Patrick Thomson
For Patrick, composites are life! He has worked on various composite homebuilt aircraft, providing technical, training and inspection support to homebuilders in need. He is also a certified airframe technician and instructor specializing in composites.
Vacuum Bagging for Homebuilders
Pleats, punctures and vacuum loss, oh my! Patrick Thomson addresses all of these potential problems and more in the last installment of his series on vacuum bagging at home.
Vacuum-Bagging for Homebuilders
This month well go through the step-by-step vacuum-bagging process for an aileron trimtab part to see how to deal with extreme contours.
Vacuum-Bagging for Homebuilders
The first installment of a new series introduces you to the materials and equipment you'll need to tackle vacuum-bagging projects at home.
In Case You Missed It
Panels in Days, Not Months
Pre-built panels are an easy way to save time and eliminate frustration during avionics installation. By Bruce Eicher.
Van’s RV-8: Sport Plane Standard Setter
Although the RV-8 debuted 12 years ago, author Ed Wischmeyer flies a splendid builder example and notes how the design has fared over the years; by Ed Wischmeyer.
Around the Patch
Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook discusses the potential impact of changes to the FAAs 51% rule, which are the result of increasingly complex aircraft being constructed with the aid of builder-assistance programs.
Page Turner
Every homebuilder knows how important it is to document your build to meet the FAAs 51% rule, but how you do it can range from handwritten notebooks to custom web sites detailing every rivet and pin stripe. By Marc Cook.