Exploring

This month, a new column introduces Designated Airworthiness Representative Mel Asberry, who describes his background in homebuilding and details some of what hes looking for as a DAR. Questions welcome.

Earlier this year, columnist Dave Martin had the opportunity to fly Flight Designs CTSW (short wing) factory-built Light Sport Aircraft. This month, he flies the company's new CTLS (Light Sport model), and he details the differences between the two.

The FAAs John Hickey and Frank Paskiewicz got an earful at the AirVenture forum assembled to illuminate proposed changes to the 51% rule. Although some of the comments ran far afield, many more homebuilders posed thoughtful and challenging questions in an effort to help them understand where they stand with regard to the new regulations; by Marc Cook.

AirGizmos offers new gadgets, RDD Enterprises makes speed brakes for the Vans RV-10, and AeroLEDs offers LED-based nav/strobe lights; edited by Mary Bernard.

Leave it to Dick Starks to get his foot in the door of a movie set by supplying WW-I replica aircraft. Once there, leave it to Dick to find trouble, even when hes not looking for it. No worries, though. Alls well that ends well, and the whole experience makes for a story thatll have you laughing out loud.

Most of the attendees at Oshkosh AirVenture each year seek out the latest, greatest, craziest, most innovative gear they can find, and our KITPLANES crew is no exception. This year we've come up with some brand new gadgets and some items that have escaped our attention till now but shouldn't have; a staff report.

Dan Parker aims to capture the world altitude record by flying to 31,051 feet in an aircraft he designed and built, and which weighs less than 200 kilograms. We checked in on him to see how things are progressing.

You like to think that once you're finished building, those deliriously long cross-country flights you've been craving are near at hand. Enter the DAR, who may or may not agree with that premise. Columnist Amy Laboda and her husband were just such eager beavers, but they soon learned (somewhat reluctantly) that there's value in listening to the voice of experience.

This month, Light Stuff columnist Dave Martin briefly reviews the history of single-seat ultralights and predicts their future as ELSAs. Assuming they are neither fat nor too fast, getting the required training may still be a stickler.

Eventually even the best company founders want to retire, and Dick VanGrunsven of Vans Aircraft is no exception. Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook discusses the succession plan and why the future continues to look bright for this Pacific Northwest luminary.