How long does it take to build your own experimental airplane? A Zenith CH 750 normally takes about 500 hours, but next year the company plans to build one in just 160 hours -- seven days -- with help from EAA AirVenture visitors along Celebration Way, at the center of the show. "You've heard of kissing booths?" asked Chris Heintz, of Zenith Aircraft. "We plan to have a riveting booth, where people can pull one rivet on the project. And with about 7,000 rivets in the airplane, that's about 7,000 different people who can be a part of this." The goal is to show visitors that homebuilding can be accomplished with everyday tools and skills that are easy to master. Read More

The retro-look Sam LS, from Canada, which first flew in March, was on display at EAA AirVenture this week, and copies are for sale as a kit. Company president Thierry Zibi told AVweb the aircraft is available as a kit or as sub-kits, for those who prefer to work on the project in smaller chunks -- the wings, fuselage, and empennage can all be purchased separately, at prices ranging from $2,600 to $7,300. All those kits together cost $29,000, and the cost is the same whether they are purchased all at once or piecemeal. Read More

Thierry Zibi, president of Sam Aircraft, brought the light sport kit aircraft to EAA AirVenture and talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the options available for builders. Read More

Angle-of-attack indicators have become a hot safety-of-flight market item, and at AirVenture 2013, we're seeing more competition in the field. Bendix/King announced its entry into the AoA market with the new KLR10, which uses differential pressure to infer angle of attack and then presents this on a color-coded display in the cockpit, equipped with audio warnings. Initially, the KLR10 will be for experimental aircraft only, but it will soon be certified for all aircraft. Read More

Boston area NexAir Avionics offers partial and complete refurbishment and customization programs for Piper Saratoga aircraft, including the retrofit of Avidyne's R9 integrated avionics suite. Pricing starts at roughly $90,000 for the R9 alone and can top nearly $500,000 for a complete refurbishment. Aviation Consumer's Larry Anglisano took a look at the NX aircraft at AirVenture 2013. Read More

At AirVenture 2013, Lightspeed Aviation unveiled a surprise product, a new ANR headset using adaptive noise-canceling technology. In this podcast, AVweb's Paul Bertorelli interviewed Allan Schrader of Lightspeed using the actual headsets through an intercom. Take a listen at the results here. Read More

Can't make it to AirVenture this year? Photo galleries of the people, products, and planes that make Oshkosh a pilot's paradise will pepper our coverage throughout the week, courtesy of eagle-eyed aviation photographer Mariano Rosales. Read More

Can't make it to AirVenture this year? Photo galleries of the people, products, and planes that make Oshkosh a pilot's paradise will pepper our coverage throughout the week, courtesy of eagle-eyed aviation photographer Mariano Rosales. Read More

Berringer, which produces wheels and brakes, including an anti-lock system for Cirrus aircraft, is currently acquiring worldwide patents for a new tailwheel that the company believes could greatly reduce the possibility of ground-loops in taildragger aircraft. The system is built as a drop-in replacement for Scott tailwheels, which it matches in weight and attachment configuration. Where the Berringer differs is in its use of two pivot points. With the tailwheel "locked" (fixed with springs, but steerable within limits), the system provides a pivot point that is in-line with the wheel's axle. Because there is no castor in that configuration, side loads do not translate into forces that would cause the tailwheel to a turn, says Berringer. Read More

Anyone who's made the annual EAA pilgrimage to pre-sequestered Oshkosh understands the excitement of scanning for traffic while listening with rapt attention to ATC. You can maintain that razor's edge year-'round by acing this quiz.

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Each week in "Short Final," we select the strangest, funniest, or most unusual thing AVweb readers have heard over the radio -- either from other pilots or coming directly from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. Click through as things week's winner wraps things up at OSH. Read More

Heard anything funny, unusual, or downright shocking on the radio lately? If you've been flying any length of time, you're sure to have eavesdropped on a few memorable exchanges. The ones that gave you a chuckle may do the same for your fellow AVweb readers. Share your radio funny with us, and, if we use it in a future "Short Final," we'll send you a sharp-looking AVweb hat to sport around your local airport. No joke.

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