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Upgrade Complete, N554SG Flies!

Well my 601XL upgrade is now complete. The post-upgrade test flight occurred yesterday, March 23, and things went great. The sun was going down so I went up for three quick touch and go’s. The first thing I noticed was no oil can popping noises any more. I only got to 100 MPH so it will be interesting to see if they are gone at high speed also. In my short flight I did not notice any changes…

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Added by David Gallagher on March 24, 2010 at 6:53am — 11 Comments

601XL with O235 Lycoming

I am installing a Lyc. Promotional material indicates a empty weight a about 800 lbs. I believe the MOD will increase this by about 25 lbs. Some of you have completed the MOD. How do your weights compare? For Lyc users-Empty Weight? Regular or light weight starters and alternators? Prop type,pitch,dia? Cruse speed? Rate of fuel burn at a specific power setting. Where is your battery? What does it weigh. Did you have to add ballast and where? Anything else?

Added by Edward A. Hamilton on March 22, 2010 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

Young Eagles flights in Zodie Rocket N601LE



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Added by Chuck Long on March 15, 2010 at 1:46pm — 5 Comments

O-235 powered Zodiac ZL

I'm using a O235 Lyc and would like to hear from other builders.
Weight with or without paint? Lightweight starter/alternator? Type and location of battery? Fuel tanks? Prop-Make/Dia/Pitch? Cruise speed at what RPM? Any thing else that comes to mind. Ed Hamilton (609)971-8757(30 mi North of Atlantic Cith NJ)

Added by Edward A. Hamilton on March 15, 2010 at 10:13am — 2 Comments

Nylon Torque bearing

I decided to use 3/16" nylon as a bearing since I had some and I need to move forward for the inspection. Once the metal bearing is unbolted, the torque tube can be pulled forward and out of the airplane. The front stop and control stick were removed. I'm going to keep it lubed with white lithium grease or similar.



Steve Smith mentioned wear on the front bearing. My concern was placing the new nylon bearing in behind the stop ring and moving… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on March 14, 2010 at 8:47am — 4 Comments

Back in the air in Aussie

Zenair Australia's Demo 601 XL is back in the air after being fitted with the upgrade kit



The first flight was just before last light on the 12/3/10. It flew just great I did not notice any great change, It was just great getting back into the air again.



Here are a few pics of the Red Nose Beast coming out of the hangar.…











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Added by Allan / Zenair Australia on March 12, 2010 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

Installing the upgrade...some tips, tricks and a few snafus

Ok, so I got the "upgrade" kit Monday. Already had started to drill things apart and had it ready so I could inventory and start locating and installing the kit. A few things I have to say first off, well packed, marked and nice quality of the metal and hardware. But, after studying the drawings a bit I was a little confused, to say the least, on what part went where. I went to school and got an ASS degree in CADD and have been an A&P for 20 yrs. I currently work at a FAA certified Repair… Continue

Added by Timothy R Mix on March 11, 2010 at 5:09pm — 6 Comments

"Don't Give Up Your Dreams"

I was pleasantly surprised to read about Tim Garrett in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last night:





Read the full story: St. Louis Post-Dispatch



Many of you have probably met Tim at one of Zenith's… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on March 11, 2010 at 12:30pm — 2 Comments

CH750 Quick Build Kit

Shipped another QBK, today!

Bon Voyage!

Added by Russell Lepre' on March 9, 2010 at 10:54am — 2 Comments

701 Taildragger

I am building a 701 taildragger. I looked at the plans and they are nov very clear. any info or photos on the tailwheel installation would be helpful.

Added by Albert E Lewallen on March 8, 2010 at 1:38pm — 1 Comment

CH601 HDS Wing Tanks

Hi All,

I came across this photograph several years ago. It is in the wing of either a CH601HD or HDS. I am trying to locate the builder as I'm interested in doing something similar myself.

Does anyone recognise the photo ???

Added by John Livsey on March 7, 2010 at 2:20am — 4 Comments

Polish techneques

Greetings all,



Jake and I were talking the other day and came up with this question:



Has anyone out there used Scotch Brite pads to prepare the aircraft surface for polishing?



We were thinking of putting the Scotch Brite on a orbital sander pad and start working smoothing out



the grain, using red, brown, gray and finally white pads prior to using Nuvite.



I have the info published on matronics, Swift and Airstream and have started to polish with the… Continue

Added by Mack P. Kreizenbeck on March 2, 2010 at 3:10pm — 3 Comments

Two upgrades in 13 days at QSP

Would you pay this man to help you upgrade your airplane? We did and it worked out much better then the picture would suggest.



This blog is not a how-to. There have been plenty of well done how-to blogs. It’s just some pictures with a few words attached.



Three years ago my brother Alan and I (with lots of help) built a pair of 601s…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on March 2, 2010 at 12:30am — 16 Comments

Wing Lockers and additional wing stiffeners

I originally installed per the drawings, but I have 2 Dzus fasteners on either side to hold down the door. I wasn't happy with 2 L angles and talk at the time, 4 years ago, was to add at least one additional stiffener. And I didn't like the way the hinge protruded or that the door was in the way when opened if you were loading from the front, figured I would address these issues later. Now is later ;-) Pictured above is Version 1.



First, I… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on February 27, 2010 at 6:23am — 2 Comments

Clem Kramer’s Zenith CH 750: From first part to first flight in just a year

The following was first published on the GeneralAviationNews.com website on February 21, 2010:

Posted by Janice Wood · February 21, 2010…



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Added by Zenith.Aero on February 23, 2010 at 11:56am — 10 Comments

Lengthening rudder cables

New to site. How can i add a couple of inches forward positioning of the rudder pedals for more comfort? Add turnbuckles on the pedal end and shorten nose wheel rods? Any suggestions without running new, longer cables? I will have the plane apart doing upgrades and thought this might be a good time to do so.

Added by James Kendall on February 22, 2010 at 9:56am — 3 Comments

Landing Lights on a Zenith STOL

Assuming I get a full Pilots License and wish to fly the LSA CH-750 as a regular plane after the sun sets, I’d like to know where those of you who have equal ambitions plan to install your landing/taxi lights on the CH-750? Do folks even fly STOLs after hours as I don’t recall seeing them on the Zenith website on any of the CH-801 photos. With the fixed leading edge wing slat on the Zenith STOLs, it…

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Added by Jay Parker on February 19, 2010 at 9:41am — 10 Comments

Continuing Progress

Haven't updated here in a while so I figured I'd let everyone know what I've been up too. I'm in the proverbial 90% done 90% to go final phase of building. My seat cushions are out for upholstery, I'm fininshing up some minor body work on my used cowl. I managed to drill the rest of the holes in my windshield without doing any serious damage. I spent most of today tidying up my wiring harness. Things like that.

I have a two page punch list that I am working through and am…

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Added by Doug MacDonald on February 15, 2010 at 5:52pm — 1 Comment

NOT SURE WHAT TO TITLE THIS POST - YOU DECIDE.!

Well not sure if I should title this Post IS MY WIFE PISSED OR WHAT, or DO I HAVE THE LARGEST FLEET OF 701'S? Last year while I was coming to the end of building my first 701, a fellow 701 owner had a taxi mishap in his, he decided that he would not repair it and parted it out. I purchased it minus the engine and instruments, hence my second 701 which currently sits in my shop. This last week I purchase a complete new…

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Added by Debra and Patrick Nesbitt on February 14, 2010 at 11:59pm — 4 Comments

More Progress...

Wing skeletons are complete and it we finished earlier than we thought... Oooo, SCAREY! Now to skin the wings and start on the fuel system.

Added by Travis Corbin on February 12, 2010 at 9:23pm — No Comments

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