Builder Spotlight

In this series installment, author Bob Fritz takes you through the basics of building a carbon fiber tank, including measuring, layout, patterns, cutting, epoxy-flox application, sanding, sawing, epoxying and finish work.

Whether portable handheld or panel-mounted, GPSes are the wave of the future in avionics, and these units can store and display a remarkable amount of detailed information. With nifty docks, handhelds can perform much like the panel-mounts in the cockpit, yet be removed for use in other vehicles.

This brand new power management system harnesses CPU power to eliminate the need for much of an aircrafts wiring by consolidating major electrical functions into a single box. It comprises three units: a display, controller module/panel housing and mag controller. Bundled into the setup are radios, instruments (including GPS, EFIS and engine monitoring) and lights. Each flight phase is broken down into the tasks normally performed manually by the pilot, and the VP-200 addresses them more or less automatically, while also providing override capability in the event of a system failure.

Extreme Simple Green - Aircraft is a new product designed to clean your aircraft safely without damaging finishes. Its effective in removing oil and other dirt from the exterior surfaces as well as the interior, and is used by Boeing on its family of airplanes. Its available at specialty stores and aviation supply houses.

Builders share their successes.

Welcome to the first of what we expect to be many web-based updates on KITPLANES big project for the year, the construction of a...

How to meld with metal and bash rivets without blood or tears; by Dan Checkoway.

Sonex Designer John Monnett returns to the motorglider scene with the two-place Xenos.

Part 4 of 8: Installing Controls

KITPLANES Magazine, March 2003 Every great homebuilt starts with a comfortable and efficient workshop.By Ken Scott So you've met the homebuilt airplane of your...