Exhaust cracks can be insidious, although sometimes they leave a gray-looking residue. Use a bright flashlight and inspect them every time the cowling is off.
![[Credit: Wikimedia Commons]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/4_rutan_a_longez.jpg_preview.jpg?w=218&h=150&crop=1 "Rutan Symposium Turns to the Coming Canard Maintenance Crisis")
![[Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Fuel-Selector.jpg?w=218&h=150&crop=1 "Fuel Follies")
In Case You Missed It
What’s New
Cub Crafters introduces a Carbon Cub kit, a new study of LSAs may affect insurance rates, and AeroLEDs offers new LED anti-collision/landing lights; edited by Mary Bernard.
![A CFI talks a pilot through the checklist — a step toward scraping off years of rust and getting back into the air. [Credit: LeRoy Cook]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_3254.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Returning to Flying")
Returning to Flying
"I haven’t flown for quite a while," starts the conversation. “I was wondering if...