![Careful planning and determination will get you to your goal of building and flying your own airplane. [Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Pulsar-Sunset.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Last Bits")
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AdobeStock_262642207_AGCuesta.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Winging It")
![Lowell Farrand spent years serving as an FAA DAR and is in the EAA Hall of Fame. He offers sound advise to builders. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-4.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like a Builder")
![The 160 hp turbocharged Rotax 916iS is a four-stroke piston engine with redundant electronic fuel injection and ignition. [Credit: BPR Rotax]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PIC_916-iS_iSc-2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "2026 Engine Buyer’s Guide")
![The alternative to bending down as the propeller is pulled through the compression stroke is to keep the back straight and bend the knees slightly, stepping away in a crouch. [Credit: LeRoy Cook]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_1519-scaled.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Manual Starting Methods")
![The newly-restored F-24 enjoying the morning sun. [All Images Credited to Mike Davenport]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DSC_0001.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Golden Age Revival")
Golden Age Revival
Werner Griesbeck's meticulous total rebuild brings a classic 1938 Fairchild F-24 back into the air after decades.
![Humberd and his daughter using the 701 for some farm duty transportation. [All Images Credited to Jon Humberd]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Builder’s Spotlight")
Builder’s Spotlight
Part 22 of an ongoing Zenith 750SD Xtreme build, pushing the design further into extreme STOL performance territory.
![[Credit: Viking Aircraft Engines]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/engine.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Editor’s Log")
Editor’s Log
A wide-ranging look at the myriad engine choices facing today's homebuilt aircraft builders, designers, and pilots.
![[Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Inspections-1-scaled.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Last Bits")
![Author Bill Wilson takes a break from measuring and cutting the Lexan windshield during his Onex build. [All Images Credit to Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-2.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Think Like A Builder")
![Andrew bought a Thorp T-18 project, which started him down the road to experimental aircraft project ownership and construction. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_7725-scaled.jpeg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Winging It")
![[Credit: JetStream Rider]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AdobeStock_345999332.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "2026 Avionics and Lights Buyer’s Guide")
2026 Avionics and Lights Buyer’s Guide
The Homebuilt market in 2026 has more choices In avionics and lighting than ever.
![1936 Model 75 Boeing Stearman, s/n 003 now CF-TCQ. [Credit: Mike Davenport]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC_5743.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "1936 Boeing Stearman Rebuild")
![[Credit: Chat GPT]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Generated-image.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Homebuilder’s Insurance")
![Checking out East Tennessee scenery from the 701. [Credit: Jon Humberd]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Builder’s Spotlight")
In Case You Missed It
Around the Patch
Homebuilt aircraft manufacturers are sometimes reluctant to admit that they have created a less than perfect design, let alone offer a fix. Arion Aircrafts Nick Otterback is bucking that tide; by Marc Cook.
Wind Tunnel
Nine simple rules, distilled from years of experience (making—and fixing—assorted mistakes), can help any aircraft designer avoid disaster.
Aero ‘lectrics
This month, we look at how an airspeed indicator works and rig up a simple calibration tool for it;