Tilting the Mill Head
Most milling machines have the capability to tilt the head to make angled cuts. This comes in handy when the workpiece can’t be conveniently...
Off the Grid (Chapter 2)
Here we go with what I promised you last month. This may be the simplest—and yet the most complex—discussion of what it means to...
NPT and Aircraft Fittings–Don’t Get That Size Wrong!
National Pipe Thread is a U.S. standard for tapered threads, which we find on many aircraft fittings. Contrast this with straight threads, which are...
Past Due ELT Batteries
There is a requirement for an annual ELT check to be entered into the aircraft logbooks. The batteries must be replaced prior to the...
Vertical, Vertical and so Very Practical
So, here we are with fly-in season upon us. And fire season. And lots of reasons to have an aircraft com station on the...
Carburetor Maintenance
Neglect is the biggest enemy of your carburetor. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
The Other P Factor
Late last year I flew from Southern California to Tucson and back in my Jabiru Light Sport. The flight was about 3½ hours each...
Prepare for a Charge
The battery you install in your homebuilt kit will have nearly the same kind of life as the one in your automobile. It will...
Ye Olde Slip Roll
This month’s project is a follow-on to the Pietenpol muffler that was the subject of the Home Shop Machinist column in the May 2019...
Jam Nut Triple Threat
Jam nuts serve a purpose and that is to prevent actuating arms from becoming disconnected. I found three examples on the same airplane. Two...
In Case You Missed it
Metal Magic: Cutting and Shaping Angle Aluminum
In another segment of KITPLANES' Metal Magic series, editor at large Paul Dye shows...
Engine Beat
Exhaust systems do more than just get air into and out of aircraft engines. Exhaust system design, in terms of exhaust pipe length, diameter and tuning, affect the efficiency and performance of the engine, for better or worse.
The Home Machinist
Charlie Taylor, the Wright brothers trusted right-hand man and machinist, made their early powered flight experiments possible. And he built the engine using only a drill press, a lathe, a simple scale and more than a little ingenuity; by Bob Fritz.