![[Credit: ChatGPT]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/What-did-you-miss-Topaz-Gigapixel-4x-scale.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Last Bits"){kind=tracking}
![The best builders learn to combine both mindsets. They build like engineers but think like future mechanics. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_0037.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Building vs. Fixing")
![[Credit: Wikimedia Commons]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Odd and Unusual Aircraft")
![After nearly 75 years, the basic Tailwind design remains sound. [Credit: LeRoy Cook]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_4636.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "The Wittman Tailwind")
![Trimming composites gets the full PPE job. [Credit: Eric Stewart]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "A Few of My Favorite Tools")
Light Stuff
Sport Pilot rules make it possible to fly a powered parachute or flexwing trike at night, but make sure you have the right equipment.
Letters
Mea CulpaI know my eyes aren’t what they used to be, but for the life of me, I can’t find the circuit diagram for...
Kitfox vs. Kitfox
A side-by-side comparison between an old Kitfox Model 4 and a new Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport SLSA. And the winner is?
Two-axis Electric Trim Controller for Under $50
This homebuilt two-axis electric trim controller has all the functions of the fanciest commercial units, yet it costs less than $50 for the parts.
Going Glass in a Glasair
Lessons learned while installing a Dynon SkyView system in a Glasair Super II apply to all types of experimentals. By Gary Jones.
Firewall Forward: Electrical Systems, Part 2
Alternators, busses, breakers and fuses form the core of aircraft electrical systems. Here’s what you need to know to install them correctly.
The Owner Assisted Interior
Working with an upholstery expert can save you money and time when designing and installing an interior in an Experimental aircraft. By Mike Manning.
Buzzwords: Adverse Yaw
Adverse yaw is usually defined as an airplane yawing in the direction opposite the intended turn direction when insufficient coordinating rudder is applied. True enough, sort of. But there’s more to the story. By Edward P. Kolano.
Future Fuels, Part 2
When 100LL phases out, the replacement will almost certainly be a 100-octane equivalent. But which one? By Paul Bertorelli.
In Case You Missed It
Garmin Smart Glide
New software that’s an extra layer of automation for
backstopping emergency deadstick landings.
Contributors
Chuck Bodeen Chucks background is as an aerospace engineer and computer programmer. His love for...
