![A sleek Glasair II. [Credit: Glasair]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Glasair-II_2863.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Class of ’86: How 1986 Transformed the Modern Kit Building Industry")
![Careful planning and determination will get you to your goal of building and flying your own airplane. [Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Pulsar-Sunset.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Last Bits")
![Making rare use of my drafting tools for the internal timing. [All Images Credited to Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/P1010535.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Conquering the Magneto, Part 2")
![[Credit: AdobeStock]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AdobeStock_262642207_AGCuesta.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Winging It")
![Lowell Farrand spent years serving as an FAA DAR and is in the EAA Hall of Fame. He offers sound advise to builders. [Credit: Bill Wilson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-4.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Think Like a Builder")
![Humberd and his daughter using the 701 for some farm duty transportation. [All Images Credited to Jon Humberd]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-3.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Builder’s Spotlight")
![Andrew bought a Thorp T-18 project, which started him down the road to experimental aircraft project ownership and construction. [Credit: Andrew Robinson]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_7725-scaled.jpeg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Winging It")
![The integrated ECLIPSE NG features a very sunlight readable display that shows the engine and all flight data organized in one or more pages. [Credit: Fielden Aero LLC]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1_Screenshot_.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "FLYBOX Avionics")
![[Credit: Chat GPT]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Generated-image.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Homebuilder’s Insurance")
![Checking out East Tennessee scenery from the 701. [Credit: Jon Humberd]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/3.jpg?w=324&h=160&crop=1 "Builder’s Spotlight")
In Case You Missed It
Editor’s Log
Paul Dye explains how it was possible for him to become editor-in-chief of KITPLANES before he actually left his old job at NASA and what you can expect to see in KITPLANES in the near future.
Go With the Flow…
When you build your own airplane, you get to design the cockpit you've always wanted, from the ground up. But facing that blank slate can be challenging and calls for a thoughtful approach.
