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Paul Dye

Paul Dye
841 POSTS 25 COMMENTS
Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 40 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.

Donuts Are Essential

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Anyone who has every seen my presentation on Flight Testing should know that along with a trained pilot, good procedures, and excellent weather, a...

Rumors of the Canards’ Demise

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Rumors of the demise of the Rutan canard designs have ben greatly exaggerated. Once the pinnacle of aircraft design achievement, the canard configured aircraft...

Signs of the Times

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Off to the side of the massive field of homebuilts, you can find a shack that might have well been built by Paul Poberezny...

Radiant De-Ice Technology

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Radiant Technology, the company founded by James Wiebe (former head of BeLite Aircraft), is known for bringing interesting technologies into the experimental world. He’s...

One Time Good Deal!

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Found in the Fly-Market - one owner, sometimes hangared, a clear fixer-upper. No low-ball offers—they know what they’ve got!

Brushing Up

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One of the unfortunate things about the massive capability that computers give us in today’s world is that we rarely have the time to...

Oshkosh Standoff

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Left here for your amusement: Is this how AirVenture photographers warm up for the day? Or is this just how they compare, uhhh... ”equipment”?...

Sling, One Year Later

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Back in the spring of 2022, we had the opportunity to fly to Johannesburg South Africa to fly the brand new Sling High Wing...

Camping… with 600 Buddies

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Wednesday is traditionally the day when the homebuilt exodus begins at AirVenture. Many folks have been there since the Friday before the show, and...

Warning, Warning!!

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“OSHALERT: Strong storms headed to Oshkosh. Expected 6:30-6:45 am w/brief heavy downpours & wind gusts 40-45mph. Please take precautions. Reply STOP to opt-out.” That was...

In Case You Missed it

Unlabeled Controls

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It is a requirement that the engine controls are labeled as to their function...

Build Your Skills: Fabric

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Most of the hard work is done, and its time for dope. First, pick the right spray outfit, next find a clean, well-ventilated work area and finish your surface preparation, and then you're ready to spray. By Ron Alexander.

Steen Skybolt

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The Steen Skybolt is a fabric-covered, wood-ribbed biplane that is built for aerobatics—and doesn’t disappoint. By Ed Wischmeyer.

No Trip to the Mall

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The homebuilt insurance shopping experience.