![[Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Inspections-534x462.jpg "Last Bits")
![Air Salvage of Dallas is one of the largest and longest-established aircraft salvage yards, with a very large inventory. [Credit: Air Salvage of Dallas]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/5225124_orig-265x198.jpg "Salvage Parts")
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AdobeStock_176619176-265x198.jpg "Instructional Inflexibility")
![The author flying his Sinson 108-2 Voyager in the skies above British Columbia, Canada. [Credit: Mike Davenport]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CF-EZB-over-water-D.-Cardy-photo-265x198.jpg "A 30-Year Love Affair With My Stinson")
Aero ‘lectrics
Jim Weir concludes his explanation of how to make any cell phone power up a remote electrical device.
Wind Tunnel
Contrary to popular belief, the frontal area of an airplane is not the most important determinant of drag.
Lockwood Super Drifter
Throttling back to enjoy the Florida scenery, Marc Cook is reminded of the reasons he first fell in love with flying as he pilots the new Lockwood Super Drifter.
Editor’s Log
In some of the impressive projects described in this issue, and the dedication and passion of their designers and builders, Editor-in-Chief Mary Bernard finds reasons to be hopeful about the future of aviation.
What’s New
Zenith debuts the CH 650 QBK, Kuntzleman’s announces a Wingtip LED Light System, and Radial Rocket introduces Streamline Airframe Kits.
Viewfinder
Burt Rutan’s 1980s Catbird was originally designed for the CAFE Foundation fuel-efficiency competition, but Marc Cook wonders whether it might make a fine homebuilt kit aircraft today.
Light and Capable
There are so many ways to try to keep the weight down in a homebuilt project, but some are better than others.
Down to Earth
After a reluctant transition from paper to pixels, Amy Laboda explores the options available in digital-charting apps and how she arrived at a decision.
Alternative Energies
Graphene “paper,” drag-racing electric motorcycles and hybrid aircraft were hot topics at the Electric Aircraft Symposium in Santa Rosa, California, and illustrated the progress being made in alternative energy sources. By Dean Sigler.
The Coming Revolution
Tremendous progress has been made in the Automatic Speech Recognition realm (think iPhone’s Siri), and this technology may be a boon to solo pilots sooner than you think. By James P. Hauser.
In Case You Missed It
SeaRey Amphib LSA Flight Trial
Here's an over-the-transom report on the SeaRey LSA amphibian from Aviation Consumer's Jeff Van West, who is having more fun than he deserves.
What’s New
New landing lights from AeroLEDs, a lightweight headset from MGL, the electric Waiex makes its first flight, and FatBoy offers throttle quadrants for Vans RV kit aircraft. Edited by Mary Bernard.