over 200-plus types and four decades of flying.
Levil Introduces Astro Link ADS-B In Module
At Sun 'n Fun this week, Levil Avionics debuted a new ADS-B In receiver to drive various tablet-based systems with no-cost weather and traffic....
Sling Shot
From initial climb performance to Chuck-Yeager-like landings, the Sling 2 reveals its designer's emphasis on handling.
Lockwood Super Drifter
Throttling back to enjoy the Florida scenery, Marc Cook is reminded of the reasons he first fell in love with flying as he pilots the new Lockwood Super Drifter.
Lightning Strikes Again
Its been four years since we reviewed the Arion Lightning, and things have changed-for the better. Marc Cook had a chance to fly the old and the new, and he details the differences.
Homebuilding on the Edge
Out in the California desert, innovation in homebuilding is the rule, rather than the exception. By Marc Cook.
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.
NTSB Reviews Homebuilt Safety Record
The National Transportation Safety Board released findings this week indicating that pilot errors during Phase I flight testing and pilot transition into homebuilts are...
RANS S-7S Courier
Marc Cook pilots the new RANS S-7S and finds many improvements, from increased fuel and storage capacity to a simplified aileron-control system that makes handling better than ever.
Viewfinder
Marc Cook considers the relevance of airworthiness directives for homebuilders and reflects on what he learned about the current homebuilt market at Sun ’n Fun.
Inside KITPLANES: Flight Review Procedures
KITPLANES has a system for conducting flight reviews of airplanes, much like homebuilders may (or should) when they are considering which project to build. Editor-at-Large Marc Cook takes you through the evaluation process.
In Case You Missed it
Free Flight
Surprisingly, building a metal aircraft may also mean getting familiar with fiberglass. Here are some tips to make that portion of the build less painful.
Builder Profile: Orange Appeal
Marc Cook profiles a rookie Copperstate show winner: a spectacular F-1 Rocket with a distinct Harley vibe.
