Avionics News March 2014 - 20

feature

HOMEBUILDING

PANELS

TACKLING WIRES, ELECTRONS AND CIRCUITS

MORE COMPLICATED
THAN RIVETING AND WRENCHING
S T O R Y

B Y

D A V E

H I G D O N

T

hirty years ago, aircraft "kits" generally consisted
community picked up on Christensen's approach, offering
of a crate packed with raw materials, builder's
similarly complete kits - engine and propellers included.
blueprints, assembly instructions and a bill of stuff
And as many ultralight makers morphed into producers of
not included but needed to finish a flyable example.
experimental amateur-built kit aircraft, the "complete" kit
Builders supplied their own solutions for avionics,
took further root among kit-aircraft makers.
engines, electrics, prop, paint and interior.
Though most companies will still sell a builder a set of
And then kit-definition
plans, a materials list and builder
metamorphosis began, arguably
license to the design, the majority
by a kit maker named Frank
of kit aircraft today are sold as
O NE H I G H L I G H T O F
Christensen. Creator of the
complete kits - or in phases that add
Christen Eagle aerobatic biplane
up to complete kits - empennage,
T U R NI NG TO
and Christen - now Aviat - Husky
fuselage, wings and, today, a
A N E X P E RT R E PA I R
bushplane, Christensen offered
firewall-forward package complete
SHOP IS THE
builders a kit complete with the
with engine and prop.
component parts prefabricated as
In more-recent years, some kit
much as possible, most of them
companies and a growing list of
vacuum-coated on cardboard panels
avionics specialty businesses have
showing their outline and part
begun offering airframe-specific
number. A fully welded steel-tube
prefabricated solutions for the
fuselage was available.
last remaining major areas of the
"You follow the instructions, use
building project: electrical power,
the pieces as they're needed, and build your airplane,"
lights and avionics.
Christensen told a rookie reporter back in 1982. Engine
Other shops offer services to fit the owner's aircraft,
packages became part of the offerings still available today
experimental or certificated.
from the successor company, Aviat Aircraft.
The world of experimental aircraft panels has similarly
Many of the manufacturers in the fledgling ultralight
evolved in the decades since the late Tony Bingelis, the

T I M E S AV E D A ND
F RU S T RAT I O N
AVO I D E D.

20

avionics news

*

march

2014



Avionics News March 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News March 2014

Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View from Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
Homebuilding Panels
Member Profile
Standards of Participation
A Conversation With...
Member Profile
AEAviators
Creating the Perfect Avionics Suite
Business Basics
Before & After
What's Working?
Survey Reveals Hiring Trends for the Aviation Industry
Legal Ease
ADS-B Early Adopters
Aviation Aces
Meet the AEA Awards Nominees
What's New
Avionics News March 2014 - Intro
Avionics News March 2014 - Cover1
Avionics News March 2014 - Cover2
Avionics News March 2014 - 1
Avionics News March 2014 - 2
Avionics News March 2014 - 3
Avionics News March 2014 - Point of Communication
Avionics News March 2014 - 5
Avionics News March 2014 - AEA Now
Avionics News March 2014 - 7
Avionics News March 2014 - 8
Avionics News March 2014 - 9
Avionics News March 2014 - 10
Avionics News March 2014 - 11
Avionics News March 2014 - 12
Avionics News March 2014 - 13
Avionics News March 2014 - The View from Washington
Avionics News March 2014 - 15
Avionics News March 2014 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News March 2014 - 17
Avionics News March 2014 - 18
Avionics News March 2014 - 19
Avionics News March 2014 - Homebuilding Panels
Avionics News March 2014 - 21
Avionics News March 2014 - 22
Avionics News March 2014 - 23
Avionics News March 2014 - 24
Avionics News March 2014 - 25
Avionics News March 2014 - Member Profile
Avionics News March 2014 - 27
Avionics News March 2014 - 28
Avionics News March 2014 - 29
Avionics News March 2014 - Standards of Participation
Avionics News March 2014 - 31
Avionics News March 2014 - 32
Avionics News March 2014 - 33
Avionics News March 2014 - 34
Avionics News March 2014 - 35
Avionics News March 2014 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News March 2014 - 37
Avionics News March 2014 - Member Profile
Avionics News March 2014 - 39
Avionics News March 2014 - 40
Avionics News March 2014 - 41
Avionics News March 2014 - AEAviators
Avionics News March 2014 - 43
Avionics News March 2014 - Creating the Perfect Avionics Suite
Avionics News March 2014 - 45
Avionics News March 2014 - 46
Avionics News March 2014 - 47
Avionics News March 2014 - 48
Avionics News March 2014 - 49
Avionics News March 2014 - Business Basics
Avionics News March 2014 - 51
Avionics News March 2014 - 52
Avionics News March 2014 - 53
Avionics News March 2014 - 54
Avionics News March 2014 - Before & After
Avionics News March 2014 - What's Working?
Avionics News March 2014 - 57
Avionics News March 2014 - 58
Avionics News March 2014 - 59
Avionics News March 2014 - 60
Avionics News March 2014 - 61
Avionics News March 2014 - Survey Reveals Hiring Trends for the Aviation Industry
Avionics News March 2014 - 63
Avionics News March 2014 - Legal Ease
Avionics News March 2014 - 65
Avionics News March 2014 - 66
Avionics News March 2014 - 67
Avionics News March 2014 - 68
Avionics News March 2014 - 69
Avionics News March 2014 - ADS-B Early Adopters
Avionics News March 2014 - 71
Avionics News March 2014 - 72
Avionics News March 2014 - 73
Avionics News March 2014 - 74
Avionics News March 2014 - 75
Avionics News March 2014 - Aviation Aces
Avionics News March 2014 - 77
Avionics News March 2014 - 78
Avionics News March 2014 - 79
Avionics News March 2014 - Meet the AEA Awards Nominees
Avionics News March 2014 - 81
Avionics News March 2014 - 82
Avionics News March 2014 - 83
Avionics News March 2014 - 84
Avionics News March 2014 - 85
Avionics News March 2014 - 86
Avionics News March 2014 - 87
Avionics News March 2014 - 88
Avionics News March 2014 - 89
Avionics News March 2014 - What's New
Avionics News March 2014 - 91
Avionics News March 2014 - 92
Avionics News March 2014 - 93
Avionics News March 2014 - 94
Avionics News March 2014 - 95
Avionics News March 2014 - 96
Avionics News March 2014 - Cover3
Avionics News March 2014 - Cover4
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