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.
The Case of No Rotor RPM Indication
I am now in the flight-testing stage with my Hummingbird helicopter. Personally, I’ve always liked the 40 hours of required flight testing as it...
Cabin Air
Do not use the engine compartment as a source of fresh air or heat, as there is the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Building the ‘Beater – Part 6
As promised, Lycoming delivered the Thunderbolt engine in December to Vertical Aviation. Since this was the first Thunderbolt engine to be installed in a...
Teflon Tape
Do not use Teflon tape on any fuel system connection. It can deteriorate and leave particles and remnants, which can clog the fuel system,...
Murphy and the Flight That Almost Wasn’t
Most of us fly airplanes for fun. I would even venture to say that all KITPLANES® readers understand the fun side of aviation, especially...
Broken Tailwheel Chain Link
Tailwheels and their associated linkage should be carefully preflighted. Here’s a partially broken tailwheel chain link that has the potential to cause a complete...
Out-of-Date Hoses
As the fleet ages, many owners and builders forget to check the date codes on rubber hoses, especially in the engine compartment. Rubber hoses,...
Angle of Attack vs. Airspeed
Angle of attack indicators have been used by the military and airlines for years and have made their way into general aviation as well,...
Building the ‘Beater – Part 4
It’s hard to believe that several months have gone by again and it’s time for an update. I’ve told Carol many times over the...
In Case You Missed It
Light Stuff
Heres one instance where the sound of silence (as in no engine noise) wont signal the need to start scoping out a place to set down. The Urban Air motorglider offers a compromise that makes the best of both worlds: fuel-efficient powered cruising and exciting powered-off soaring.
A Custom Maintenance Manual for a Custom Aircraft
It may not be required, but it's essential for performing thorough inspections.
