Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Zenith.Aero on January 21, 2015 at 11:48am

Awesome!  Congratulations, Brad!

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Latimer on January 21, 2015 at 12:23pm

Congratulations.  It took me 9 years and 6 months to build mine.  Never give up.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Juhl on January 21, 2015 at 12:43pm

Congrats!  It has to be a great feeling.  June 5th will mark 9 years since I opened my crate and hopefully I'll have flown my XL by then.  So much for a two year building project :-)

Enjoy!

Tim

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on January 21, 2015 at 1:04pm

Nice Job!!!  Hope I'm next soon! :D

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Permalink Reply by Steve Freeman on January 21, 2015 at 1:17pm

Hi Brad,

Congratulations and welcome to a very exclusive club!  Where is your front wheel?  grin>>

Did you fly with your test pilot on first flight (legal by new FAA rules) or did he go alone?  If the latter when will your first solo be?

I did my first three flights alone and I was not happy with how I was flying my plane.  I then got about 3 hours of instruction from a CFI in my plane.  Best thing I ever did.
It took me four years of 8 hours almost every Saturday plus a bunch of other days thrown in for good measure.

Steve

N902AL

Flying Off 40 Hour Phase 1 flight testing.  22 down - 18 to go.

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Permalink Reply by brad cohen on January 21, 2015 at 1:32pm

Steve,
He went alone on the first flight, made sure there were no gremlins hiding in the corners of the envelope. Second flight the same day, we both went. I can't describe, but this audience understands, the flood of emotions.
My insurance requires 5 hours of dual before I'm covered, and I certainly don't mind the dual. I plan to fly off the required 5 hours then disassemble the bird and trailer it down here to Clearwater to get it painted. (A friend of mine owns an auto body shop with a paint booth) after that I can fly alone.
First solo will be when myself and my cfi are confident that I won't scratch the paint.
I omitted the training wheel, um, I mean the nosewheel. No worries though, I did put playing cards in the spokes though

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Permalink Reply by Steve Freeman on January 21, 2015 at 1:43pm

HI Brad,

Before I did first flight I got around 17 hours of instruction in two different 601's. One a nose wheel and one was a tail wheel.  When the time came for my first flight I was nervous but I felt confident in the build.  There were no surprises on first flight.  (Third flight is a different story)

My insurance also required 5 hours of Dual but I had more than three times that so insurance was a non-factor.

Believe me - I understand the flood of emotions.  I went back and forth on test pilot for a long time, I even had one lined up. Ultimately though, I had to do it myself.

As I was building insurance time I flew about 7 hours in tail wheel 601XL, the owner is also a CFI.  I cannot see any real difference in performance between that plane and mine when cruising and climbing.  However, I was never able to take off or land his plane as I was so freaked out about bending another builders plane.  I could never loosen up and relax.  I finished my pre-first flight time in a 601XL with a training wheel on the front and I am glad I did.

What are you using for a power plant?  Is that the Zenith cowling on the front"  It looks just like mine.  Based on where the pulley is for your alternator belt it looks like you might have a Lycoming or Continental in there?

Are you Dual Stick or Y?  I have flown both and I can say with a high level of confidence I very much prefer the Y stick.

Steve

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Permalink Reply by brad cohen on January 21, 2015 at 8:23pm

Steve,

"Y" yoke

Lycoming O-235L2C with a Catto prop

thay is a stock (laughs) Zenith cowl that was heavily modified to fit.  I actually had to cut a large "V" out of the bottom of the cowl to get it to fit against the fuselage, then I had to extend the top cowl 2-3 inches on either side to fit against the bottom cowl.  if you look close at where the cowl "seam" is, you'll notice a brown appearing stripe where the gelcoat is sanded away, this is the area that I had to build up by hand to make the two halves fit.

The test pilot question haunted me for months. ultimately, I felt that I had way too much emotional attachment to the plane and would not be able to make the right decision if the plane headed for the bushes.  I did taxi test to Vr but then put it in the shed and decided to let my test pilot finish up after (almost) ground-looping

I am a bit ham-fisted in the plane and with two big guys in it it seemed a bit twitchy in pitch (I only say that because I last flew a 172 that took a good amount of push to move.) I have no doubt that the pitch sensitivity is simply a characteristic of the 601 and is something that is easily managed with proper training

brad

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Permalink Reply by Richard Simmons on January 21, 2015 at 7:02pm

Congradulations on your first flight.
I'm sure you had/have a big cheeser grin going on.

I hope to follow suit some time this spring/summer.


Rich
Murfreesboro, TN

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Permalink Reply by Philippe BREILLAC on January 24, 2015 at 3:08am

Hi Brad,

I'm French, and i'm building the same aircraft as yours (601XL-B tail tragger). Your story is like mine...one step forward, to step back but it's so exciting...Congratulation for your job.

Which kind of engine have you installed ?

Good flights!

Philippe BREILLAC

 

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Permalink Reply by brad cohen on January 24, 2015 at 4:20pm

I installed a lycoming O-235L2C. When I started the plane 10 years ago, I knew that I wanted a ubiquitous engine that any mechanic at any airport could work on if there was a problem. Of course, since then, Rotax and Jabiru have become a bit more popular. I am using a three bladed Catto prop. I put the battery up front instead of the tailcone because I also installed a Magnum recovery parachute. How far along are you on the plane?

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