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The Plane is Built. Now How do I Fly It?
My 701 is built, registered, AW inspection passed, and ready for Phase 1. I am not a pilot yet but I'm working towards my LSA with a Private pilot CFI. I'm not even sure if this gets me any closer to my goal and its quite expensive. My goal is simply to fly the plane I've spent years building legally. How do I get there? My understanding is that I will still need transition training and the schools are distant. How did you all do it? Did you take time off and go to the niche schools? Did the trainers come fly your plane? Are there any of these places in the South East? I found one in Tennessee but the website was down. Did everyone have to go thru these or is there any other way?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Austin on
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You obviously need at least a Sport Pilot certificate to legally fly a 701, so you're going to have to complete that requirement regardless of anything else. If you look to the right on this page, you'll see ads - scroll down to "Builder and Pilot Supplies" and there are at least 2 transition training sources listed - I believe one is a school you would have to travel to and the other is Phil Cook, who I believe will travel to you for transition training, also does first flights and assists with initial flight testing, etc. The "Buzz Air" transition training in Tennessee is no longer in business.
The 701 and all the Zenith STOL aircraft fly quite a bit differently from your typical Cessna, etc. Not unsafe, just different! Transition training is highly recommended and almost always your insurance company will require either transition training or x number of hours flight experience in a 701, especially in a new or low-time pilot. A lot of companies will accept transition training or time in a similar Zenith aircraft such as the 750 STOL.
John
N750A
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Permalink Reply by Ken Ryan on
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This is an interesting question. It goes to what the restrictions are on a STUDENT pilot who has soloed. Can you just jump in your 701 or are there legal restrictions? I'm not sure. I haven't read anything about this particular aspect of MOSAIC.
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Permalink Reply by James H Skaggs on
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My question is how did you all do it? Every pilot on here had to get qualified somehow. If you had to travel to the transition training school, so be it. I just want to know all of my available options.
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That's what I was trying to address. Once you are a pilot, you aren't required to get transition training at all, so that would be an available option. But I don't know about a student pilot.
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Transition training certainly isn't required by the FAA, but there's about a 100% chance your insurance company will require either x number of hours of transition training or at the least, x number of flight hours in a 701 (or typically they'll accept similar aircraft such as 750 STOL, etc.). If still a student pilot, his CFI would have to specifically endorse him for solo flight in that specific model of plane if his prior training was in another plane. The CFI would also have to determine that the student is proficient in that make and model of airplane. Therefore, the only practical way to achieve that for a student pilot would be to get a CFI to give them transition training prior to solo endorsement in that plane ... but, it also seems that would be problematic until the plane has completed flight testing!
John
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So let me see if I understand this correctly. Once I pass my checkride to Be an LSA pilot I will be qualified as far as the FAA goes to fly the 701? After that I only need to meet the requirements of the insurance company. There are a few zenith pilots in my area. I don't know if they are flight instructors but I think one might be. If I get them to spend 10 hours with me in their planes and satisfied insurance requirements, are there any other obstacles between my plane and phase 1? And do they have to be CFI's? I'm assuming they would. If the FAA is satisfied then I could get transition training with a little more scheduling leeway. As far as my checkride goes, I think MOSAIC allows my to Check out in a Cessna without needing all the requirements of a Private license. Some of this my instructor isn't even sure of yet, but I'm at the point of having to figure it out now. And the kicker is I will have to have some kind of insurance to solo in the Cessna.
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Permalink Reply by Rob Lankford on
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I'd warm up to the idea of travelling for some 701 specific instruction. Legally you can test fly your 701 as a student once you have an instructor's endorsement but i dont think insurance would approve. I'll need some time in an 801 before I test fly mine, but thats a ways off looking at the pile of aluminum in the shop.
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Griego
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The flying knuckle heads in Texas. They have a Zenith 750. I went through hell when I was trying to get my lightsport license. I started in Carson City Nevada and finished up in Santa Fe NM. My advice (for what its worth) I would finish up with your instructor and get a pilot license, which ever one you choose. Then go fly a 750 with the folks at Texas. I have flown both the 750 and the 701. If you can fly the 750 your can fly the 701. I own a 701. I flew a 750 in Tennessee for my transition requirement.. When learning to land just keep a little power in, till you get the feel of the sink rate and always land a little nose up and main wheels first. The 701 is very forgiving is you keep some speed.
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Permalink Reply by Jim and Amelia Isaacs
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James,
Have you reached out to EAA Chapter 249 for assistance and advice there in Greenville?
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Honestly No. That would certainly be a good place to start. Thanks.
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You’re welcome!
Hey when it comes to insurance- don’t be offended (or surprised) if no insurance company will underwrite you as a new pilot in an Homebuilt airplane until you’ve completed Phase 1 in your airplane. Do your Operating Limitations allow for a second pilot during Phase 1 under the Additional Pilot Program? If so- or if not, doesn’t matter- ask about the APP when you talk to your local EAA folks.
Hang in there!
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