Diamond Eclipse Propellers: Wood Prop Nuances
Everyone would agree that the propeller is an extremely important part of the airplane. Wooden propellers are installed on the Diamond DA-20-C1 aircraft, and they are actually subject to some unique operating characteristics. The Diamond Eclipse DA-20 is equipped from the factory with a W69EK7 Series Sensenich propeller. This particular prop is economical to produce… Read more »
Collision Avoidance
Unlike in cars, we rarely have close calls with other aircraft. Since the sky is so big and airplanes are so small, we commonly have cross-country flights where we see no one. However, it is important to take as many precautions as possible to avoid each other, especially when approaching busier environments such as Smith… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 9
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve caught myself telling a student pilot “the checkride really isn’t that bad.” I was nervous when I took mine, but I didn’t let anyone know before I got in the plane. I had no idea the anticipation leading up to flying a plane that’s built by… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 8
It’s time for me to fess up. I’ve now built an airplane and had my pilot’s license for about two years, but I’ve never been to Oshkosh until this year. The downtime between building and filling out paperwork as well as beginning phase one flight testing has allowed me to escape for a few days.… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 7
The only thing that makes me realize when an entire month has passed by is when Joel Pierce sends the “Hangar Talk article deadline” email. Writing the articles help keep me grounded and reminds me of the progress since last month. Here are the latest developments:The ground adjustable propeller was installed, and the blade pitch… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 6
When you first think about tackling any project, the end result motivates you to get started. As you progress, you might diminish your motivation by wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into. Next time you see me, ask me about gutting the plaster out of a room and drywalling. After I roll my eyes about that… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 5
Thinking back to being in school and longing to hear that we had a 2-hour delay brings back fond memories. However, as the Zenith CH750 project comes together, I cringe at the thought of any disruptions in the flow of planning and assembly. Fortunately, we aren’t working on any sort of a deadline. Instead, personal… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 4
As the seasons continue to change, the Zenith project is blooming into what will soon not just look like an airplane, but actually be a flying machine. Since the last update, many small items have been fabricated or assembled and installed. A pair of auto pilot servos are now in the plane and hooked up… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 3
Have you ever read a book that was so good you just couldn’t put it down? I’m finding out that building a plane is a very similar scenario. The story changes every day, though the scenery doesn’t always.Since last month’s issue, we’ve made some significant progress. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened. The wiring,… Read more »
Building a Kit Plane – Part 2
It’s amazing what can be done in a few weeks time. On December 16, the wings and tail were in the (nearly) completed state you read about in Hangar Talk last month. Since then, the fuselage and finishing kits have arrived, and the firewall forward (engine, mount, and accessories) and BRS airframe parachute have been… Read more »