Hey Dan,
Well I am not much of a writer, but I am willing to help anyone who asks
for it as far as my skill as a metalsmith. I think to be able to write for
the mag , one should be able to write better than myself. But if asked I
would probably give it a try.
And yep the whole liability thing BLOWS! It would really be nice to have
a homebuilt airplane covered from the plans thru the building process.
Drawings right there in the mag!!! Wouldn't that get a new person interested
if he saw all that in an issue?
To tell the truth I do not recall the last article I read of a warplane
either, because I wouldn't read it My warplane remarks pertained mostly
to the warplanes at EAA events and such,...just the WOW factor! I'd much
rather see how they actually did the restoration in a mag ..especially if it
takes the alloted space of a Cessna story or some such. And heck, I love
seeing the old warbirds myself! But like Jim I have to think where it all
fits in to Experimental and Homebuilt aircraft.

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"Blueskies" wrote in message
. ..

"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
Interesting Points Jim!
I think you have hit the nail on the head for the reason alot of folks
are getting turned off by the EAA. I know when I pick up a mag about
Experimentals I want to see how-to's .....not the buy this 40G kit and
paint by numbers. But a tradesman sharing his knowledge for people
willing to learn . I want to read about Homebuilt aircraft and not the
latest gadget from Cirrus.

Are you a tradesman willing to write an article? Finding folks with the
knowledge is tough; finding ones willing to write alo is tougher!

As for the warbirds, I think maybe they do have a place because of the
lack of available parts. But shouldn't the main topic of the warbirds
be"How we had to fab our own replacement parts?" , instead of the WOW
just look at the pretty old fighter? I don't mind restoration projects,
because Lord knows sometimes as much goes into them as building a plane.
Alot of times building a plane is exactly what you are doing!

I don't recall the last time I saw an article in Sport Aviation about a
specific warbird, let alone about a restoration of one. There have been a
number of articles about exhibition class experimantal aircraft; bought
and paid for by the owner with very little detail about the actual buid -
as you say the WOW factor...

But sometimes when I have read the EAA mags it seems there is more
about piloting then building. I think real homebuilders get just as much
enjoyment out of the building process as they do the flying. The flying
is the reward for the fun of labor and effort in building.

There are quite a few articles these days about welding, structural
design, electrical connections. Not a whole lot of meat to them tho'. I
think a multi issue build along sort of articlee would be good...

I know liability and all that would not let it happen , but wouldn't
it be great if the EAA mags would have articles about building a
homebuilt with the plans as well, like the old MI mags used to do? That
would be HOMEBUILDING!!

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech


Interesting comment about the liability issue. I suppose they to try not
to be too specific because some will most likely try and come along and
say "That's what Sport Aviation said to do!"

Dan D...