![Maintenance technician William Vergonet conducts an inspection on a Cub. [Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_3535.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Post-Flight Maintenance Debrief")
![Pat McKiernan has found that he and his dad who built this beautiful RV-7 simply learned to enjoy the build. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Builder.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Life Lessons From Building an Airplane")
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AdobeStock_51865118.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "FAA MOSAIC Rule Fully Implemented")
![My 36 year old clipboard from when I started at Boeing. Engineering ruler and fastener/fastener hole cheat sheets. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Liaison_clipboard.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "What Is a Liaison Engineer?")
![At Sun ‘n Fun 2026, Viking Aircraft Engines surprised the crowd with its first complete kit — the V-42, a high-wing twin powered by two Honda-based engines. Here’s an early look. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/P1020293.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Viking V-42 Twin")
Weighty Matters
We’ve all been taught the five primary forces of flight—lift, thrust, gravity and drag. (Plus money, but it’s more existential.) Let’s focus on gravity,...
Let the Ink Dry
For as long as I can remember, and thankfully that is more than five decades, I’ve read of builders performing an aircraft’s first flight...
Insurance for Homebuilts: Planning 101
Choosing the right model for your skill level and one that’s well-supported is the first step in dealing with a hardened insurance climate.
Pick the Best Rubber Hose for Your Fuel System
It’s hard to deny that rubber hose is still a popular choice for many homebuilt fuel systems. It is relatively inexpensive and very easy...
Horizontal Stabilizer Crack
In 2014 Van’s Aircraft put out a service bulletin for potential cracking in the horizontal stabilizers of the RV-6, RV-7 and RV-8 series of...
The Proof Is in the Putting
Putting it on the hangar roof and wiring it to the airplane, that is. This is the first of a whole lot of things...
Mr. Bearhawk’s Wild Ride
Calm winds at the airport and clear skies don’t necessarily mean it’s a good day to go flying!
Design Process: Distribution of Lift Coefficient
In the last few months, we have explored how planform and taper affect both the distribution of total lift across the span and the...
In Case You Missed It
Sling Shot
From initial climb performance to Chuck-Yeager-like landings, the Sling 2 reveals its designer's emphasis on handling.
