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Permalink Reply by Carl Orton on December 10, 2018 at 9:30pm

I remember seeing something in their office that if you had your plans a relatively short time, and they updated from say, an edition 1 to edition 2, they'd update the plans for either free or a relatively low fee.  If you've had 'em for an unknown-to-me longer time, it's basically buy a new set of plans.

Dunno how you stored 'em, but if they're relatively obviously used/thumbed thru, the plans are of little use to someone else unless at a fire sale price.  If they've updated the plans, edition-wise, they're basically worthless, but that's just my guess.

"Hey!  I drove around this 2016 Chevy for only 100 miles, kept in it in the garage, but now I want a Buick. Can you swap 'em out?"

Sincerely, I'm not trying to be snarky or anything, just trying to provide some explanation as to why they might be a bit uncomfortable doing what you ask. As I said, if you've only had the plans a short time, I don't see any issue at all.

Alternatively, I can see a case where if you bought a kit, as in give them a chance to make some $$$ (and the kit comes with the plans), they might deduct the plans cost, but that's just a thought.

They are very helpful folks and go more out of their way than I would have thought in other cases, so ya never know. Then again, they are a very small company and can't have the lavish return policies that LL Bean or other companies are known for.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Gravatt on December 11, 2018 at 10:43am

Carl, thanks for sharing.

From my view point, they are selling their IP.  The plans are serialized and if I surrender the S/N, they can resell it, and I can not build it.

They already made money on the plans, I would only get a portion back as a credit towards the 750.  If they have a reasonable upcharge for this, I will be buying many parts from Zenith as I build.  This means even more money changing hands...

The Kitfox is also attractive, as are other options, but, truth be told, I would prefer to be a Zenith owner.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Hoyt on December 11, 2018 at 10:50am

The cost of a fresh set of plans is minimal anyway, in the grand scheme of things.  Plus, I have learned a ton just from looking at drawings for various homebuilt aircraft, even if they're for airplanes that I'm not building. 

Purchasing of a set of drawings is one of the "final steps" in my decision-making process of whether-or-not I'm going to build an airplane.  For example, I have purchased plans for the Pietenpol, GN-1, Meyers Little Toot, Wittman Tailwind (both versions, and I'm currently building one of these), ULF-2, Marquart MA-5, and others that I've probably forgotten about.

Also, my old EAA chapter would periodically host a "Plans Night", where everyone could bring in a set of drawings for everyone else to look at.  It was fascinating...

- Pat

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Permalink Reply by Richard Kurlinski on December 12, 2018 at 7:52am

When I first started this adventure, I purchased the plans for the 750.  I had the plans for about 6 months and decided I liked the 650 better and it seemed like an easier build based on less parts compared to the 750.  I bought the plans for the 650 and sold my 750 plans here.  I only lost about $100.  If you post it to sell, they will come.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Wright on January 16, 2020 at 8:00am

Hi Mark, 

Like I said on your latest post, I am willing to swap my Cruzer plans for you 650B plans.  I have found that my mission has changed as well but in the opposite direction as you.  Please let me know your intentions.  
Thanks,

Rick Wright 

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