Builder Spotlight

Weight and balance, taxi tests, first flights and debriefings. This is what it all comes down to when you design and build a one-of-a-kind Experimental aircraft. Happily, the airplane lives up to its builders expectations… and then some.

Most of the hard work is done, and its time for dope. First, pick the right spray outfit, next find a clean, well-ventilated work area and finish your surface preparation, and then you're ready to spray. By Ron Alexander.

Builders Ken Scott and Ken Kruegers unique project is off the drawing board and into production. They're working with the engine builder, the wing is behind them, the nosebowl is taking shape-and the fuselage is taking over the living room;

Taping curved areas is essential if you want to keep them smooth, and the same goes for inspection rings or gussets. This month, we walk you through the process and help you iron out any problems; by Ron Alexander.

The Jabiru engine is a thing of beauty to behold, and it’s one reason this builder bought this particular aircraft kit. Though the installation was relatively easy, it still required some thinking ahead; by Bob Fritz.

Finishing tapes not only strengthen areas that need reinforcement, but they also cover unsightly screws, rivets and rib-lacing cord. This month we cover the types of tapes available, where they should be applied and how to apply them; by Ron Alexander.

It’s amazing what a little light will reveal, in this case a planned hole for the wing that would have been dangerously close to the wingspar. No worries. The problem was remedied, and it was on to fixing flaws in the wing’s surface and working on the nosewheel and front suspension; by Bob Fritz.

While builder Wolfgang Meyn loved the F-1 Rocket quickbuild kit, things got a little more complicated (and exciting) when he decided to add an Aero Supercharger Solutions supercharger teamed up with a modified Airflow Performance fuel-injection system; by Ed Wischmeyer.

When they couldn't find a likely single-seat homebuilt that would work as an inexpensive but reliable commuter airplane, two builders who are well versed in metal aircraft construction took it upon themselves to design and build one;

Deciding that you don't want to paint your homebuilt airplane yourself means placing your baby in the hands of a paint shop. Susan Brunner offers some tips to help manage this important aspect of the building process successfully.