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.
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...
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...
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...
The 2-Mile Decision
For those of you who read my column last month on keeping the fires lit, I find it ironic that I find myself telling...
Unairworthy: Isolator Mount Problems
Rubber isolator mounts should not have a gap between them and the engine mount when properly torqued.
In Case You Missed It
Archive: December 2002
Eighteen years ago this issue, we put Jack Harper’s single-seat Breezy derivative on the...
Unlimited Oil Cooling
Building a carbon fiber cooling duct for Czech Mate, the Unlimited class pylon racer.
![Air Salvage of Dallas is one of the largest and longest-established aircraft salvage yards, with a very large inventory. [Credit: Air Salvage of Dallas]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/5225124_orig.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Salvage Parts")
Aero ‘lectrics
In an ongoing attempt to update his shop and make it more energy efficient, Jim Weir puts together a winning compressor-generator combo to run the lights and whatever else needs juice.