![[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")
Ask The DAR
DAR Mel Asberry answers a reader’s question regarding the Experimental/Amateur-Built eligibility of an airplane he’s building with parts salvaged from a Cessna 175.
Aero ‘lectrics
An increasing number of pilots are turning to iPad and Android apps for use in the cockpit. Jim Weir takes an in-depth look at one of the more popular ones: ForeFlight.
Wind Tunnel
Taxi testing may seem to be a mere formality, but it is a vital step toward bringing a new aircraft to flight, and is not without its dangers.
Fisher Flying Products
Fisher Flying has been a fixture on the homebuilt scene for 30 years. With a new owner and a new home, the company—whose designs include the classic Dakota Hawk—is ready for a new generation.
2012 Engine Buyer’s Guide
In Part 1 of our 2012 Engine Buyer’s Guide, Marc Cook explores what’s currently available in traditional powerplants, and why such engines might be the best choice for your homebuilt aircraft needs.
Guest Editorial
KITPLANES® publisher Cindy Pedersen bids readers a fond farewell as she embarks on a new journey—retirement.
What’s New
RV-12 building assistance is available on DVD from HomebuiltHELP; Plane-Power has introduced a new alternator for Continental 520 and 550 engines; WhirlWind announces a new composite, ground-adjustable propeller for the Rotax 912/914 engine.
Viewfinder
Editor at Large Marc Cook takes to the soapbox to expound on the ever-increasing fees imposed by the FAA.
Alternative Energies
Rapid strides are being made in the development of ultralight electric motorgliders. Dean Sigler talks to a few of the manufacturers at the forefront of this field.
Down to Earth
Amy Laboda updated the avionics package on her RV-10 with an NavWorx ADS600-B box, and its ADS-B function has opened a whole new window on the world.
In Case You Missed It
Metal Magic: Driven Rivets
An introduction to driving round-head rivets with a rivet gun and bucking bar, the staple skill needed for building a metal airplane.
Evaluating a Used Engine
How do you decide, without taking an engine completely apart, whether or not it will give you at least several years of good service?
Engine-run Requirements for the DAR Inspection
Do you need to run your engine for the DAR? How does using a certified engine and prop affect your Phase I test period? How about the gray areas regarding dual flight instruction? DAR Mel Asberry gives you the straight scoop.