Welcome to the family.

I wish you the all the best with your project. If you ever get the chance to visit the Zenith factory please take the time to stop by our builder assist facility too. We are their newest and nearest builder assist facility and like to have visitors. We are right here in Mexico, Mo., not far from the factory.

Take care and good luck,

Bill Carter

American Light Sport Aircrafters

Builder Assist & Assembly Center

www.LightSportAircrafters.com

Hi Bill,

When I took down the floats, I undid the nut at the forward spar wing hold-on, added a 3/16 plate with 2 holes and screwed it back to the bolt. I used 2 chain blocks with hooks to lift the plane off the floats and put it back on its wheels. Piece of cake.

Regards,

Norm 

Hi Bill,

I only removed the fork and wheel. Since my floats are old style amphibious, the fork and wheel are used at the bottom of the front gear extension. It is the same wheel and fork that are being retracted back when taking off from water. Look at the pictures in my website ...You'll see.

Regards,

Norm

Hi Bill, The plate I installet on the back of the firewall is 1/4"X4" 6061 T6. My firewall is .018" stainless it si riveted on with 1/8" solid rivits to the firewall and brackets (dobblers) to the side skin. the floats I'm using will be the 4 wheel not the 3 wheel that most people use on the 701'S. I modeled this after other float mounts I've seen used.

Paul

Hi Bill.   Didn't realize you were a next door neighbour.   Excellent.     

Ill try to find the model number when Im back at the shop ...  all I remember was that it said Rigid on the box and the price confirmed it wasn't made in China.   I think it does from 1/4" to 1/2" tubing.      

The flaring tool is the most important and I can confirm that the rigid aircraft flaring tool is great.    

Ready to do engine run ups and hang the wings but have had a heck of a time finding hanger space in Whitehorse.   Realistically expect to be doing flight tests by the end of the year.    If not, Im moving the whole works to Fiji.

Cheers

The flaring tool I have is the model 458 with a 37 degree flaring cone, the pipe bender is the model 456 tri-bender  1/4",  5/16" and 3/8".

I tried to keep the number of bulkheads to a minimum.    At wing root, under seat, at control column and firewall.    Fuel selector, fuel flow, fuel pump and fuel filter also add a bunch of joints.   I had the same concern re possible leak points but my EAA advisor pointed out that if its good enough for a jet engine ....   The AN fittings add to the build cost but the anodized blue colour looks really cool.

I can also happily advise that I have undertaken extensive destructive testing (some uninformed folks would mistakenly call it mistakes) on the tubing and joints and am pretty impressed with the strength and fatigue tolerance of the system.

Agree with  adding inspection ports ....  installed a bunch of them all over the airframe and was inspection access was a major consideration in routing the fuel lines.   Tried to make sure that there was visible access to all joints and fuel lines.

Another favourite supplier is Pan American tools.   If you don't have them, the double margin piloted 40 - 20 and 40 -30 drill bitts are awesome and the air tools are the best (and most quiet) I have come across.

Skagway and Haines are my favourite "fish n' beer" spots and Alyeska ranks as one of the best "ski n beer" spots Ive had the pleasure of visiting.     Wasilla looks awesome and I hope that I can invade with my newly minted 750 next summer.    Do you think that Sarah will let me tie up at her dock?   :)

Cheers

Bill,

It's a "work in progress" but am comfortable with the progress.  Please send me an email to patrickmartin@loretel.net and I can send you some more info.  I will be a bit tied up with company until Monday, but SHOULD be able to visit with you then.

Glad you're interested in the tail draggers!

Bill,

I had an email returned to me as undeliverable.  I would love to talk to you about your project.  I expect to start flying in May.  I flew a C-90 powered 750 in Houston TX last sunday.  It really performed well.

Jack

Bill I am here in Wasilla as well.  I just purchased the Tail kit and plan to start building next month (assuming the tail kit finally gets here).  would like to be able to contact you with questions while building the kit if you don't mind.

Hi Bill -

Yes, I was in the USAF (31 years) and was a Herk driver.  Where were we stationed together?

All the best,

Joe

Hi Bill -

Joe Reheiser here.  I now recall where we were stationed together.  You were my first squadron commander, of the 345 TAS at Yokota AB, Japan.  Those were great years!  I had the good fortune to return to Yokota much later in my career as the 5AF/CV and flew the Herk.  They were H models at that time, and they are now converting or have already converted to the J model.  

All the best,

Joe 

Bill,

My engine has an engine driven fuel pump and I have an electric back up. I have never neede the electric pump.

Bill,

I have an O-200 powered 750 with an engine driven fuel pump.  Lack of an electric fuel pump has not been an issue.

JJ

Bill, I have an electric fuel pump installed on my Continental O-200A equipped CH750 STOL. I only use it when flying at high angles of attack (during stall maneuvers). Don’t really use it for any other normal flight conditions.