Vic Syracuse
Vic is a fixed-wing and helicopter commercial pilot, CFII with ASMEL/ASES ratings, an A&P/IA, DAR, and EAA technical advisor and flight counselor. Passionately involved in aviation for over 40 years, he has built 11 aircraft and logged over 10,000 hours in 72 different kinds of aircraft. Vic volunteers as a Young Eagle pilot, has his own sport aviation business called Base Leg Aviation, and has written two books on aircraft prebuy and condition inspections.
Build Smart: Make Mods That Matter
Some mods are better than others. Know how to pick the right ones.
Unairworthy: Prop Blade Root
Neglecting constant-speed propeller overhauls can lead to hidden damage—like blade root wear from poor lubrication or extended inactivity.
The Hummingbird Airworthiness Inspection
A DAR walks through the paperwork and practical steps needed to get an Experimental helicopter inspected—and reflects on what it means to finally fly.
Cable Ties For Ballast
Cable ties will become brittle over time and can break. Having weights come loose during flight, especially near the control system, could really ruin your day.
Aircraft Modification Choices
Aftermarket mods for amateur-built aircraft are booming, but not all upgrades deliver on performance, safety or practicality.
Tools and Shop Organization: When It’s Time to Start
Organization, smart tool planning and connecting with local builders are essential first steps to a successful aircraft building project.
Check the Sump Screen
It is important to check the oil sump screen for contaminants at least once per year.
A Baker’s Dozen
Vic shares his decision process for both choosing another RV-10 as well as choosing some of the “upgrades.”
In Case You Missed It
Variable Geometry Cooling System
The way to reduce or eliminate excess cooling drag in cruise is to use a variable-geometry cooling system that can change shape to control the amount of air flowing through the cowling.
Custom Heat Exchanger Fabrication
Designing and fabricating custom radiator and intercooler systems with packaging challenges.
Kitfox Super Sport
Marc Cook reports on the process of developing a new Lycoming O-233 engine package for the Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport and samples the result.