Kitplanes quality: hands-on stuff

[Oliver Arend]

Even though I am nowhere near building my (first) own plane, I do
(mostly) enjoy reading Kitplanes ever since I stumbled across it in a
supermarket in Mojave.

My background is aerospace engineering, which is very theoretical at a
German university, and I have only done some basic training in the
metal shop for about two months to learn about drilling, milling,
turning, welding and such. Building model rockets and the occasional
model airplane I have gained some experience with composites and I am
capable of soldering regular THT components... nothing too fancy I
suppose for someone who is seriously thinking about building a plane.

But when reading Kitplanes, it occurs to me that every article
concerned with a practical activity (be it composites, milling or
electronics) is targeted at such a low skill level that it seems
someone who hasn't even driven a nail into wood is reading it -- plus
the targeted skill level after the completion of said activity is
still very low: there shouldn't be any bubbles in your composite layup
on a flat surface to puncture with a pin. It means something's wrong
with your surface, your drapability or your applying epoxy and 'glass.

Is there a magazine (preferably w/ electronic subscription) out there,
which is as good giving an overview of the market and the occasional
tale about a build or a restauration, and better at describing how
homebuilts are built?

Oliver

[BobR]

On Mar 5, 2:55*pm, Oliver Arend > wrote:
> Even though I am nowhere near building my (first) own plane, I do
> (mostly) enjoy reading Kitplanes ever since I stumbled across it in a
> supermarket in Mojave.
>
> My background is aerospace engineering, which is very theoretical at a
> German university, and I have only done some basic training in the
> metal shop for about two months to learn about drilling, milling,
> turning, welding and such. Building model rockets and the occasional
> model airplane I have gained some experience with composites and I am
> capable of soldering regular THT components... nothing too fancy I
> suppose for someone who is seriously thinking about building a plane.
>
> But when reading Kitplanes, it occurs to me that every article
> concerned with a practical activity (be it composites, milling or
> electronics) is targeted at such a low skill level that it seems
> someone who hasn't even driven a nail into wood is reading it -- plus
> the targeted skill level after the completion of said activity is
> still very low: there shouldn't be any bubbles in your composite layup
> on a flat surface to puncture with a pin. It means something's wrong
> with your surface, your drapability or your applying epoxy and 'glass.
>
> Is there a magazine (preferably w/ electronic subscription) out there,
> which is as good giving an overview of the market and the occasional
> tale about a build or a restauration, and better at describing how
> homebuilts are built?
>
> Oliver

In a word...NO! You might want to take a look into the SportAir
Workshops offered through the EAA though. The other great resource
for builders is the annual EAA flyin (AirVenture) at Oshkosh every
year. There are many workshops and hands on demonstrations that would
benefit you. The EAA magazine is also of some value. One final
point, as an EAA Member you have access to the EAA website that has
started producing a line of vidio builder hints that you might find
useful.

ALSO...There are a large number of builder websites on the internet
that you would find beneficial. My own site has everthing from photos
of the construction process for many different builders to the
builders manual for two different aircraft.

www.kisbuild.onfinal18.com

And my site is only one of hundreds.

[Stuart Fields]

Oliver: EAA has started an electronic version of the Experimenter which
promises to lean toward the more technical. If you are an EAA member, go to
the EAA website and sign up.

Stu Fields
"Oliver Arend" > wrote in message
...
> Even though I am nowhere near building my (first) own plane, I do
> (mostly) enjoy reading Kitplanes ever since I stumbled across it in a
> supermarket in Mojave.
>
> My background is aerospace engineering, which is very theoretical at a
> German university, and I have only done some basic training in the
> metal shop for about two months to learn about drilling, milling,
> turning, welding and such. Building model rockets and the occasional
> model airplane I have gained some experience with composites and I am
> capable of soldering regular THT components... nothing too fancy I
> suppose for someone who is seriously thinking about building a plane.
>
> But when reading Kitplanes, it occurs to me that every article
> concerned with a practical activity (be it composites, milling or
> electronics) is targeted at such a low skill level that it seems
> someone who hasn't even driven a nail into wood is reading it -- plus
> the targeted skill level after the completion of said activity is
> still very low: there shouldn't be any bubbles in your composite layup
> on a flat surface to puncture with a pin. It means something's wrong
> with your surface, your drapability or your applying epoxy and 'glass.
>
> Is there a magazine (preferably w/ electronic subscription) out there,
> which is as good giving an overview of the market and the occasional
> tale about a build or a restauration, and better at describing how
> homebuilts are built?
>
> Oliver

[Chris Hegar]

What brakes are you using?


--
Chris Hegar
Message Origin: TRAVEL.com

[Paul Dow (Remove CAPS in address)]

BobR wrote:
> ... The other great resource
> for builders is the annual EAA flyin (AirVenture) at Oshkosh every
> year. There are many workshops and hands on demonstrations that would
> benefit you.
Just one addition to what Bob said, is that the workshops at AirVenture
Oshkosh can get pretty crowded. Sun N' Fun offers many of the same
workshops, but since there are a lot fewer people there, you can get
some individual instruction. Oshkosh does have more to offer, so both
events may be worthwhile to you for their educational value.

[BobR]

On Mar 10, 8:12*am, "Paul Dow (Remove CAPS in address)"
> wrote:
> BobR wrote:
> > ... *The other great resource
> > for builders is the annual EAA flyin (AirVenture) at Oshkosh every
> > year. *There are many workshops and hands on demonstrations that would
> > benefit you.
>
> Just one addition to what Bob said, is that the workshops at AirVenture
> Oshkosh can get pretty crowded. Sun N' Fun offers many of the same
> workshops, but since there are a lot fewer people there, you can get
> some individual instruction. Oshkosh does have more to offer, so both
> events may be worthwhile to you for their educational value.

I would second that and mention that SportAir workshops are carried on
in different locations around the country and there may be one near
you.

[BobR]

On Mar 9, 10:16*pm, Chris Hegar <Chris.Hegar.3ot...@no-
mx.forums.travel.com> wrote:
> What brakes are you using?
>
> --
> Chris Hegar
> Message Origin: TRAVEL.com

I believe they are Matco but I will have to check. I do know that
some of the builders have not been overly happy with them. I question
though rather they have the brake pedal leverage to get proper
pressure for activation of the brakes. Some of the original pedal
designs didn't give very good leverage. I also decided to use the
remote fluid resevoir instead of the original built in resevior. Just
didn't want to have to stand on my head to check brake fluid.