![[All images credited to Mike Davenport]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DSC_6716.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Glasair Sportsman 2+2, Part Two")
![Dragging it in low and slow for the STOL competition. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/SnF_dragging_in.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Sun ’n Fun 2026 Recap: Avionics Upgrades, Thorp Kits, and STOL Action")
![[Credit: McFarlane Alaska]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/McFarlane_tailwheel.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "McFarlane Alaska Absorbs Backcountry Favorite T3 Tailwheel")
![[Credit: FAA]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FAA-Mosaic-1.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "MOSAIC Isn’t a Question of Can You—But Why You’d Build")
![[Credit: EAA]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/vintage-in-review-herb-clark.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Vintage in Review Returns to Oshkosh: Five Days, Five Stories, and a Living OX-5")
A Rare Chance For Kit Builders
Murphy Rebel Kit Auction
The auction of a near-complete Murphy Rebel kit presents a unique opportunity for homebuilt aircraft enthusiasts and marks an interesting development...
Thorp S-18 Under New Ownership
A Classic Gets New Life and Full-Kit Production
October 2025 marks a revival for one of experimental aviation's true classics—the Thorp S-18—under new ownership and...
SilverLight Aviation Recon Kit
Backcountry Capability Meets Builder-Friendly Design
SilverLight Aviation is setting the homebuilt market abuzz with its Recon Airplane kit, launched nationally at Sun ’n Fun last...
Sonex Highwing Update
Practical Utility Meets Builder Flexibility
Sonex Aircraft’s new Highwing is fast becoming a phenomenon among experimental aviation enthusiasts, blending advanced utility with aerobatic handling and...
Hybrid Power: From Hype to Hardware
The VoltAero HPU 210 is a firewall-forward package that blends a supercharged Kawasaki H2SX-derived engine with a 60-kilowatt electric motor.
Zenith Homecoming 2025: Skills, Shop Tours, and Real-World Builder Knowledge
There are events that entertain, and then there are events that refuel a project.
Builder Demographics Evolve as Participation Patterns Shift
Participation in homebuilding remains strong, but the way people engage with the process is evolving, and so is the character of the community.
A Note From The New Editor
The primary focus of a new editor at a magazine like Kitplanes is where the work happens—not in an office, but in a garage,...
Firecrown Aviation Group Names New Editors for KITPLANES and AVweb
Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group has appointed two new editorial leaders as the company continues to expand and invest in its family of publications.
KITPLANES
Randall Brink has...
Zenith Announces 34th Annual Fly-In Event
Open Hangar Days include hands-on workshops and educational seminars.
In Case You Missed It
Flight Testing
Even current pilots need to hone specific skills before attempting a first flight in their homebuilts. There's only one way to do that: practice. And then practice some more.
What’s The Worst That Could Happen?
When you're tempted to take shortcuts during a build or repair without asking questions about the ramifications, it may be wise to contemplate the worst-case scenario.
Viewfinder
Marc Cook presents an argument for rewriting LSA weight-limit rules to encourage new design and technology, while improving safety and performance.
Who’s Got the Time?
Are you logging pilot flight time and aircraft time in service correctly? By Owen C. Baker.