Tag: zodiac

Design process: balance.

In typical fashion, Van’s Aircraft refused to rest on its laurels after the RV-12’s prototype debut last year, and sought to improve on an already good design. The new production airplane has changed (beyond its color), with a castering nosewheel, toe brakes instead of a grip, reshaped control sticks for better clearance, ground-adjustable seats fore and aft as well as in tilt, and the list goes on. Best of all, this day/VFR machine is still a delight to fly; by Ed Kolano.

This homebuilt two-axis electric trim controller has all the functions of the fanciest commercial units, yet it costs less than $50 for the parts.

Builders share their successes.