Paul Dye
Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 50 years of aerospace experience on everything from Cubs to the Space Shuttle. An avid homebuilder, he began flying and working on airplanes as a teen and has experience with a wide range of construction techniques and materials. He flies an RV-8 and SubSonex jet that he built, an RV-3 that he built with his pilot wife, as well as a Dream Tundra and an electric Xenos motorglider they completed. Currently, they are building an F1 Rocket. A commercially licensed pilot, he has logged over 6000 hours in many different types of aircraft and is an A&P, FAA DAR, EAA Tech Counselor and Flight Advisor; he was formerly a member of the Homebuilder’s Council. He consults and collaborates in aerospace operations and flight-testing projects across the country.
Hand to Hand with a Bending Board
You’d think that with a quick-build fuselage, the factory could have made a frame that matched.
The Trick to Riblets
If you have built (or have attempted to build, or are looking forward to building…) an RV-style metal trim tab, you are probably wondering...
The “Flying by Feel” Fallacy
Smart pilots embrace tools like AoA systems to reduce risk—not ego-driven notions of flying solely 'by feel.'
Come Up With An Easier Way
The assembly manual might tell you to do something one way, but sometimes it's possible do do it better.
Strings Attached
There are times in building an airplane when you want to have some strings attached - particularly when it comes to lining things up....
Warm in Winter, Cool in Summer—My New Seats
I came in from the shop for lunch the other day, and what did I find sitting on the front step of the house?...
Which Control Stick?
Refining the control stick for the F1 Rocket—a balance of comfort, clearance, and decades of piloting perspective.
In Case You Missed It
Aero ‘lectrics
Using LEDs for lighting an aircraft has much to commend it. Low draw, reasonable cost, long life, good visibility. This month, Jim Weir takes us through the beginning steps of building these lighting systems yourself, using off-the-shelf parts and a little ingenuity.
