Bob:

If you send me a real e-mail address, I will send you the sketches I have. I have about 100 hours on the spades now. Both Sebastian and Roger have flown them and agree that aileron forces are reduced by ~1/2. Of course, the forward shift in the CG is a bonus. And you have complete control over how big the spades are (for feel) and how much weight you want to add (for flutter margin). Unless Zenith comes out with a "standard" fix, I expect you'll see many similar to mine in the next year or so.

Unless I am very much mistaken the mods would require me to disassemble and cut open my plane in order to "RV it up a bit".... the result of which would be (like an RV) an aircraft which is significantly overbuilt for its mission and it anticipated operation.

Now I guess if I was building the wings right now, I might happily add the changes and accept the added weight in order to keep everybody content and have more idiot-proofing built into my plane. The problem is that my plane is completed and painted and flying just fine... no wrinkles in the skins, no fretting at the bolts, no smoking rivets, no loose cables, no vibration or flutter inflight. I wouldn't put too much stock in my own experience since one plane is not a very significant sample for analysis and I only have about 45 hours at present. On the other hand, there are a crapload of XLs out there with 100 or more hours and they have the same experience with much more use (the factory demo for instance).

I am definitely not a top gun sort of pilot... I'm more of an airline sort of pilot. In fact I have been on airliners that landed a lot harder than my worst landings. I have only rarely flown from a grass strip and then only grass strips that were in very good condition and I have no bush pilot aspirations for the future. If the air gets bumpy, I slow down; if it stays bumpy, I land. I find that not only sensible but much more comfortable. I like nit-picking my plane when the weather is crappy so careful maintenance is not a burden to me.

In short, at present I am not inclined to re-engineer my plane to please folks who believe there can be a perfect world in which no bad things happen. Since the mods are only recommended and have been made for business survival and anti-lawsuit motivations (none of which apply to me) I think I'll pass. The plane will be sold only when I die or am too ill to fly. It will be sold for whatever it will fetch and will be "as is" with the drawings included with the POH.

Your case is probably very different and likely so will be your reaction. In any case good luck and trouble free building.

Ed

Bob, I agree with your thoughts on brakes. With the upgrades, it gives me a chance to address those things I didn't mostly because it was my first airplane. It's a steep learning curve.

Bob, I've been watching the mailbox for the letter from the FAA. I was Light Sport legal about a year ago after my Cardiologist released me. My Medical had actually lapsed when the condition was discovered. The story is more twisted, I presented the short version.

Now that I have a current Medical, we're in the same boat, but I need to provide a cardiac status report, echo, etc. before my Medical expires to the FAA at least a month before my next Medical exam with an AME. Basically, I need more data. I can choose to let my Medical lapse and still be Light Sport legal. The key is to not have been denied or suspended.

I used to think Sport Pilot was for old guys ;-), not for me, I was only 50.

Bob, it's a bit tricky going back for Medical, you want to make sure the AME will pass you. Denial is not a good thing, you lose all privileges including Sport Pilot. It is best to let it expire when the time comes. Seems like you already have that plan in mind since you are building a Light Sport aircraft. My next hangar neighbor is retired Air Force, Earl Pitts, he's 80 something and he finally got tired of jumping through all the hoops, bought a Thorpedo and let his medical lapse.

I do have Grove gear, it is gundrilled and I used their lightweight wheels and brakes. It saved 13 pounds, about $100 pound is what I figure. I deleted the landing gear from my original order with ZAC. My goal from the beginning was performance and that meant keep it simple and keep it light. I occasionally make the right decision.

Thanks for your recent comment on my painting blog Bob, it would have been much easier to have just sent it all to the paint shop and written out a big cheque, but I want to keep to a budget and do it all myself - so many new skills picked up on this project. (Already I have son and my brother wanting me to help them paint their boats next!)

I have now painted the flapperons and slats, next the wings. Good job its summer and I can sit outside in the shade as I do the preparation.

Regards

Jock Struthers, NewZealand

Hi Bob
A while ago I drew a design for a fellow xl owner who was not happy with how his pedals fell to the floor when he took his feet off them. So I had a bit of a think and came up with the following design. I thought I'de post it here and not in the Q&A forum. No offence taken if you don't like it.

Regards
Phill

Bob,

Thanks for your comment on the fuel lines. I have a buddy who is an A&P and watching me build my 750. He wouldn't fly with the rubber lines. I will be ordering braided ss very shortly. I see where you are going to use a Corvair engine. That is my choice as well. How far along are you?
Thanks,

Blaine Schwartz

Hi Bob, if you let me have your e-mail, I will send you an invite to the Medicine on the Move ning - it is like this site, but invitation only to allow more open discussion about the challenges we face in HAL operations. Thanks - and keep on flying safe!