Russell Shimunek

Enterprise, AL

United States

Profile Information:

Aircraft Model
STOL CH 701, STOL CH 750
Project Status
Other
Building From
Kit
Engine installed (or plan to install)
Lycoming
Building Experience
No Experience
Flying Experience
Commercial / CFI
Building and Flying Info / Your Profession / Other Background Info
Hello to all. My name is Russ. This will be my first build. I am 31 years old and from Alabama. I am a professional pilot. I began flying when I was 12 and became an instructor at 18. Can anyone guess what I wanted to be when I grew up? By the time I was 23, I was a Captain for a regional airline flying mainly out of the northeast. I have over 7,000 hours total time, 4,000 as an instructor and ZERO as a builder. So, I BEG YOU ALL FOR HELP! I thank you all in advance and I look forward to the relationships I will be building with you as we build our planes together.
Home Airport (ie. KMYJ)
KEDN

Comment Wall:

  • Normand Lambert

    Hi Russell,
    Welcome to the family. These planes are not hard to build especially if you build from a kit ! They also fly quite well but not very fast...
    Trade offs, trade offs...
    Concerning your question about gross weight increase, you have to talk to the zenair guys at the factory, they'll give you a good idea to what extent you can increase it safely.
    For my CH701(SP standad) they allowed a 10% increase (from 1100lbs to 1200lbs) without any problem. In. Canada, in the Homebuilt category, you need an official letter from tye designer/manufacturer of your plane stating that the weight increase is reasonable otherwise it is not allowed.
    I dont know if it is the same with the DAR inspector in the US...
    Check before with Caleb at Zenair, that's a start.
    Regards,
    Norm
    CH701sp C-GFEU

    Sep 6, 2014