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Bob Grimstead offers an appreciation of the VariEze and its designer, Burt Rutan. Both the man and the design were ahead of their time.

When it came to choosing a kit aircraft to build, columnist Amy Laboda and her husband opted for a metal design, in part because it would be resistant to destruction by lightning strike and also because fatigue is easier to detect in metal than it is in a composite plane. However, new nanotube technology, if integrated into composite construction material, could not only help identify wear problems, but also potentially heal them.

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.

Paying attention to the working environment and maintaining machining tools in tip-top shape can yield a more polished finished product, while also making the fabrication process easier.