Engine controls, and all other controls in the cockpit, should be labeled as to function and direction. It is standard practice to use black for throttle, blue for prop and red for mixture. Imagine jumping into this cockpit and looking for the throttle! The blue knob in this airplane was used as a throttle, a vernier one at that! There was no black knob at all. Not good.
In Case You Missed It
Fit and Trim
Kerry Fores - 3
A first flight reveals truths that only air moving over an aircraft’s surfaces can...
Chasing the Elusive Thread
Bob Hadley - 1
Chasing a thread (B) on the lathe involves engaging the feed system to...
Zenith Goes Virtual
Stuck at home? It might just be time to start building the plane of your dreams.
Engine Beat
Exhaust systems do more than just get air into and out of aircraft engines. Exhaust system design, in terms of exhaust pipe length, diameter and tuning, affect the efficiency and performance of the engine, for better or worse.

![Last Bits [Credit: Lisa Turner]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Inspections-1-scaled.jpg?w=218&h=150&crop=1)
![Weight In The Balance [Credit: Eric Powell]](https://www.kitplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AdobeStock_1043661239-scaled.jpeg?w=218&h=150&crop=1)








