Aero ‘lectrics
Columnist Jim Weir comes up with what he thinks is the optimal design for getting power from the 12-volt aircraft battery to the LED without wasting any.
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.
The Home Machinist
This month Home Machinist Bob Fritz answers readers letters and passes along some of their better ideas.
Aero ‘lectrics
Columnist Jim Weir puts two, two, two LED lights in one hole, angled to ensure the maximum nav light visibility in any direction. He explains how to put the system together and explains why heat matters.
Setting Up Shop
Before you decide you cant build a plane because you don't have enough shop space, think again. After all, as author Bob Fritz points out, projects have been built in apartments. This article wont go quite that far, but it does detail some pitfalls to avoid and makes suggestions about maximizing the ease and efficiency of working in a limited-space environment.
Aero ‘lectrics
Using LEDs for lighting an aircraft has much to commend it. Low draw, reasonable cost, long life, good visibility. This month, Jim Weir takes us through the beginning steps of building these lighting systems yourself, using off-the-shelf parts and a little ingenuity.
The Home Machinist
What do you do if you want to cut a longer-than-usual taper? Well, first you'll need to create a simple tool from some round stock that will provide target zones for your dial indicator, and then you may need to buy some more tools-what a shame! Home Machinist Bob Fritz takes you through the process. Hint: Choosing the right Morse Taper is critical.
Aero ‘lectrics
If you've ever wondered who invented the ubiquitous light-emitting diode, wonder no more. Columnist Jim Weir explains the origin and evolution of LEDs, and how to wire them up for use in your aircraft.
The Home Machinist
Using a real computer-assisted design (CAD) program to design your panel has multiple benefits.
Aero ‘lectrics
Jim Weir continues the project he started last month as he attempts to bring a little intermittence to a homemade tone generator so that it will go beep, beep instead of one long beeeeeeeeep when alerting you to an out-of-norm condition.
In Case You Missed it
Small-bottle O2: Aithre, Aerox Compacts
Personal-sized oxygen bottles save space and weight, while serving as belt-and-suspender backup. But go bigger if you use O2 regularly.
The Usual Suspect, Part 2: Missing Power
The dark interior of a hangar comes into focus as an announcer says, “Building...
All About Avionics
Todays homebuilt aircraft avionics packages often incorporate a number of boxes behind the panel, all requiring a particular type of wiring to go with them (not to mention all the other power draws such as lights, flap motors, etc.). Its advisable, then, to consider the length and nature of the wiring to be included in your project from the moment you start building. Avionics techno Stein Bruch explains the how and why of managing the wiring requirements for your aircraft.