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 Magic TBO
You see, up until that point, most airplane engines needed to be tinkered with and torn down at laughingly short intervals. A few good weeks of barnstorming could mean it was time for a pilot to quit for months while his engine was rebuilt.
Repetition
Repetition is a big part of building an airplane. Fortunately, for many builders, it is also good for the soul.
The New Aviation Rituals
It used to be that anyone who worked on airplanes knew how to time a magneto, clean an aviation spark plug, and safety-wire an...
Just Don’t!
It is always amazing to me how many people simply make things up when working on airplanes. Either they don't know the right way...
Flight Test Note… Check the Screws
It is easy to get wrapped up in the flying aspect of flight testing when taking an airplane through phase 1. We preflight, then...
Dissolving Foam
Last winter, with a storm howling and rattling the hangar doors, I decided to make an intake duct for our Tundra project. The male...
Weight Watchers
There is no doubt that the lighter the airplane, the better it performs and the better it generally seems to handle.
It Flies!
With a fresh airworthiness certificate in hand, pre-fight inspections complete, and gorgeous spring weather (cool with no winds) in the Smith Valley, there was...
In Case You Missed It
The Staaken Z-21A Flitzer
Intended as an inter-war sportplane, the VW- or Jabiru-powered Staaken Flitzer delivers the goods in both performance and agility. These planes may not appear sleek, but they’re a blast to fly.
Alternative Energies
Solar-powered aircraft may have some inherent limits, but they are also marvels of engineering that constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible. By Dean Sigler.
