Paul Dye
Paul Dye has been the Editor-in-Chief and Editor at Large. He 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.
The Smallest “Sponsor”
When we watched Bob Mills prepping Race 49 (his read Rocket 6) for a heat race on Wednesday, we noticed that his fuel cap...
It’s Not Your Old 1917!
One of the traditions at the Reno Air Races is the Fire Truck ride given to race winners and their crews. Traditionally, the winning...
Racing Tweaks and Tricks
Sport Class racers are an inventive bunch, and they are always tweaking during race week to get the most performance out of their machines....
Learning Glass
Old dog, new tricks. We see the discussion of EFIS digital instruments versus round steam gauges on homebuilders forums every week. There are all...
Same Faces….More Nitrous!
The early part of the week at the Reno Races is mostly spent chatting with old friends as they get their race planes dialed...
Good Fundamentals
I am often asked what it takes to fly many different airplanes, especially when some are prototypes for which very little data exists. My...
Javron Cub Double Take
One of the dangers of walking through AirVenture is the possibility of whiplash as you suddenly see something out of the corner of your...
In Case You Missed It
Wind Tunnel
Stall flutter is the result of the elastic axis of a wings surface being aft of the aerodynamic center, resulting in instability. A vicious cycle of lift, twist, stall and lift may ensue.
Ask the DAR
This month DAR Mel Asberry tackles questions about modifying an aircraft and the flight testing required, what should be on a dataplate, and what you need to know about getting an airworthiness certificate after completing a partially built aircraft.
Hatz CB-1 Classic
It took 10 years for Hansueli and Samuel Gautschi to complete the ultimate do-it-yourself project, and the result is an absolute gem. By Ernst Bickmeier.