The Dawn Patrol
When the chainsaw starters they'd been using on their airplanes for years finally started to give out, Dawn Patrol members searched for a replacement. It turned up in a garden tractor.
Alternative Energies
Electric vehicles and aircraft may be the future, but how will we create the energy to power them while minimizing environmental damage? By Dean Sigler.
When Good Electrons Go Bad
When wiring up a homebuilt aircraft, it pays to ask: What do I want to protect myself from?
Light Stuff
The dream of flying cars remains alive and well, and several companies are taking on the challenge. By Roy Beisswenger.
What’s New
MGL Avionics introduces a V6 com radio, and Grand Rapids Technologies offers a 10.4-inch HXr EFIS.
Viewfinder
Marc Cook considers the relevance of airworthiness directives for homebuilders and reflects on what he learned about the current homebuilt market at Sun ’n Fun.
Tools for Homebuilders, Part 1
Terry Edwards covers some of the less-often discussed aspects of homebuilding, from the decision-making processes, to the best sources for assistance to choosing a project director (and deciding if you need one).
Inside KITPLANES: Flight Review Procedures
KITPLANES has a system for conducting flight reviews of airplanes, much like homebuilders may (or should) when they are considering which project to build. Editor-at-Large Marc Cook takes you through the evaluation process.
Alternative Energies
Solar-powered aircraft may have some inherent limits, but they are also marvels of engineering that constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible. By Dean Sigler.
In Case You Missed It
Aircraft Modification Choices
Aftermarket mods for amateur-built aircraft are booming, but not all upgrades deliver on performance, safety or practicality.
Build Your Skills: Fabric
Fabric has been used to cover a wide variety of aircraft since the Wright brothers first started tinkering with flying machines. But fabric-covering processes have changed a lot in the last century, becoming more systematic in addition to being more reliable. Part 1 of this new series by Ron Alexander details the evolution of fabric covering and discusses some of the basics of getting started.