Phil, here's the link to the Grove gear page with the specs. They use a different grade of aluminum, 7075 for a weight savings of 11 pounds over stock. I also used their lighter 51 series wheels, another 2+/- pounds saved. Ok, that's only 13 pounds lighter. I also added the gundrilled brake lines option.

http://www.groveaircraft.com/landing_gear.html#zenair

Even though I deleted the landing gear, wheels, etc. from the Zenith kit, I believe the additional cost was right at $1,000, about $66 per pound saved. For me, it was money well spent.

Looks like you're making great progress. I hope to be flying in June.

Jake



Not sure what they are installing on the 650, from the pictures the gear does look to be narrower.

Phill,I use the lightspeed QFR-XC purchased from ROB ROLLISON at ROLLISON AVIATION. ROB had me try several,but his first suggestion was right on ,I have since bought several items from him because of the way he does business ,the head set you purchase should be determined by the frequency of your power plant, and Rob is very knowledgeable in this area , and will tell you the least expensive, and give you the best price .happy and quiet flying BOB

Hi Phill. I have been in China so nil progress for awhile. It will start again soon. I trust all is well with you. Say hello to your parents for me please.
Peter

Hi Phill, I would like to talk to you via email about the XL control problem as I too have some concerns.
Rick

havent you finnished it yet

Thanks for both.. I will buy the guages from Jab as you said.. I like the idea of markings alrady on it for the 3300 and will check out the paint..

If your mate wants a QB kit ther will be a couple going real cheep due to Sportair going out of the Zenith Business with Liezel running back to SA..

I feel your pain .. doing the trims tonight..

About halfway through the wiring saga, I began to wonder if Chris Heintz was wrong... maybe I was building the space shuttle.

Ed

Hi Phil, I had finished. I have done one flight but needed to make some changes and improvements. I fly out of wangaratta and work in my garage at home. I have built a 7 metre trailer to move my 701 when I need to. You can contact me if you want to. my e mail address is gordon.watkin@defence.gov.au or moble 0428553076.

Cheers Gordon.

Phill, thanks again for the steering boot solution. One less thing to worry about :-)

Jake

Phill, regarding the fibreglass mouldings. I used some "stuff" I had laying around to make the filler, but have since acquired some 3M Glass Bubbles from Spruce and will highly recommend. They are very light, cheap and and a little Epoxy, one pump, makes a bunch of filler/putty. Here's the link.

3M Glass Bubbles

Jake

Phill, I haven't decided what to use as the seal for the canopy moulding, something very thin since the fit is almost perfect. I'm going to start by using a good quality duct tape on the flange. Chafe seal could work. I've even considered using a thin layer of Plastic Dip or Liquid Tape. Plastic Dip is available as a spray, this could be worth a try. Worst case is that I can use it on my tools :-)

Jake

Phill, I have a variety of self adhesive seal EPDM weatherstrip in various shapes. Same stuff you can get from Spruce and it's available at Home Depot and even Walmart in our neck of the woods. Chafe seal is only 1/16" and that's about all I need. So, I have options and need to move into the experimental mode ;-)

jake

Hello Phill,

Thank for commenting on my picture. It was sure nice to be back in the air to catch that one.

I have been watching your progress through the pictures you post. The project does seem to go on and on doesn't it? Its all worth it when you start to fly your own creation though.

I have been fascinated with Australia since I was a kid. I look forward to your airborne pictures from your neck of the woods.

Steve

hi phill make sure you put every thing you ever think you will want in the panel i just fitted a transponder it was bloody hard trying to wire it up and fit it in but i got there; only punched the shed wall once maybe twice
regards paul

plane is so much fun to fly ; its the second most fun you can have, one with pants on i am not going to make any mods or changes unless some one can prove to me itis realy necessary been so much wind & rough weather down here dont get a lot of chance to fly but you wil be pleased to know they are one tough little plane shakes the shit out of me though paul

that is a great picture of you and Dan. Imagining the source of the obviously heart felt laughter is really effective .

Phill, i am building the 801 from the quick build kit. I would be glad to send you some pics. I'd prefer to send them from my outlook email since i am an old goat and don't won't to learn anything new...like how to use the emailing tools on this site. my email is pmaples@maplesgas.com.
thanks, phillip

Phill ?
you are making me feel sick great upholstery mine is realy crap who did it and do they want to do some more

Thanks for the comment on my photo. Standby for more photos soon!

Hello Phill,

I am still experimenting with the cooling modifications and checking results. I hope to do a test flight tomorrow afternoon. If I like what I see, I will produce a post with pictures.

Steve

Thanks for Mathieu's blog address. I have put the question to him so here's hoping.
Regards,
Rick.

Phill,

I have to remove the top wing skin to get the shot you are asking for and plan to do so in a week or so. I will gladly send the bellcrank bearing photo at that time.

Sorry for taking so long but I have to move things arround in the garage to get to the wings. I am building in one half of a two car garage. The other half is for my wife's car, and it must be in every night so it is quite a dance to work on more than one part at a time.

Bob

Phil, you were on a roll there. Was alcohol involved, if not, have you considered stand up ;-) When life gives you lemons, bake bread.

Thanks!

THese are a big help. I see you fed the fuel through the fire wall on the LH side opposed to the suggested RH side.

I may follow suit! I dont like the fuel coming in by the cabin heat box.

Thanks again,

Rich Simmons

Phill
send me your email address so that I can send pics of the push pull tubes
Ken

Phill, that was my first upgrade when I bought the kit, Grove Aircraft landing gear, I deleted the ZAC gear from my original order. I think it is now standard on the 650, but I don't think they are made by Grove. AMD lists the weight of the gear as +30 pounds and the Grove gear weighs 32 pounds, width is 115mm. Check with ZAC. Here is a link to Grove Aircraft.

I also used their lightweight wheels and brakes, total weight savings was 13 pounds, and they are gundrilled. We've all heard that airplanes gain weight, that was my motivation to keep it light.

You mentioned that you are well skilled at composites. I'm going to make a new set of wheelpants using carbon fiber, that will save a few more pounds and you can save a few more by replacing the other stock fiberglass parts, carbon fiber isn't really necessary, just a nice clean layup, but if you're going to the effort ...

I'm going to cheat on the wheelpants and use the stock as a plug, cover it with a nice smooth layer of packing tape, layup some glass and then cut a seam at just the right time over the top, let it cure and then pop it off and tape the seam

Phill, I was going to do analog, but was talked into the EIS, it was a good choice, bang for the buck. It lacks personality, but makes it up in performance and delivery of information.

I like to think it is a simple panel, but will add a Falcon Electric Attitude under the Airspeed, just in case I get into poor visibility.

Phill, we have to stick together ;-)

I do something similar with fiberglass. I use 5 minute epoxy to tack a part and then do an epoxy fillet.

Happy New Year!

It is the Grove gear, gun-drilled. Taildragger gear is 15# lighter than the stock gear and much easier to land on!

Phill, did you get the rest of the Upgrade?

hey, Phill did you hear the joke about the plane up grade builder he died of old age waiting for parts

g,day Phill , could you make me up some stripes

thanks phill, I thought 2 stripes one a silver theother adark grey almost black metalic,down each side and each wing not sure about width 1/2 3/4 or1"any suggestions.

Phill, ZAC added some detail to the Drawings. Like the .063 Rear Attachment Upright and some rivet pitch information on other parts. I had this discussion with Caleb last week or so.I also noticed some other minor stuff, mostly doing a better job of identifying parts.

Weight loss idea. All I can think of is the canopy frame after viewing the new PiperSport XL ;-) Not sure it's worth the effort and I don't have the latest 650 version. I am going to add additional false bottom ribs to the wings, the 2 outer bays already have them installed. While I was inside the fuselage working on the Rear Attach plates, I noticed that the bottom oil cans badly, so, a few more stiffeners. The only weak link in my airplane will be the nut holding the stick :-)

G'day phill,
Iv just bought a share of Barry Venamores zodiac which is why i have appeared out of no where. Our zodiac will have its wings back on it within a few days, after putting the new mods through it. will get some photos up when i can. cheers mate
Meade Mckenzie

Thanks Phill for the web waatching.. I missed the new checklist.. I am with you
I do whish they would put a one liner out on this website, telling us to look at the updates..
They do want this site to be a one stop shop don't they???
Chris.

hey phill, ready to bolt the wings on tomorrowit looks like I fly away into the wild blue younder thursday

Hi Phill

'Got your note on my wall. Thank you for your interest in the gear. I'd prefer to discuss this offline. My email is ttp44(at)rkymtn.net. If you could send me your email address, I'll communicate that way in the future. Thanks.

Terry

Hello Phill,

Upgrading two planes in less than two weeks was hard work. Each day we started at 8:00am and finished at 6:00pm with a short lunch break. We had up to 6 people working at the same time – most very experience builders. The project went well with a few glitches.

I have most of the pictures that were taken but not all – still collecting them. I may post a blog or a photo album in the next day or so. I need to get caught in other parts of my life.

My upgraded plane has been weighed on extremely accurate scales now and comes in at 810 pounds. Sadly I can’t post the increase in weight because my before weights are known to be inaccurate. My guess, for what is worth, is that 25 to 30 pounds have been added. I am very sure the planes carrying capacity has increase by far more than that however here in the USA we have an artificial limit of 1,320 pounds.

Steve

Hi, Phil---

I remember your post on the bellcrank solution to taildragger rudder cable tension/pedal stability. That is why I mentioned bellcranks as a possible solution in my recent posted question. Unless somebody gives me reason to really want tension on my rudder cables, I think I will just go with some springs (as almost all production taildraggers do) and keep it simple. Your bellcrank idea is elegant, I saved a copy of it when you first posted it because I like it. I wonder if any factory planes out there use a bellcrank for the solution? Yours is the first time I have seen the idea presented, and I have been in aviation for almost half a century now. You are a clever guy.

Bob

so you like my stripes i better try getting the rest of my photos up

Hi Phill,

Good thanks.

Yep, I still want them, but without going on about it, suffice to say we just finalised a house purchase last week, so we're skint.

But if you give me a figure, I can budget for it some time over the next month.

Phill, I'm mostly done with the Discrepancy list, last big thing is to attach the Data Plate. The airplane is about ready for some taxi tests. I plan on returning in 3 weeks for flight testing. It's also the windy season in Mountain Home, meaning days of 30+ mph. It tends to settle down in late May.

I do have a video camera and have planned on mounting and using to record. Since I've done a custom FWF, it will be the only way to prove if I have succeeded in creating a better FWF.

The end is near :-)

Jake

g'day phill well flying is so much fun ,but you probably dont know much about that,SO GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET IT DONE.when are you shifting down here,my mark son is taking on a 800 cow dairy farm so if you want a job working in shit mud cold wet and sometimes fun and beautiful conditions

Cheers Phil, .Its been perfect flying weather on this side of the island,not so flash on the other,but only got the 701 here last weekend so intend to give it a good once over before taking to the air.Its running a 582 rotax,seems to perform well though.What part of the big island do you live in ?

Gidday Phill
Yer its not a bad part of the country,certainly not far from sea to the alps,makes for interesting flying.
Guess they must have sold you Speights beer (my staple diet )not a bad drop aye. A few of the dark Aussie beers are good,but you can keep the rest.
Been to Aus 3 or 4 times now,Sis an brother in law own Brisbane crane trucks,have only got in as far as Mitchel and up to rainbow beach,so I guess I got close to your home. How far along are you with the 601 ?

I'm not real sure ,but think we caught a feery across ,then drove up the beach to rainbow beach,then came out overland at the nortern end.
It will be quite an acomplishment building your own plane,not sure if I have the patience at this stage,maybe one day.
Have done the sheep and dairy farming thing for a big part of my life,spent the rest of it on dozers and diggers,but at present I'm building rotary dairy sheds and maintaining all within them.
What do you do for a crust over there ?

I got a job for you ,open a napa store ,did you see those plug prices ,lucky buggers over there,all we have is peace and tranquilityand you can fly almost anywhere no questions asked

see you like chating to us farmers,not real sure what is going with the plugs ,but it ran like a bucket of shit ford,now it runs like a jabiru .the sky is still blue might go for a fly