KitPlanes mag
 

i just received my 2nd issue of KitPlanes.
I gotta tell ya, this is one great publication. It was loaded with very useful information the past 2 months. If this is any indication of their usual content, I highly recommend it. This month's issue had features on engine monitoring systems.
I have no financial interest in the mag, just wanted to pass on a good product.

I agree. Marc and staff are doing a great job at Kitplanes with interesting, informative content. I think this magazine gets many people into our sport/ hobby which can only be good. I like their line "dream it, build it, fly it".

With interest in the engines and redrive compilation this month, I know they do their best to report what manufacturers tell them but clearly some are stretching the truth on weights, hp and numbers delivered. It was good to see their cautions about some engines still being in development and recommendations to check things out before signing the check on any new designs.

Some plunge into these things with eyes wide shut and brains full of sugar plumb propaganda, not fact.

Thanks for the comments.

The data in the engine directory, as with the kit- and plansbuilt directories, comes from the manufacturers. We report what they tell us, which sometimes isn't quite correct and in other cases is sometimes quite far from the truth. We simply don't have the resources to go and test each engine design, or even go and weigh them. Wish we did...

--Marc

"Kitplanes" was my introduction to kit planes.

Thanks :)

IO-375
 

The latest issue also made mention of an IO-375 from Aerosport. I emailed them about it and it is real. It may be an option for many of us.

205 HP
375 CI
IO-360 Parallel weight and size
Longer stroke than IO-360
9.5:1 CR
Starting in the mid 20's.

Happy Building/Dreaming

Has the quality of the articles improved? I used to subscribe 10 years ago, but there were so many articles with obvious factual errors, I opted not to resubscribe.

I dropped it 10 years ago also because of the obvious factual errors and too many articles about DREAMS . Dreams that never came to be.

I would say the depth of the articles is way better than 10 years ago. Icing is no longer applied to all product reviews and the flight tests tell things like they are. Maybe this ruffles a few feathers and even loses a few advertisers but is a real service to readers. This is what I pay for, not sugar coating that everything is wonderful. Kitplanes seems to be up on the latest technology too and has good how to articles like those from our own Dan C. and Walter A. Reno coverage is good too, especially on the Sport Class.

Now if Marc could get some more content like the now defunct "Experimental Aircraft Technology" had, it would be even better. If any VAF'ers have interesting stories with good photos, run them by him. Good content comes from good submissions.

The web doesn't reach everyone, a printed media is still an important way to inform.

I too gave up on Kitplanes about 10 years ago. But, things have changed. The quality of the articles has improved dramatically in the last couple of years. It's worth another look. I now purchase most issues.

Kitplanes Magazine
 

I decided to subscribe last year - and have enjoyed many of the articles. I do hope to see more tests like that seen recently of the Jabiru planes. Seemed to be honest and straightforward. (My wife had liked the J250 seen in Palm Springs - so we were disappointed in some of the comments about the flying qualities - but glad for the honesty in the write-up)

(Which reminds me... I DO wish Van's would do a high-wing!)

Anyway - like the magazine... Keep it up and I'll keep subscribing.

dj