I just started my new kit last weekend, just drilling and fitting the rudder skeleton. Decided that I would alodine everything before priming since I now live in the beach. Had to order the Alumiprep and alodine, they arrived yesterday, so I am looking forward to making good progress this weekend.

NEW: EAA BARNSTORMING DEALS: Exclusive offer to EAA members

Get FREE admission to the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo with your paid registration for the Zenith Aircraft hands-on workshop offered at the Expo! Sign up now for the…

Hi Builders & fliers

This is a video that a good friend made of the first flight of my 650. It is powered by 2850cc 110hp covair. I have 23 hours on the plane now and have no problems. The link is https://vimeo.com/231398395 and the password is tallyho.  

I accumulated this over 5 years and 4 months.  Annuals have been non-events for the airframe - finally had to install new brake pads during my recent annual and that's about it for parts over 5 years!  At about 100 hrs I did replace the 800 series tires with 600 series, but that was just personal preference.  They look like they'll be good for one more…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6Jijz-lxOQ

BROWN AND NEAL EACH OWN AND FLY VIKING POWERED…

Having problems with the plastic wing tip on a 750 Any suggestion on how to reenforce the tip to keep the rivets from tearing out?    

Just this week, two EAA Chapters, that are actively building Zenith kits as a group project, are in the news! 

EAA Hotline featured this project (nearing completion) in Virginia…

Just registered for the Mechanic's Two Day inspection course up in Oshkosh in July after the event. Only 14 openings left.

A SOLID FUEL SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT FOR ANY AIRCRAFT ENGINE.  THESE ARE THE SYSTEMS USED BY THE THREE MOST POPULAR LIGHT AIRCRAFT ENGINES IN USE

TYPE OF FUEL SYSTEMS USED

ROTAX

• Dual external fuel pumps
• External single fuel regulator
• Fuel return commonly back to primary fuel tanks
• 6 port duplex fuel selector valve

VIKING

• Dual in-tank pumps
• In-tank dual fuel regulators
• Header tank based…

Finished up Today our Beta Kit for our customer in Georgia who helped us develop the kit... Once final fitment is confirmed we'll be ready to go.…

Chatted with Avilution on the podcast this week. They are the company behind the "Unpanel" on the SD:  https://evadot.com/2017/11/02/evadot-podcast-108-disruption-in-avionics-with-avilution-and-unpanels/

I've put in an order for the unpanel kit changes for my Cruzer. As far as I can tell I'm the first one.

HONDA ACCORD 252HP 2.0L GDI

THE SUPER DUTY VERSION OF THIS ENGINE WILL PRODUCE 208 HP AT 4,000 ENGINE RPM (1,750 PROP RPM) AND 640 FT-LB OF TORQUE AT THE PROPELLER, SPORTING A 5 BLADED DUC CARBON FIBER PROPELLER - AVAILABLE IN EITHER A GROUND…

While making the bends for the front and rear center spar uprights, I had a problem trying to take measurements with any of the numerous protractors I had. The angles I was trying too measure were to acute for any of my protractors to fit. So I decided to make a set of simple angle gages.

The gages were made using .025 aluminum scraps that I had laying around. The key to setting up the angle is to use a machinist tool called a sine bar. Referring to the picture below, the sine…

Fabricating the front and rear uprights for the center spar posed an interesting challenge. Each is about 18 inches long. One has a thickness of .063 inches. Which if that were all I had to deal with, I could bend it in my regular leaf brake and be done one with. However the other pair is 1/8" thick and I think would be a little too much to bend for the leaf brake.

Fortunately I have a hydraulic press and also a 26" press brake to go along with it.The problem with the press…

uAvionix has recently introduced the "skyBeacon," a FAA-approved (meets 2020 mandate requirements), wing-tip mounted ADSB-OUT transmitter with an internal WAAS GPS that features a simple, 2-wire installation using existing nav light wiring and no additional antenna installation or cabling - and it only weighs 90 grams!.  uAvionix sent me a pre-production…

Hi all, I bought a 601XLB this summer with a Lycoming O-235 and a wooden prop made by Props, Inc.  Last week I pulled the plane out of the hangar to start it as I have been having battery issues.  I got a phone call after pulling it out and due to the distraction left my tow bar on the front wheel.  As a result I shaved 1" off the prop.  I sent the prop back to Jeff at Props Inc. and he is going to repair it.  I'm not sure how much it will be shortened because Jeff hasn't gotten back to me…

Have seen the posts regarding Fuel Cap leaks and the responses. Has anyone had issues with venting with the factory supplied vented caps?  Patty Wagstaff had an interesting article in this month's Plane and pilot regarding fuel cell venting.  Still building but curious what others have seen with the factory product.