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EAA Experimenter - EAA's Homebuilders e-Newsletter
   
 
May 2009
  EAA Experimenter - EAA's Homebuilders e-Newsletter
Inside this Issue
:  Randy Hebron's EJ-22
:  Sheet Metal Bending Brake
:  How Not to Sell an Airplane
:  Theory of Rod Bolts
:  Rotary Power
 
 
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WELCOME!
Joe NorrisJoe's Words of Wisdom
Well, I survived Sun 'n Fun! This was my first trip to the event since joining EAA's staff in 2001, so it's been a few years since I walked the grounds at Lakeland Linder Airport. When I got to the grounds everything felt very familiar, so I hit the ground running.  Read more
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Paul's Pick
Paul PobereznySport Aviation, the "Sleeping Giant"
Imagine how limited aviation's scope in the United States would be were it not for sport and recreational flying. EAA Founder Paul Poberezny posed that very thought back in November 1970 in his Sport Aviation Homebuilder's Corner column, excerpted more than 38 years later in this month's Paul's Pick.  Read more
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Improving the Breed
Improving the BreedRandy Hebron's EJ-22 Subaru-powered Volmer amphibian
Many a pilot has been attracted by the allure of the amphibious aircraft. Randy Hebron purchased his VJ-22 Sportsman amphibian in damage condition, rebuilt it, and incorporated a host of other enhancements including replacing the Lycoming engine with a Subaru EJ-22 conversion.
Read more
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How To . . . 
How ToDave's Sheet Metal Bending Brake
While building a Zenith CH 601 XL from plans, Dave Clay was looking for a durable yet affordable bending brake when a sleepless night provided this simple solution.  Read more
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How To . . . Not Sell an Airplane
When warning bells ring
John Moyle put his RANS S-4 Coyote up for sale and learned an important lesson when an over-excited potential buyer showed up to take it home.  Read more
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Theory of Rod Bolts and Other Prestressed Bolts
Rod boltThe connecting rod is one of the first areas of concern whenever one feels an engine has been overstressed. "It threw a rod" is a common cry after a disastrous engine failure. We seldom truly "throw" a rod; the usual failure is that the rod-to-crank bearing material breaks down from over stress or, more commonly, lack of lubrication.  Read more
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What Our Members are Building
What Our Members are Building Rotary Power
Bob Mears was a rotary engine expert long before he began building his Supermarine Spitfire to mount one in. Here he shares how he intends to bring his knowledge to the aviation world.  Read more
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Meet EAA Staffer Earl Lawrence
Vice President of Industry & Regulatory Affairs
Earl LawrenceEarl Lawrence came to EAA headquarters in 1994 from EAA Chapter 723 in Camarillo, California, where he was the chapter vice president and fly-in chairman. He started his EAA career as a government relations specialist answering members calls for assistance, and developed the EAA Flight Advisor program with a group of members.  Read more
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Forum Review
Plans Building Your Homebuilt
Mark Townsend is an owner of Can-Zac Aviation Ltd., the Canadian distributor for Zenith Aircraft kits. Can-Zac’s owners are not only distributors of Zenith kits, but also active builders, often building from plans for their own personal planes and in prototype work.
Read more
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From the Editor
 Patrick Panzera, EAA 555743
ppanzera@eaa.org

Ultralights! And Related Ramblings
 Pat PanzeraMy favorite pastime at Sun 'n Fun is to hang out at Paradise City and watch the ultralight traffic after a long day in the CONTACT! Magazine booth. Although I don’t own an ultralight and have not spent more than maybe an hour total aloft in one, I just can’t help loving primary flight. If I could strap wings to my arms and flap my way above terra firma, that’s the way I would do it. 

A few years back, while at Paradise City, I had a chance reunion with an old friend I hadn’t seen since late 1978. Herbert Tipton was my boss (and chief tow pilot) back when I was a scrawny teenaged lineboy at the old El Mirage Soaring Center. I had a crush on his daughter, but Herb carried a Ruger .45, so I knew my place. Fast-forward almost 30 years and Herb is still in aviation, this time as a flight instructor for M-Squared Aircraft giving introductory flights at Sun ’n Fun. Always looking for an opportunity to go flying, I managed to score some stick time with Herb in the pattern over Paradise City. What a great way to catch up with an old, dear friend!  Read more

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Hints for Homebuilders
Valve Adjustment
In this segment, Jeremy Monnett of Sonex Aircraft demonstrates the proper technique to adjust the valves on a VW-based engine conversion. Sonex Aircraft offers the AeroVee engine, which is a complete VW conversion engine kit.
Watch the video
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From the Archives
Sport Aviation, Aug 1980
Randy Hebron's full span flapped , spoilerized, updraft cooled ... KR1?
by Jack Cox
Read the article or search the archives by subject for a multitude of technical and how-to articles.
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Questions and AnswersQ&A
Got a question? Send it to us at Experimenter@eaa.org.
Whether you're building, restoring, or just an enthusiast. we want to know what has you stumped.

Q: I am planning on changing the propeller on my homebuilt airplane. What does the FAA require with respect to forms, notification, and procedures to change props?  Read the answer

Read more Q&A

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Homebuilder Gallery of the Month
Sun 'n Fun 2009 Homebuilt Review
Here’s a quick look at some of the interesting homebuilt aircraft that caught the attention of EAA staffers. Look for feature articles on these aircraft in future issues of Sport Aviation and Sport Pilot magazines.

View the photo gallery

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Poll Poll
Q. The average flight time for homebuilt aircraft is 50 hours per year. This would indicate mostly local flights rather than long trips. Do you commonly use your homebuilt for travel (trips of 150 miles or more)?

Poll - Vote Now!

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Aviation Glossary
Confused by a strange aeronautical term? EAA's online Aviation Glossary can help.

CARSON'S SPEED - The term Carson’s speed refers to the paper “Fuel Efficiency of Small Aircraft” (AIAA-80-1847, 1980) by Professor Bud Carson of the U.S. Naval Academy, which, using prior work by Gabrielli and von Karman, defines this speed as the maximum speed per unit of fuel burned. Carson’s speed can be calculated as 1.316 times the speed for maximum lift to drag ratio, which, in turn, is 1.316 times the speed for minimum power and minimum sink rate. Carson’s speed is also defined as the tangent point on a line that is tangent to the drag polar and passes through the origin. Reference

More glossary terms

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Join EAA

The members of EAA invite YOU to become part of the EAA community.
Join :: Renew :: Gift
Member Benefits :: About EAA
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Around the Web
Check out these interesting and informative videos and websites. Have a favorite technical site? Share it with us at Experimenter@eaa.org.

This month's featured link:
Jerry Mulliken’s (EAA #0640706) Sequoia Falco project blog.

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Survey
Please review and rate this issue of Experimenter.
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