How to Transport a "Broken" Z 601XL-B??

by Michael McConnell

Aug 18, 2011

I am considering buying a "broken" Z 601 XL-B (prop and engine damaged in hangar accident by elder owner), and since I am not a "builder", I'm wondering how to remove the wings for trailer transport of the plane from Ohio to Virginia.  This may be "mission impossible" or "foolish mission" (new show?), but I'd like ideas and advice about HOW and IF this can be done safely.  Obviously I want to avoid or minimize any damage to the wings, electrical and fuel lines, control cables, etc.  I don't have any builder drawings or plans (I do have the CH 650 part catalog drawing list) to use for disassembly.  I welcome builder advice and ideas.  Thanks in advance!

  • Jesse Hartman

    Hi Michael. I would look for local builders in that area of Ohio,and ask / pay for help from somone who knows the plane inside and out and my already have a set of wing holders made. Thats my 2 cents. Good luck. Jesse

    Aug 18, 2011

  • David Gallagher

    Michael,

     

    First, if you are buying the 601 from the builder, assuming it is amatuer built, make sure to get his builder drawings to help you see how to get it apart and back together again.  If not, it will be well worth your money to buy a set from Zenith.  The 601 comes apart fairly easy for transport as I helped one of our unfortunate fellow builder-pilots get a bent-up 601 out of a cattle field a few years back.  Each wing is held on with 7 bolts.  Drain the fuel tanks first.  You will also have control cables, electrical wires, fuel lines and pitot/static lines to disconnect.  Have two saw horses ready, with some padding, for the top to help hold the wing during detachment.  If necessary, the rudder and horizontal stabilizer come off pretty easy also.

     

    Now for transporting.  I still had the wing caddy I built for my project and we transported the wings in the back of my pick-uptruck.  The 601XL gear is too wide to put on the typical lawn care business type trailer.  For our short trip back to the airport, we still were able to use this type of trailer by screwing 2x4's onto the wooden trailer bed and temporarily extending the width of the trailer.  I do not recommend this for anything but a very short trip.

    This is ugly, but it worked for the 5 miles we had to go.

     

    I highly recommend using an enclosed Ryder type truck that has an 8" bed the full length.  U-Hauls have to go up and over the wheel well and I do not recommend them.  Pictures below are from a 601XL transported from Tennessee to Texas after a jabiru FWF seminar.  We had 5 people who lifted the stripped down airframe w/ engine straight up and into the bed, although a ramp and winch would be certainly be easier.

     

    Straps used to hold airfoils to side walls of the trailer.

    If it has wheel pants, they probably have to come off first.

     

    Hope this helps.  Good luck!

     

    Dave Gallagher

    Aug 19, 2011