GUEST EDITORIAL
The New Look of Experimenter
It is clear from member response that Sport Aviation is EAA’s most popular publication. While dedication to our banner print publication is strong, members have also embraced EAA’s newest electronic publications, or e-newsletters.

Newsletters like Experimenter, were created to provide deep and focused coverage of EAA’s various interest groups that the broad-based Sport Aviation cannot. After 18 months Experimenter has a new look but the same commitment to provide in-depth content about homebuilding. Come inside and see what we have done with the place. Read more

TALES FROM THE DAR SIDE
Oshkosh Observations
The Homebuilders’ Hangar was my main focus during convention, so I didn’t have a lot of time to go out and look at aircraft. But, of course, when I did look at aircraft, I always had my DAR hat at least partially perched on my head.

The quality of the aircraft displayed in the homebuilt area is generally outstanding, and there are some really neat ideas to be found. Builders are always stretching the envelope with new ideas.

One “out of the box” idea that appeared at this year’s convention was the roadable Glasair Sportsman being displayed by Trey Johnson and his firm, Plane Driven. This is not a “flying car,” but rather an airplane that can be occasionally driven on the road. Read more

MY 2010 AIRVENTURE CUP RACE
The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Cup Race was created to give the average homebuilder an avenue to compete in air racing with his own aircraft and without the deep pockets of corporate sponsorship. Since its beginning in 1998, the AirVenture Cup has motivated many homebuilders to tinker and innovate with their aircraft to squeeze out as much performance as possible. Sam Hoskins, EAA 188889, tells of his adventure in the" big race" and gives us a cockpit-view account of his 202.15-mph journey covering 500 miles in his Quickie Q-200. His tale includes a carbon monoxide leak from an unlikely source and ever-increasing oil temps. Read more

Licensed under Thatcher Aircraft Inc., Peter Beck is now offering wing, fuselage, and empennage kits for the popular plans-built Thatcher CX4. Kits will feature precision-matched, completely pre-drilled and deburred rivet holes (no drilling necessary by the builder), enabling self-alignment and minimal jigging and saving as much as 400 hours in CX4 construction time. Read more

MYSTERY PLANE
Beginning with this issue, we'll be including a new feature. With your help, each issue of Experimenter will present a "Mystery Plane," challenging readers to determine what the plane is. In addition to this being entertaining, we hope to stir up some renewed interest in these old or unusual yet still viable homebuilt aircraft. Click the image for a larger view of the aircraft and do your best to guess the make and model before scrolling down to find the answer. Then consider submitting a photo and story for future issues of Experimenter. Read more

EAA CHAPTER ONE'S ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE FLY-IN
Gathering at historic Flabob Airport definitely a bucket list item
The historic relevance of EAA's first chapter goes without saying. The first chapter gathering was held in 1953, when Ray Stits and a number of close friends and fellow homebuilding enthusiasts met at Flabob Airport in Riverside, California. Everyone's bucket list should include at least one visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as well as Chapter One's open house at Flabob. Not that the two are comparable in scope, but the history of Flabob and Chapter One makes this an event that every hardcore homebuilder should experience at least once, an activity along the lines of visiting Kitty Hawk.
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A380 TEST PILOT ADDRESSES AMATEUR-BUILT SAFETY
It was hard to miss the Airbus A380 last year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. EAA member Terry Lutz was one of the pilots that brought the aircraft to AirVenture. Terry has been an experimental test pilot with Airbus since 2006, and the awe and wonder of the A380 overshadow many of the technical aspects Terry and his fellow test pilots deal with every day. He built his own RV-8, and he told attendees at the AirVenture 2010 Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors Breakfast meeting in Oshkosh that electric-powered aircraft are the future of sport aviation. Read more

I am very pleased to share with you the 2010 Homebuilders Annual Report, which highlights some of the significant accomplishments and issues your association has engaged with over the past year.

Over the past 60 years, the imagination and dedication of the homebuilding community have created designs that have been breakthroughs in the world of flight, providing advancements that have become standard within the aviation industry. There are now more than 30,000 homebuilt aircraft registered in the U.S. alone, comprising nearly 20 percent of the single-engine, piston-powered aircraft fleet. In addition to the design innovations, homebuilding provides the opportunity to fly at a cost level that makes flying more economical, as well as fun. The future remains very bright for those of us who believe in the possibilities and necessity of a strong homebuilt aircraft community.

Just as it was in 1953, EAA's core and legacy belongs to those who dream, design, create, and build their own aircraft. Such individuals offer all of us an inspiration of what's possible. Read the PDF report

Commenting on the new registration procedures, EAA Director of Government Relations Randy Hansen said, "This is a very costly burden on the public that the FAA can accomplish using other means. The FAA's own data would indicate that the issue is much smaller than presented, and that a major change in the FAA registration system is not warranted." Read more

Q. I have seen some vintage airplanes that have a "jump seat" installed in the baggage compartment that's capable of handling small children. I have a homebuilt that would be perfect for such an installation, but I fly as a sport pilot. Would installing a jump seat in the baggage compartment make my airplane ineligible for sport pilot operations?

A. You didn't say for sure, but I'm guessing that your homebuilt is a two-seat aircraft. If this is the case, installing a "third seat" in the baggage compartment would make the aircraft forever ineligible for operation by sport pilots. Read more | Read more Q&As

FROM THE ARCHIVES
Sport Aviation, March 1957
The Cougar Model One
The Cougar was designed by Bob Nesmith and shows an obvious influence by Steve Wittman's Tailwind, featuring wide short wings and a one-piece steel tube landing gear. The design was modified by Leonard Eaves for an EAA design contest in 1963, principally for the purpose of including folding wings. The Cougar maintains a brisk cruise of 120 to 165 mph, depending on choice of engine, and tops out at 195 mph. The aircraft is an outstanding cross-country machine that utilizes traditional steel tube fuselage, Sitka wings, and fabric covering. Hundreds of copies of this versatile design have been completed. Read the article

AROUND THE WEB
This virtual museum provides pictures and information on vintage ultralight and classic ultralight aircraft. These vehicles were originally very basic wind-in-your-face airplanes, and reflected an evolution from hang-gliding. Read more

Can You Help?

• Anyone building a Hi-MAX?
• Wobble pump?
• Design software to predict distribution of lift?
• Certifying an SLSA
• Balancing a rudder

Interesting Discussions

• Fuel line Sizing
• VW engine - redrive or not?
• From certified basket case to homebuilt?
• Insurance companies for Experimental aircraft
• Pietenpol or plans-built Cub or …?

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