Vic Syracuse
Vic is a 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 9000 hours in 72 different kinds of aircraft. Vic volunteers as a Young Eagle pilot and Angel Flight pilot. He chairs the EAA Homebuilt Council and is a member of EAA’s Board of Directors. He also has his own sport aviation business called Base Leg Aviation.
Rotax Training for the 9 Series
Lockwood Aviation helps you get a full understanding of the four-stroke Rotax.
Low Compression
Usually, we look for something greater than 60/80 when doing compression checks on Lycoming engines. A reading such as this one (36/80) really warrants...
Alternate Air Opening
This was discovered on an aircraft during a condition inspection. It really was a poor installation. Nonetheless, the aircraft had been operating on unfiltered...
Missing ELT Batteries
Many aircraft owners don’t realize that some ELT control panels and audio alerters have their own separate batteries, which must be installed at installation...
Maxing Out the Fun Factor
For those who have experienced it, the fun of going on a flying trip with your friends and their families in the airplanes you...
Wrong Rudder Cable Nut and Missing Cotter Key
Wherever a bolt is subject to rotation, it is required to have a castellated nut and cotter key. A typical mistake I see on...
Lessons From Galesburg
I’ve had a number of readers ask me if I managed to make it to the Stearman National Convention, and I’m happy to report...
Checkpoints: AirVenture 2019
As I write this, we have been home from AirVenture 2019 exactly one week, and I am feeling much better than when I wrote last month’s column. Why? Because within 1 hour of landing back at home base last week, my son, neighbor, and I headed to the airport to hang the new engine on […]
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KITPLANES – The Independent Voice for Homebuilt Aviation
KITPLANES® magazine is the world’s #1 homebuilt aviation magazine. Written exclusively for enthusiasts like you, our editors pack each issue with need-to-know information on building, flying, designing and maintaining your own amateur-built category manned aircraft.
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KITPLANES® magazine is the world’s #1 homebuilt aviation magazine. Written exclusively for enthusiasts like you, our editors pack each issue with need-to-know information on building, flying, designing and maintaining your own amateur-built category manned aircraft.
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Unairworthy: Missing Safety Wire
Some bolts have drilled heads for a reason: They are supposed to be safety wired. The first example is a wheel pant bracket. The left wheel pant bracket on this airplane was missing the safety wire. A discussion with the builder ensued until the right wheel pant was removed—that bolt had gone missing! The second […]
To continue reading you must be a paid subscriber
Subscribe to Kitplanes
KITPLANES – The Independent Voice for Homebuilt Aviation
KITPLANES® magazine is the world’s #1 homebuilt aviation magazine. Written exclusively for enthusiasts like you, our editors pack each issue with need-to-know information on building, flying, designing and maintaining your own amateur-built category manned aircraft.
Subscribe Today
KITPLANES® magazine is the world’s #1 homebuilt aviation magazine. Written exclusively for enthusiasts like you, our editors pack each issue with need-to-know information on building, flying, designing and maintaining your own amateur-built category manned aircraft.
Subscribe Today
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Fuel Leak and Cracked Flare
A major fuel leak was discovered on this airplane not long after the first flight. The majority of the fuel in the tank leaked...
In Case You Missed it
Ask the DAR
Overweight LSA, paperwork confusion for a DAR inspection, converting an SLSA to an ELSA.
What’s New
The first diesel-powered LSA debuts from IndUS Aviation, Stafford Manufacturing offers a variety of mounting collars, and AirGator improves its handheld electronic flight book (EFB).
Two Years to Solo
Ken Pollock did not come by his interest in flying in the usual way. His father was the first to want to learn, but then when he changed his mind, his son took up where Dad left off. All this despite the fact that Ken had broken his neck in a car accident, and had no use of his legs, and little use of his arms and hands.
The Independence Project: A Power Finish
The engine and prop complete the building phase, and the RV-12 is ready for the flight test phase. By Dave Martin.
