![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")
Giraldo Sonex Waiex B
At Sun 'n Fun 2016 my father Muricio Giraldo purchased the Waiex B blueprints and in November of that year the tail kit arrived...
Schaum Murphy Rebel
After fifteen years of building perseverance, my "RebVair" finally took to the skies on November 15, 2022. It's the only flying Murphy Rebel powered...
Van’s Begins Informing Builders of New Agreements
As predicted last week, prices have gone up, with some builders reporting increases beyond the expected 35%.
Vic Visits Advanced Flight Systems
Vic Syracuse gets a tour and asks founder Rob Hickman and his staff what makes the company’s offerings unique.
New Alaska Digs for Aircraft Spruce
Larger facility enables the company to increase local inventory to provide optimum service to customers throughout Alaska.
Machine, Weld… Repeat!
The project was certainly educational, and those of you with lots of experience welding will chuckle at my expense.
Van’s Updates Kit Pricing and Ordering Policies
Van’s Aircraft will be raising kit prices approximately 32%—the result of an intensive internal assessment and cost review.
EAA Homebuilders Week Returns in January
EAA Homebuilders Week virtual presentations are open, free of charge, to everyone interested in building aircraft.
Van’s Bankruptcy: How Did They Get Here?
How can the largest and most successful company in the kit-aircraft world find itself in this situation?
Commentary: Why Van’s Shouldn’t Kill the RV-15
Some have suggested that the only “right” thing for Van’s to do is kill (or at least shelve for now) the RV-15.
In Case You Missed It
Unusual Attitude
The Dawn Patrol, led by Dick Starks, launches for Holden, Missouri, to witness the taxi test of an 80%-scale replica of a 1915 de Havilland DH-2. The unintended consequence of an innocent road trip leads Dick to consider becoming a repeat building offender.
