Experimenter - EAA's Homebuilder's Newsletter

WELCOME!
By Patrick Panzera, EAA 555743
ppanzera@eaa.org

Days after we heard about the passing of aviation journalist and photographer Howard Levy we heard that we also had lost Morry Hummel. This issue is dedicated to the memory of both of these fine gentlemen. The next issue of EAA's Light Plane World will feature a reprint of the Hummel UltraCruiser, God's Gift, published in the August 2006 issue of EAA Sport Pilot & Light-Sport Aircraft. Read more

Paul's Pick

In this month's look back to Sport Aviation from May 1974, Paul writes about safety and the many forms it takes. There is maintenance safety, design safety, and flight safety. Paul argues that flight safety is really about judgment, and accessibility to flying may affect the development of good judgment by pilots. Paul also makes an announcement that just about every parent is excited to make. Read Paul's column

Tales From the DAR Side

In last month's column I talked about aircraft identification plates, which we commonly call the "data plate." I received a few questions from readers that I'd like to address before moving on to this month's topic. First, a member asked if the info in my column applies to experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA). Yes, the requirements for an E-LSA data plate are as outlined in my column. Another member asked whether or not he could make his own data plate rather than buying one. Again the answer is yes. As long as the material you use is "fireproof equivalent to steel," you can make your own. It doesn't have to be fancy, and it doesn't have to include the words "builder," "model," or "serial number." It simply has to contain the actual identification data permanently marked on the plate by stamping or engraving. Read more

A Sad Announcement

We regret to inform aircraft enthusiasts everywhere that one of aviation’s biggest fans of homebuilding has taken wing to the world beyond this one. Morry Hummel died at his home on February 4, 2010. Our prayers are with them and their family. Read more

Remembering Aviation Photographer Howard Levy

Accomplished aviation photographer Howard Levy, EAA 13730, died at his home in Freehold, New Jersey, on January 29. He was 88. He took his first airplane photograph at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, not far from his home in 1936 at age 15 and sold his first picture the next year. Read more

David Roe's Hummel Bird

AKA "Diva"
David Roe has a degree in the arts and was an illustrator for years. After getting “burnt out” on that, he became a jazz and blues trombonist and did a little singing as well. David comes from a flying background. He has memories of helping his father buck rivets. His Dad would bring home old airplanes that were in need of some TLC and David would be enlisted to assist. David always wanted to fly but never had the desire to do anything commercial with his skill. Every time he tried to make a profession out of doing something he enjoyed, it became work, and as he put it, “turned me into a miserable human being.” Flying keeps the smile on his face. David has logged more than 1,500 hours with his single engine land rating. Read more

My First Alternative Engine Roundup
A truly great grassroots fly-in

Every year for the past seven years, CONTACT! Magazine has hosted a fly-in event focusing on alternative engines. We do our best to have quality forums by inviting vendors and experimenters to present their products and/or accomplishments. In the past we've had notables such as Klaus Savier of Light Speed, Jess Meyers of Belted Air Power, Joe Horvath of Revmaster, Scott Casler of Hummel Engines. This past year we chose to go with somewhat of an all-Subaru theme and were able to entice the folks from Maxwell Propulsion Systems to join us. They gave an informative talk not just on their products but on Subarus in general. The following is a brief account of their experience with our growing event. Read more

Optimizing the Subaru EJ25
Maxwell Propulsions Next Generation Auto Conversion

Choosing a powerplant that meets personal needs and airframe requirements can be challenging. In the current marketplace, there's a wide variety of powerplant options ranging from fully FAA-certified engines to builder-designed experimental systems. For years the industry standards have been the Continental and Lycoming engines. While these companies offer options that work in most applications, some builders are interested in exploring the more modern powerplants. Read more

Four VW Powerplants

Different, yes, but they work!
The air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle automotive engine lays out like a typical aero engine (four cylinders, opposed), but it was designed to power an automobile. Anyone who wants to power an airplane with a VW engine needs to make critical modifications. Read more

What Our Members Are Building

Converting Giant R/C Plans Into Your Walter Mitty Fighter
The possibility of building a replica fighter has always fascinated me. As a longtime model builder, it seemed reasonable to use a scaled-up “giant-scale” radio-controlled (R/C) model as a base. After many false starts, I finally landed on a 70 percent P-39. Some readers might be interested in the various aircraft that I considered... Read more

How-To...
Compression Ratio and Combustion Chamber Volume
When you buy an engine "off the shelf" from one of the mass production manufacturers, the compression ratio should be a known quantity. For Lycoming and Continental, this is certainly true. But if you're converting an automotive engine for aircraft use, you're probably going to want to lower the compression to increase your safety margin. High compression ratios increase the probability of detonation, an insidious "meltdown" process which is most likely to occur during high-power modes such as takeoff, resulting in large power losses and potential engine failure in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Read more

Reluctant Heroes
Speaking of Courage
I just finished reading Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's book, Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters. Most of what I read are biographies or autobiographies, and it's rare I find one from an aviator that isn't worth reading. Sully's seemed particularly good. He tells his story back from when he was an airport kid in Texas flying a Champ. Many polished biographies elevate the subject above reality. This book does a good job of shedding some light on the life of an aviator who is, likely, far more than the pages convey. Read more

Paper Airman Certificates Expire March 31

Pilots who have not replaced their paper airman certificate with the required new plastic certificate risk being unable to exercise their privileges at the end of March. All paper airman certificates will expire March 31, 2010. FAR 61.19(h) reads: “Except for a temporary certificate issued under §61.17 or a student pilot certificate issued under paragraph (b) of this section, the holder of a paper pilot certificate issued under this part may not exercise the privileges of that certificate after March 31, 2010.” Read more

From the EAA Homebuilding Community

The Homebuilders Corner message forum at Oshkosh365 is as active as ever. Have a look at the list below and follow the links to read the actual questions and discussion topics.

Can You Help?

Interesting Discussions