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.
Masked Men
Why are these two men from The Airplane Factory wearing masks? Because they were on their way to AirVenture in a Sling TSi... at...
A Flying Tale
As everyone should have heard by now, AirVenture 2019 got off to an interesting start, with a number of severe thunderstorms dumping several inches...
Red Flight
Dr. Kraft passed away today, the 22nd of July, 2019—just two days after the 50th anniversary of man’s first setting foot on the moon.
Jetting To Oshkosh
I know (or have met - I really don't have a lot of good friends in that economic class) a number of folks that...
Editor’s Log: Crew Change
Marc Cook, former editor in chief, is once again going to hold that position here, as Paul Dye steps into the role of editor at large.
It’s Different in the Jet
Let's face it - when flying a cross-country in an RV (or other higher-performance experimental single that isn't turbocharged), we like to think about...
Literally
I have been writing this blog called Kneeboard Notes for about four or five years now, and one thing I don't think I have...
Group Therapy
As a naturally introverted engineer (redundant, I know), I enjoy working in my shop all alone, with nothing but a little soft music (and...
The Gorge
How is it that an airplane oriented company like Van’s Aircraft can be based in a valley that always seems to be fogged or...
In Case You Missed It
The Other Power Failure
In the days of steam gauges, an alternator failure was inconvenient. In the age...
Give Yourself a Brake
Brakes are pretty simple to install and maintain, but they are also pretty important....
Learning To Weld
Ken Scott finds that practice makes perfect (or pretty good) as he puts his newfound wire-feed welding skills to the task of replacing rotting wood hangar doors with sturdy, steel-frame ones.
Ask the DAR
Repairman certificate eligibility, ELSA mods, flying at civil twilight, fuel cap engraving.