Parked Props
As anyone who studied for their private pilot exam 50 years ago should know, airplane propellers should be parked horizontally—that's so that when it...
Slack Time – Part 3
Flying airplanes need attention, even when they aren’t flying and especially when the factory issues a new service bulletin! This winter, Van’s Aircraft put...
Slack Time – Part 2
So about that lathe and how it begat the need to learn welding. A recent addition to our airpark neighborhood is KITPLANES Home Shop...
Slack Time – Part 1
There’s no doubt about it—this has been a strange winter. Here in northern Nevada, we have gotten weather (and snowfall) in the lee of...
This is How I Spent My SnF
The only Sun ’n Fun I have missed since I have been working with Kitplanes has been the ones affected by COVID—but this year,...
What’s It Like to Fly With Angle of Attack?
KITPLANES editor at large Paul Dye takes you on a flight in his wife's Van's RV-6 to show what it's like to fly primarily...
Almost an Airplane!
After almost eight and a half years of on-again, off-again building (other airplanes and projects seem to keep getting in the way), we finally...
How Many? This Many!
All that’s left before the eXenos takes to the air is the FAA to come out and give us an Airworthiness Certificate, so I...
Take the Stress Out of Stud Pulling
There are dozens of threaded studs in a Lycoming (or Lycoming-style) engine, most of which you’ll never have to deal with between overhauls. Sure,...
Tap, Tap…
How many little habits do you have that you have had for longer than you can remember and can’t seem to shake? I don’t...
In Case You Missed It
Build It Better: For Want of a Nail
In aviation, one pin out of place can result in disaster. Details matter.
Fixed Pitch vs. Constant Speed
Deciding to use a fixed-pitch propeller or step up to the higher weight, cost, and complexity of a constant-speed prop in order to improve performance.