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XL center spar removal

Hi All
just removed my center spar and had to remove one of the rear spar uprights to get the spar out. Has anyone removed the spar by just removing the 2 FWD spar uprights and how did you do it for the benifit of others?
Chris..

Added by Chris Sinfield on January 17, 2010 at 12:34am — 3 Comments

Making Landing Light Lens

I recall seeing an excellent web page about making a landing light lens using an oven. Could someone post a link to that page or similar. I've lost the bookmark.

Added by Dan Dempsey on January 16, 2010 at 3:09pm — 6 Comments

Received upgrade kit

I received the upgrade kit Friday Jan 15. Many thanks to Doug and Lori at Quality Sport Planes, Cloverdale, CA., for getting all the pieces sorted, re-boxed, and sent out quickly. I noticed a couple things.



1) The aileron balance drawing is still size A and illegible. Is there a source for a size B drawing that can be read? I cringe at putting these balance weights in at all, and to have to guess at most of it isn't sitting well with me. I do have the .pdf file of the drawing and can… Continue

Added by Louis W. Ott on January 16, 2010 at 1:21pm — 2 Comments

New Builder

Hi everyone

I would like to introduce myself to the Zenith Aircraft Builders community. I am building the 801 form kit. I just started working on the tail kit. Any information or suggestion regarding what i should look-out for as I start my kit will be appreciated.

Thankyou and have a wonderful day!

Sohaib

Added by Sohaib Khan on January 16, 2010 at 11:01am — 1 Comment

Installing Grove Brakes

Does anyone have any good photos/instructions for installing Groves brake assembly on 601/650 ? No instructions came with the brake set, and the ZAC photos suck ("put the brakes on here...").

Added by Jim Snyder on January 14, 2010 at 7:54pm — 4 Comments

Center Spar Install - The End

The Center Spar is installed, meaning that all the holes are drilled and it all fits. This post includes the Center Spar Installation Template I posted earlier as an idea. Scroll to the bottom for the new stuff. I added some additional detail to drilling the spar bolt hole.



First I back drilled through the bottom doubler.…

Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 14, 2010 at 12:01pm — 6 Comments

Zenair Newsletter #176 (Jan-Feb) off to the Printer



The Newsletter has been sent to the printer and should be mailed in just a couple weeks. Something for nearly ALL Zenith builders: Our lead story of a unique way to get your CH750 kit built really fast.... and another great first person account of how a pilot used his CH701 to cross the country on a 4000+ mile trip of adventure to the famous rock formations and canyons of the southwestern USA..... and this issue's DVD provides the conclusion of… Continue

Added by Zenair News on January 12, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Sensenich 3 Blade Composite Prop

Does anybody out there know anything about this prop. I can't find anything about it on the internet? How expensive is it and do you gain anything in performance?

Added by Greg Kaldor on January 9, 2010 at 7:18pm — 3 Comments

Cowling progress

Picked up the first version of the cowl for trimming and splitting on the 4th of January. Hangar doors are frozen shut, for now we will have to either wait for thaw or chip it open. Then we can fit and cut the first version. Meanwhile cowl is stored at Balckhawk Aviation maintnance. Weather is supposed to warm up next week a little so maybe we will get lucky and have an opportunity to work on it. Progress is at hand!

Added by Phillip Owens on January 9, 2010 at 3:08pm — 2 Comments

Adventures In Riveting

I had a few people ask me why I thought solid rivet bucking was easy. I have to admit that I was fortunate to be taught how to drive rivets in A&P school a fair number of years ago, but the skill could be easily picked up by anyone mechanically inclined. I had the opportunity to make many mistakes before getting it right. I have not riveted much since then so there was a little bit of refresher needed. If you have access to the EAA web site, there is a Tony Bingelis article about rivet… Continue

Added by David Gallagher on January 7, 2010 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Not exactly building Zenith bu have you ever heard of a Bessler?

Take a look! I had no idea!

http://www.aircraftowner.com/videos/view/the-besler-steam-plane_658.html

It is 20 degrees again! tool cold for garage work! Just a few more days. I did order the upgrade kit so I am waiting!

Added by Richard Simmons on January 7, 2010 at 6:29am — 1 Comment

Bucking Station, a riveting place to be.

I started assembling the Center Spar and bucking solid rivets, I remember why I didn't build an RV. Being a lazy guy, I looked for an easy solution. It started ok, using one hand to hold my hammer/bucking bar, I did ok. I wanted something solid and as usual I start at the end. Here is my Bucking Station.

This receiver hitch was just laying around my garage waiting to be abused. It's sitting on 3/4"… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 6, 2010 at 6:53pm — 4 Comments

FAA inspection

Is there any requirement for FAA to inspect/approve the installation of the modification kit on an experimental-built XL?

Added by Karl Polifka on January 6, 2010 at 10:31am — 2 Comments

Front Wing Upright Install template?

This idea came to me on my morning walk, as do most ideas. I'm going to use the Bottom Doubler as an installation template and I think that the completed Center Spar can be used to install the Front Wing Uprights. Here is a picture to setup the thought process.

Using the existing Wing Attachment Uprights, some reference points can be established and it might be possible… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 5, 2010 at 2:26pm — No Comments

Center Spar Upgrade - Final version.

Ready to rivet after I disassemble one last time. This is a large post and will be the last on the Center Spar. I have reformatted and it is now in chronological order. Use this link Outer Spar Uprights install to go directly to the new information. I have added some navigation links. Drill Guide will bring you to the top of this page.



Drill… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 4, 2010 at 6:28pm — 1 Comment

Center Spar Installation Template

Thinking about how to make the Center Spar install a bit easier for myself. This is Part 23, Re-install the Center Spar

This is just a test setup to share my thoughts. First I drew the center line and then set the currently uncompleted Center Spar flush with the back edge of the doubler. Using the existing holes, I marked the longeron location. I don't want… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 2, 2010 at 12:57pm — No Comments

Today it finally started.

Went perfectly. Lots of stress for nothing.

Added by Thomas Richardson on December 31, 2009 at 8:27pm — 1 Comment

New Kit

I recieved my new kit and got the invatory done. starting to build after the first of the year. I have a 701 taildrager.

Added by Albert E Lewallen on December 30, 2009 at 7:00pm — 2 Comments

Part 26: Installing the "Upgrade Package" to our Zodiac CH 601 XL: It flies!

It was a cold and windy day... but clear and sunny, so we flew our beloved Zodiac XL demonstrator airplane this morning.

Today's flight comes after the downtime of installing the Zodiac XL upgrades which we've been chronicling here over the past five or six weeks. All of you that have been following this series will agree that the upgrade package kit that we… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on December 28, 2009 at 4:00pm — 8 Comments

Part 25: Installing the "Upgrade Package" to our Zodiac CH 601 XL: It's now all back together!

We've been finishing up the aircraft these past few days, continuing on where we last left the project.

We've re-installed the flaps and all the controls in the aircraft, as well as reconnected all the wiring and fuel lines.

Above, Steve and Roger finished riveting the last rivets back in...…

Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on December 24, 2009 at 2:30pm — 6 Comments

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