Homemade Open-End Wrench
Anyone who knows me is familiar with my love of homemade tools. It comes from my dad. He was a blacksmith in my youth,...
Those Rivet Holes
In a prior Plane and Simple article (“Debunking Deburring,” March 2023), we discussed the importance of removing the burrs created by drilling holes in...
Terms of the Trade
I’ve been a teacher most of my life, but my first paid gig in 1967 was teaching avionics (aviation electronics) at a community college...
Out-of-Date Hoses
As the fleet ages, many owners and builders forget to check the date codes on rubber hoses, especially in the engine compartment. Rubber hoses,...
Angle of Attack vs. Airspeed
Angle of attack indicators have been used by the military and airlines for years and have made their way into general aviation as well,...
Chemysteries
All machined things (parts, tools, etc.) eventually have to be “finished” in one way or another. This may include tumbling, sandblasting or burnishing, but...
Solder It Up
We are almost to the end of our romp through the solder pads. We’ve learned about the solder itself, and now it is time...
One Step Drill and Tap
We use quite a few small machine screws in our homebuilt projects. These small screws might be found, for example, holding the instrument panel...
In Case You Missed it
Unfit for Flight
Our culture’s version of schadenfreude often distills down to something called the Darwin Award,...
Avionics Bootcamp: ADS-B For Canada and Beyond
If you’ve equipped your plane for the U.S. ADS-B mandate, there’s a good chance it won’t work in other countries, including Canada.