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.
FOFUS—Fail Operational/Fail Safe
Good design is not necessarily about how many levels of redundancy you have.
Under the Cowl
Unlike my excellent predecessors in this job, I came to the magazine editing business more or less by accident. I didn't grow up yearning...
Sun 'n Fun Wanderings
One of the best parts about working for KITPLANES is the opportunity I get to wander around a large show like Sun 'n Fun...
FAA Makes Progress on Dual-Pilot Phase One Testing
KITPLANES magazine met with Mark Giron of FAA headquarters on the opening day of Sun 'n Fun to discuss progress on the concept of...
In Case You Missed It
Adding a Taillight to a Completed Rudder
A creative, low-impact solution for mounting a light without cutting up your rudder.
Pilot Proficiency
If you've spent years building instead of flying, type-specific training before that all-important first flight in your homebuilt is a must.
Sikorsky S-38 Project
Building a 55%-scale, amphibious twin-engine flying boat seems like an ambitious project, and it is. But this former WW-II B-25 commander with four homebuilt aircraft already under his belt tackled it anyway. By Rick Lindstrom.
Alternative Energies
Dean Sigler checks in on the Green Flight Challengers of 2011 who didn’t make it to the competition to see what they’re up to now.