Gordon Watkin
  • Male
  • Yackandandah VIC 3749
  • Australia
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Gordon Watkin's Discussions

Air Speed Indicator

Started this discussion. Last reply by Andrew Aston Oct 28, 2009. 7 Replies

I had my first flight yesterday. It was very very exiting after 3 years of building and problems. I seem to have moved onto a new phase of dynamic rather than static problem solving.During the first…Continue

 

Gordon Watkin's Page

Profile Information

Aircraft Model
STOL CH 701
Project Status
Flying
Building From
Plans-only
Engine installed (or plan to install)
Rotax 912iS
Building Experience
No Experience
Flying Experience
Sport Pilot (or Ultralight)
Building and Flying Info / Your Profession / Other Background Info
Maj, Army.
Home Airport (ie. KMYJ)
YSKF

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Gordon Watkin's Blog

Cross country trip in Australia.

Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:30am 3 Comments

Just flown my 701 1034 nm from Yackandandah in Victoria Australia to Townsville. Two days 13 1/2 hours. Great trip apart from a small whirlwind tried to flip the plane whilst I was on the ground refuelling.

For all those of you that are still building I can say that it is all worth it. The only thing I would change now is to reduce the cabin noise. Don't know how i am going to do that yet.

Looking forward to exploring a new area.

130 hours mods

Posted on August 12, 2012 at 5:59am 2 Comments

Brought my plane home yesterday. We have spent 130 hours together learning how to fly. Due to some less than perfect landings a new main spring needs fitting. I have also decided to carry out some mods. I have never been happy with the fit of the bubble doors so I am going to fit some extra latches to hold the door better. I have also been looking at some of the mods done on this site and have decided to fit VG onto the elevator, ordered from Zenith. I am also removing the folding wings… Continue

End of flight testing

Posted on December 19, 2009 at 1:03am 1 Comment

I finished flight testing this week. I took the day off work and flew off the final 6.1 hours. The plane is fantastic everything I imagined it to be. After 6 hours fkying I have found that I will have to adjust my seats to make them more confortable though. All the jhard work and effort in building the plane from plans has been worth it, so for all the builders out there still working keep at it because the end definatly does justify the means. All the best and good luck Gordon

Comment Wall (4 comments)

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At 6:20am on August 13, 2012, Alan Cameron said…

Thanks Gordon you can get me direct at   alancameron69@gmail.com   look forward to meeting you up here

 

Alan

At 8:05pm on December 19, 2009, John Ellis said…
Congratulations -- don't forget to give you wife a big hug. She is going to need it now since she is going to see you less :-) My motto is Eat-Sleep-Fly ( a little nookie now and again keeps your situational awarness up too). :-)

John
At 4:01pm on October 23, 2009, Allan / Zenair Australia said…
Hi Gordon

Well done and congratulations on your first flight, it is a day you will always remember

Allan Barton
601 XL
Zenair Australia
Bendigo
At 7:19pm on October 7, 2009, Phill Barnes said…
Hi Gordon
I just visited Albury a couple of weeks ago. I am building a 601xl but would have liked to have seen your plane, maybe next time. There is a builder in Albury by the name of Peter Carver whom I was visiting and is also building a 601xl. He is a member of this group also.

Your profile says that you are nearly done. Does that mean that you have since finished you plane or is that someone elses 701.

Regards
Phill Barnes
 
 
 

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