![[Credit: Lisa Credit]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Experimental.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Have You Seen Your Oplims?")
![[Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/737_VGs2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Vortex Generators")
![[Credit: Van's Aircraft]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Vans_RV14A.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Something New On The Horizon")
![[Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Chute-Topaz-Gigapixel-2x-scale.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Should You Consider A Whole Aircraft Parachute?"){kind=tracking}
![A CubCrafter’s Carbon Cub headed to Sun ‘n Fun in the time-honored tradition. [Credit: CubCrafters]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Carbon-Cub-UL.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Sun ‘n Fun 2026 Highlights: Electric RV-10, Modular Avionics, and MOSAIC")
Sun ‘n Fun 2026 Highlights: Electric RV-10, Modular Avionics, and MOSAIC
By the time the first twilight aerobatic act lit up the new “Composite Airshow” on Wednesday night, it was obvious that Sun ’n Fun...
![A CFI talks a pilot through the checklist — a step toward scraping off years of rust and getting back into the air. [Credit: LeRoy Cook]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_3254.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Returning to Flying")
Returning to Flying
"I haven’t flown for quite a while," starts the conversation. “I was wondering if you could brush me up a bit and get me...
![[Credit: Mike Davenport]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Over-Stave-Lake-3.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Glasair Sportsman 2+2 Build Part 3")
Glasair Sportsman 2+2 Build Part 3
In parts one and two of this builder’s story, I described Sean Walker’s progress to get from opening the first crate through to the...
![A sleek Glasair II. [Credit: Glasair]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Glasair-II_2863.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Class of ’86: How 1986 Transformed the Modern Kit Building Industry")
Class of ’86: How 1986 Transformed the Modern Kit Building Industry
Forty years ago this year, Chris Heintz’s CH701 first flew. That alone would be reason enough for a celebration. The 701 is one of...
![[Credit: ChatGPT]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/What-did-you-miss-Topaz-Gigapixel-4x-scale.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Last Bits"){kind=tracking}
Last Bits
Becky stood back from the RV-7 and admired every inch of the newly constructed airplane. She’d made her first flight a month ago and...
![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=324&h=235&crop=1 "Building vs. Fixing")
Building vs. Fixing
Somewhere during every aircraft project, a builder faces a quiet moment of truth. It might happen while drilling a hole in a structural member,...
![[Credit: Wikimedia Commons]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/F-117_Nighthawk_Front.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Odd and Unusual Aircraft")
Odd and Unusual Aircraft
If you look at the books in my library, and by that, I mean the ones on the shelves, not the ones next to......
![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=324&h=235&crop=1 "The Wittman Tailwind")
The Wittman Tailwind
Still viable in an age of uber-expensive composite homebuilts, the Wittman Tailwind continues to attract builders seeking maximum performance on minimum cost. Plans for...
![Trimming composites gets the full PPE job. [Credit: Eric Stewart]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-2.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "A Few of My Favorite Tools")
A Few of My Favorite Tools
Occasionally I see articles by colleagues on their favorite tools (a somewhat less controversial topic than favorite airplanes). I’ve had a growing list in...
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AdobeStock_125628775.jpg?w=324&h=235&crop=1 "Roll Recovery, Part 2")
Roll Recovery, Part 2
Part 1 of Rich Stowell’s series on upset and roll recovery appeared in the March 2026 issue of Kitplanes. In Part 2, he focuses...
In Case You Missed It
Archive: June 2003
We’ve seldom shied away from indulging a builder’s whimsy on our pages, including the...
Homebuilt Airplanes—A Brief History
History's first aircraft were, for the most part, designed and built by individuals or...
Down to Earth
The break-in and fly-off periods are nearly complete for the Vans RV-10, and now its time for paint and soon an unplanned cross-country trip; by Amy Laboda.