Experimenter - EAA's Homebuilder's Newsletter, May 2009

As you read this we are just days away from the start of the annual EAA fly-in convention - AirVenture - also known simply as "Oshkosh." Tents are going up all over the grounds, the new changes and additions to the site are in the final stages of completion, volunteers are already here and working, and the overall pace is really picking up. It won't be long before the early arrivals start showing up on the flightline and setting up their campsites. In fact, lots of campsites in Camp Scholler are already staked out, waiting for EAA members to arrive for the convention. Read more

Paul's Pick

EAA Founder Paul Poberezny gracefully requested to be released from writing a column for this month's Experimenter as he was busy helping EAA's museum staff prepare materials for the opening of the Founders' Wing in the EAA AirVenture Museum on Monday, July 27. If you're attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009, you are cordially invited to attend the opening ceremonies and greet Audrey and Paul. Doors to the event will open at 10:30 a.m., with the ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Recently, Jim Cunningham, EAA 594611, put an interesting post from Paul's writings on his Facebook page. As you can read from this Homebuilders Corner reprinted with Paul's permission from the June 1961 issue of Sport Aviation, Paul had a clear vision for EAA and the role it might play in the world of aviation. Read more

Tom Aberle's Phantom
In most cases it takes a team effort to break new ground in any field, and air racing is no exception. The requirements of adequate funding, enlightened engineering, meticulous preparation, and skillful piloting must be brought together to form an alliance that can compete effectively, let alone win the National Championship. This story is about one such group, put together by Tom Aberle of Fallbrook, California. Read more

Tim Sullivan's Subaru-Powered Super Zodiac CH 601 HDS
Part 2 - The Engine
In the June 2009 issue of Experimenter, we featured Tim Sullivan’s homebuilt Zodiac in part one of this two-part series. We focused on the airframe, a few of the systems, and many of the custom details, reserving the engine installation for part two. Read more

Raceair Designs' Lil Bitts Biplane
Ed Fisher grew up in an experimental aviation atmosphere - his parents were both aircraft builders, so it was natural that he would follow in their footsteps. Ed has been building and designing aircraft since the mid-1970s. He has been involved with pylon racing and has been employed in the field of aviation most of his life. A two-time Oshkosh Ultralight Grand Champion award winner, 1991 and 2004, Ed has also restored many aircraft and keeps this activity alive today in addition to his lightplane designs. Read more

How to ...
New Book for Sheet Metal Builders
EAA's continuing "how-to" series of educational materials for building your own aircraft now includes, Sheet Metal Building Basics, written by longtime builder and SportAir instructor Jack Dueck. Jack is a sheet metal construction expert and serves on the EAA Homebuilt Council, the EAA Canadian Council, and is an EAA Technical Counselor for his home Chapter 1410 in High River, Alberta, Canada. Read more

What Our Members are Building
Pat Panzera's MK II-H Dragonfly
In the inaugural issue of Experimenter I introduced myself with a brief background story of the path I took to become this newsletter’s editor. In the article, I briefly touched on my Corvair-powered Dragonfly project. Since I’ve been asking you to submit your stories for us to publish, I figured it was only fitting for me to do likewise. Read more

Forum Review
Picking A Homebuilt Design: How Do They Fly, How Do They Build
Budd Davisson has logged over 6,000 hours, has been an active CFI for over 35 years teaching Pitts landings, has flown 250 different types, type rated B-25, P-38. In this forum at AirVenture 2008 he discusses the things to consider before selecting a design, what goes into building a plane, and questions you want to ask before buying any kit. Read more

From the Editor
Patrick Panzera, EAA 555743
ppanzera@eaa.org

Making things even better
"Good enough" usually isn't for me; I'm always striving to improve anything I can and Experimenter is no different. I can and will continue to use my best judgment when finding and combining articles for each issue but I'm more concerned with what you have to say about it.

I would like to encourage every reader to take part in the survey located at the bottom of the right column (or click here) and let us know how you feel. I read every word in every comment, so your efforts are appreciated. In the past, your comments have been anonymous; we had no way of tracking who wrote what and that's a double-edged sword. On one hand, you can feel free to speak your mind, but on the other hand, you have no way of receiving feedback. Some of you have been leaving questions, or expressing frustrations. I'd love to drop you an e-mail answering your questions, addressing your frustrations or thanking you for your advice, but I didn't have a way to contact you, until now.

At the suggestion of one of our readers (someone who left us a comment) the survey form has been revised with an optional field to leave your contact info. If you leave it blank, your comments to us will be delivered anonymously, just as before. Another option is to send your comments or questions directly to me at ppanzera@eaa.org. Either way, I will get back with you. Feel free to also visit me at AirVenture in the CONTACT! Magazine booth (Exhibit hangar C, booth 3108). I'd like to meet you and hear what you have to say in person. I'll be there all week.

And one last note; some of the best articles are those that were submitted by you, our readers. Please keep them coming! We need all the content we can get our hands on. Show us what you are building. Share with us what you've built. Explain to us what you've developed. Reader contributions are what filled the pages of Experimenter in the early days, and it's the best way for us to continue forward.