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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.

Shaving Time With Occam’s Razor

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Troubleshooting is an art—an art based on experience, knowledge—and sometimes a little luck. I have been building and fixing things all my life, and...

Doing it Right, Feeling Light

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Building a homebuilt airplane takes a lot of time, compared to just about anything else that people might choose to put together. Fabricating parts,...

Oshkosh Off-Season

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Just on my way home form the fall Homebuilt Council meeting at EAA Headquarters, and thought I'd share a picture form a site tour...

The Photo Dilemma

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I have seen this happen many times - a well meaning builder posts a picture on the Internet at the request of some other...

Aluminum Mailing Tube

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There's an old saying in the light airplane end of aviation - when you absolutely positively have to be there (overnight or otherwise) -...

October Skies

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October has always been a big month for those who enjoy getting out with their airplanes. Yes, July has Oshkosh, and April is for...

Waxing Nostalgic

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This morning, a link to a wonderful website that I have visited in the past landed in my inbox, and I couldn't help but...

Van’s Aircraft Sued for $35 Million over RV-10 Crash

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The family of a 4-year old girl and her mother are suing kit maker Van's Aircraft over the death of the girl and injuries...

Airplane Noises

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There comes a time in every fuselage build where you just have to get in and see how the cockpit feels! We reached that...

Wiring for Maintenance

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I have owned a number of airplanes in my life, and before I started having machines I built myself, they were usually old and...

In Case You Missed it

Building the ‘Beater – Part 8

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Looking back on the project.

Firewall Forward: Electrical Systems, Part 2

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Alternators, busses, breakers and fuses form the core of aircraft electrical systems. Here’s what you need to know to install them correctly.

Wind Tunnel

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Advice—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Ask the DAR

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Confusion about FAA Form 8130-12, replacing the 2-inch Experimental placard, selling an engine.