![Trimming composites gets the full PPE job. [Credit: Eric Stewart]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-2.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "A Few of My Favorite Tools")
![Lowell Farrand spent years serving as an FAA DAR and is in the EAA Hall of Fame. He offers sound advise to builders. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-4.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like a Builder")
![Author Bill Wilson takes a break from measuring and cutting the Lexan windshield during his Onex build. [All Images Credit to Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-2.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Think Like A Builder")
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.
Maintenance Tools
If you are going to do a proper job of maintaining your airplane, you will need some tools that don’t have much use outside of aviation.
Disconnected Pitot Line
Ever lose your airspeed in flight? The nylon lines held in the “push-grip” fittings must have some flexibility in them so they aren’t pulled...
Don’t Get Stuck!
Have you ever found yourself in over your head when it comes to taking on a big project?
Smooth Out Your Ride
Dynamic propeller balancing can smooth out your ride and reduce wear and tear on engine parts.
In Case You Missed It
Ready to Build?
You can begin your aircraft project right now—before even deciding on a kit. Here are 10 ways to get ready to build.
Barefoot Flying
A relative newcomer to the U.S. kit aircraft clan, the Sport Air Corsario import from Rio de Janeiro borrows characteristics from other amphibians while displaying a personality and pleasurable flying qualities uniquely its own; by Dave Higdon.
The Scratch-Building Alternative
Mark Townsend’s scratch-building seminar allows builders to come away with the hands-on experience and the confidence they’ll need to start building a kit aircraft such as the Zenith STOL CH 701 from plans.