Experimentals

Pilots already building their own airplanes or giving it serious thought won’t have to wait for AirVenture 2021 to do their research. The Experimental Aircraft Association has announced a week of online events called the Homebuilders Week, starting Jan. 26. “EAA members and the homebuilt aircraft community have always been generous in sharing information and […]

The propeller designs for NASA’s all-electric X-57 Maxwell have now undergone two weeks of wind tunnel testing, the agency said on Monday. The propeller assemblies, supplied by California-based contractor Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero), logged 14 hours of powered operation during testing with wind speeds up to around 90 knots. The tests took place at the […]

There are events in your life where you will always remember the time, place and what you were doing when they happened: September 11, 2001; your first solo; and, for me, a phone call and proposal from an air-racing legend. It was 2:30 in the afternoon and I was putting gas in my car in […]

Sonex Aircraft has announced that it is now offering plans and parts for Sonerai I, Sonerai II and Sonerai IIS aircraft. The Sonerai was designed by Sonex founder John Monnett for competition in Formula Vee air racing. The single-seat Sonerai I was introduced at the 1971 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) fly-in convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, […]

This story originally appeared in KITPLANES. By Tom Wilson Early days are always interesting, and these are certainly early days in electric flight. But as the world awaits a truly energy-dense method of storing and releasing electrons, a few pioneers are paying their dues with crafty experimental airplanes. They’re not only improving the breed, but […]

Announcing a “proactive business strategy,” Glasair Aviation, maker of the Sportsman Experimental, says it is furloughing its production and builder-assist staff while retaining a “core group” of about 10 people for product support and engineering. The company has halted its Two Weeks to Taxi builder-assist program, citing COVID-19 restrictions and the inability to follow them […]

American Legend Aircraft has developed an “extreme” version of its popular experimental/amateur-built Cub it’s calling the MOAC, for “Mother of all Cubs.” Boasting more horsepower from the four-cylinder Continental Titan engine, large flaps and leading-edge slats, and tall gear, the MOAC is described as the “backcountry edition of the Legend Cub. MOAC is the most exciting way […]

Like many RV builders of the early 2000s, I was a Yankee refugee. I had been an active member of the American Yankee Association—the type club for those who owned American (and Grumman American) Yankees, Cheetahs and Tigers, the descendants of Jim Bede’s BD-1—for over 20 years, but we all saw the writing on the […]

Bearhawk Aircraft, best known for its two- and four-place utility homebuilts, will offer a new, larger model called the Bearhawk 5. According to the company, the 5, penned by noted designer and engineer Bob Barrows, “made its first flight on May 3rd. The prototype has flown more than 5 hours in testing and is exhibiting […]

By Laura Starkey Photos: Laura and Mike Starkey Years ago while we were living in Cameron Park, California, my husband, Mike, took an interest in a new design that was being spoken of. At the time, it was only a promise that it would someday come out. And when it did, it was the RANS […]