![At Sun ‘n Fun 2026, Viking Aircraft Engines surprised the crowd with its first complete kit — the V-42, a high-wing twin powered by two Honda-based engines. Here’s an early look. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/P1020293.jpg?w=534&h=462&crop=1 "Viking V-42 Twin")
![[Credit: Van's Aircraft]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_5238.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Part 22 Gets Real: Van’s Delivers the First MOSAIC-Certified Airplane")
![[Credit: Wikimedia Commons]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4_rutan_a_longez.jpg_preview.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "Rutan Symposium Turns to the Coming Canard Maintenance Crisis")
![[Credit: Flight Desgn GmbH]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1_mosaic_flightdesign.jpg_preview.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "FAA Accepts ASTM Standards, Clearing the Last Hurdle for MOSAIC")
![[Credit: magniX]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Magnix.jpg?w=265&h=198&crop=1 "magniX Opens Pre-Orders for an Electric Engine Aimed at Homebuilders")
Building a Backbone
Building the “spinal cord” from panel to tail is far easier (even when you use conduit) before the floors are nailed down, so think about it early.
Professionally Hosed: Watch Aero Performance Build Hoses for Experimental and Certified...
Myron Nelson recently paid a visit to Aero Performance, a subsidiary of Aircraft Spruce, to see how hoses are made.
Quick Tip: In Praise of the Doodlebug
Nobody likes trying to remove dried bug residue. Unless you catch them while still, um, moist, insect remains will dry to have an impressive attachment to your airframe.
Crystal Balling — What Will Rotax Do Next?
My latest prognostication jag centers on what’s next for Rotax. And it’s driven by a feeling that there’s no time to waste moving up the horsepower ladder.
Hide the Comm
Someone asked me (after seeing the panel photo of our nascent Rocket front office) why there are circuit breakers underneath the IFR Nav/Transponder on...
Oshkosh Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture
The new measures for the annual fly-in stem from pilot feedback and FAA review of arrival procedure recommendations.
RARA Announces Roswell
Reno Air Racing Association announced the new home of the National Championship Air Races (NCAR) is Roswell, New Mexico.
Panel Tricks… and Cheats
Even if you’re only off a small fraction of an inch, the eye sees that the air vent isn’t concentric in the hole.
In Case You Missed It
Letters
Spackling Paste? Wow!I commend Vince Homer for his exhaustive study of spackling paste as...
Ask the DAR
Can a homebuilt whose core is a certified airplane fuselage ever be seen as an Experimental?
