A Soldering We Shall Go (Part 2)
When last we left our discussion of soldering, we touched briefly on each of the basic topics concerning joining electronic parts together using a...
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...
DIY Compact Blind-Rivet Puller
While building my Panther tail kit, I came upon this note in the assembly manual in the elevator joiner photo: “This rivet is impossible...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
In Case You Missed it
All About Avionics
More and more pilots are installing all-inclusive engine monitoring equipment in their aircraft, and, fortunately, todays monitors are dully reliable.
Homebuilding-In the House!
Building a hoist allows a builder to construct a full-span wing assembly inside his house-and keep it out of the family's way.
Homebuilt Airplanes—A Brief History
History's first aircraft were, for the most part, designed and built by individuals or...
Safety Is No Accident: Van’s RV series
It’s been a couple of years since we looked at how homebuilts generally fared in the accident statistics vis-à-vis certified aircraft. This time around we’ll look at the safety records of specific homebuilt designs, starting with the Van’s RV.