![The Hatz Biplane, NX71VH, re-engineered to be powered by a 124 hp radial engine. [Credit: Hatz Biplane Association]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Hatz-Bantam-Radial-124hp_1000004521-Topaz-Gigapixel-2x-scale.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Airplane Almost No One Knows, Part One"){kind=tracking}
![[Credit: CubCrafters]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC04228.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "CubCrafters’ New Turboprop MOSAIC LSA")
![A compact H3R Halon 1211 extinguisher, sized for a two-seat cockpit and safe on energized electrical fires. [Credit: H3R Aviation]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/mfr_H3R_A344T_Halon_1p25lb.jpg_preview-Topaz-Gigapixel-2x-scale.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Choosing the Right Cockpit Fire Extinguisher for Your Aircraft"){kind=tracking}
![The Zenith CH701 outside the hangar at SMX, fresh from paint. The stars-and-stripes theme marks America’s 250th and the CH701’s 40th anniversary. [Credit: Carson Stilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_1726.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Zenith CH 701: A Proof of Concept Homebuilt on a Budget")
![Low-level aerial view of AirVenture, looking down the main thoroughfare toward Boeing Plaza, with the flightline and runway 18/36 beyond. [Credit: LeRoy Cook]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_4521.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "AirVenture 2026 in Review")
Horizons Past And Present—Peter Egan
A summer of open-cockpit adventures, from biplane fly-ins to Peter Egan’s cross-country Cub journey, capturing America low and slow.
Coloring Outside the Lines
Enhance your homebuilt aircraft with clever, lightweight mods like glove boxes, armrests, and cargo cleats—without sacrificing safety or balance.
Build, Test, Refine and Fix—Part 6: High AoA Tail Effects
We explore how the tail design can improve pitch stability at high angles of attack.
Companion DIY Drill Guide
Build a simple aluminum jig to drill AN bolt threads for safety wiring—perfect for when your hardware bin is missing just one critical part.
Build Smart: Make Mods That Matter
Some mods are better than others. Know how to pick the right ones.
Flying Hot
Summer heat can be more than uncomfortable—it can be dangerous. Smart planning, proper cooling, and a little altitude can keep you flying safely.
Nuts. What to Do When Thrown a Curve
When fasteners crowd a radius or bend, radius washers, blocks, or spot facing can solve the problem—without compromising strength or workmanship.
Polliwagen
A sharp-looking homebuilt with early promise, the Polliwagen suffered from pitch quirks that left it nearly extinct just decades after its debut.
In Case You Missed It
What’s New: Dynon’s New Com Radio and Intercom
Audio components designed to work with the latest SkyView firmware 6.0.
Precious Metal
My wedding might not make it into Vogue, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t make it into KITPLANES!
Error Chain
CozyJet dead-stick. Losing an engine was the least of the problems. It was a brake fire that almost destroyed this one-of-a-kind homebuilt.