![[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
Roy Beisswenger reports on The Farm, and all that was new and exciting in the ultralight area at Oshkosh AirVenture 2011.
Learning to Weld
Ken Scott's series on welding closes with an afterword from his mentor, Philip Groelz, who explains why TIG welding is the way to go.
Homebuilt Aircraft Insurance
Choosing insurance for your homebuilt can be a complex decision. Scott Smith breaks it down and explains what you need to keep your plane covered-at every stage.
Alternative Energies
Dale Kramer invigorated the ultralight movement in the 1970s with the Lazair. Now he's doing it again-with a battery-powered version. By Dean Sigler.
Wind Tunnel
The way lift is distributed along a wing's span affects both the structure and its aerodynamics.
Traveling Machine
Van's two-seat RV-12 LSA proves itself as a surprisingly travel-friendly cross-country airplane. By Marc Cook.
2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer’s Guide
The 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide features a stunning 316 designs.
Editor’s Log
Mary Bernard discusses the challenges companies face when they try to improve an existing design, let alone develop a new product. The Glasair Sportsman TC is a case in point.
What’s New
TCW Technologies announces two new products, ChartFlier introduces a low-cost entry to the ADS-B market, and a veteran airshow performer pilots the SubSonex jet on its maiden flight.
In Case You Missed It
Firewall Forward: Ignition System Basics
This episode in our Firewall Forward series looks at magneto ignition systems and ignition...
Coloring Outside the Lines
Enhance your homebuilt aircraft with clever, lightweight mods like glove boxes, armrests, and cargo cleats—without sacrificing safety or balance.
Traveling Machine
Van's two-seat RV-12 LSA proves itself as a surprisingly travel-friendly cross-country airplane. By Marc Cook.
Understanding Experimental Light Sport Aircraft
Dave Martin explains the different designations of factory-built and Experimental Light Sport Aircraft and how they continue to evolve.