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Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson
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Pumping avgas and waxing flight school airplanes got Tom into general aviation in 1973, but the lure of racing cars and motorcycles sent him down a motor journalism career heavy on engines and racing. Today he still writes for peanuts and flies for fun.

Cracks, Both Foreign and Domestic

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Perhaps like me, you missed the big show this year. That is, they ran AirVenture without me, and I’m not sure anyone really noticed....

Findlay Dominates

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Weather was a factor on Sunday for the final Gold races at Reno. High winds were forecast and materialized just long enough mid-morning to...

Anticipating Sunday in Reno

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Depending on where you look, the racing this year at Reno ranges from decline to epic. Luckily for KITPLANES readers the epic contests are...
Leakdown-Tester

The Big Scare

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You look down at the instruments, and instantly energy drains down your body as if bomb bay doors on the soles of your feet had opened and the concrete floor were a sponge.
Starduster too on the ramp

Rear Cockpit: The Other Guy’s Plane

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In a parallel life of mine—auto journalism—shop talk occasionally got around to just how few cars the average person probably drives in their lifetime....
Tom Aberle said he looked at Phantom daily for a couple of years trying to decide if it was ugly or beautiful, and while its combination of angles and curves is unique, its 12 championships make it beautiful in our eyes.

Biplane Gold

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Phantom dominates biplane pylon racing by harnessing traditional homebuilding talent.
light gun signals

Rear Cockpit: Light Gun Signaling

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Silent running.

Tom Aberle 1943 – 2019

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Noted biplane racing champion Tom Aberle passed away on June 15, 2019.

Twice the Angst and What a Cost!

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Several months back, I was all CAVU regarding my partnership with an old friend in a puddle-jumping Cessna. But as I scribbled those happy...

Rear Cockpit

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Old airplanes, new pilots.

In Case You Missed It

Taming the Lancair IV

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Vortecx winglets make a glass speedster faster, slower, and safer.

Checkpoints

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Darwin in aviation.

Little Buddy, You Can Fly

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As a design matures, more and more “upgrades” and “improvements” are thrust upon successive builders by those who have gone before. What they are thrusting, really, are opinions.

Tipping Point

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Sunrise on the Gulf Coast. No matter the time of year, the critical hour...