![Maintenance technician William Vergonet conducts an inspection on a Cub. [Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_3535.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Post-Flight Maintenance Debrief")
![Pat McKiernan has found that he and his dad who built this beautiful RV-7 simply learned to enjoy the build. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Builder.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Life Lessons From Building an Airplane")
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AdobeStock_51865118.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "FAA MOSAIC Rule Fully Implemented")
![My 36 year old clipboard from when I started at Boeing. Engineering ruler and fastener/fastener hole cheat sheets. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Liaison_clipboard.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "What Is a Liaison Engineer?")
![At Sun ‘n Fun 2026, Viking Aircraft Engines surprised the crowd with its first complete kit — the V-42, a high-wing twin powered by two Honda-based engines. Here’s an early look. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/P1020293.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Viking V-42 Twin")
Leads for Avionics
To troubleshoot your system and wring out some wires, you will need to find a good way to make contact between the multimeter test leads and connector contacts.
The Case of Electrical Dropouts
Electrical gremlins can be tough to track down. This month’s case involved a non-builder owner of a fairly new RV-8, and it took us...
DIY Adjustable Rib Centerline Marking Tool
As a new builder I came quickly to the step of needing to mark rib centerlines to align the ribs with the predrilled holes in the skin.
Improperly Installed Intake Gaskets
We noticed the intake gaskets were leaking on cylinders 3 and 4 on the Lycoming IO-320 in an RV-9A. There was a logbook entry...
Watch Where You’re Going!
You can track on a smartphone or laptop the flight paths of Experimental aircraft as they fly in real time.
An Approach to Airplane Maintenance
If we put maintenance and repairs together, we can easily see a link between maintenance well done and minimizing repairs. Of course, too much...
Another Drill Guide
The cordless hand drill is a marvel of engineering. Lightweight and powerful, it can do just about any drilling job on an airplane. But...
Metal Magic: Removing Bad Rivets
How to properly remove bad or damaged rivets. You'll probably do this a lot over the course of an airplane project!
Here Come Hell’s Bells Again
We can use decibel calculations no matter if we are measuring in power or voltage; the calculations and outcome are identical.
Flaperons, Spoilers and Drooping Ailerons
There are some situations where there isn’t enough room on the wing’s trailing edge to split the functions cleanly between an inboard flap and...
In Case You Missed It
Support Your Wings
Having constructed several high-wing aircraft kits, I can attest to the anxiety that comes...
Contributors
Stein Bruch
Starting the new year, we welcome Stein Bruch back to resume his extremely...
The Home Machinist
If you need to send a part out to be built by a professional shop, a good drawing, well identified, is essential. The KISS principle applies, and be sure you don't request closer tolerances or more exotic materials than you really need, or it will cost you.
