September 2010 Blog Posts (29)

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Product Reviews

We're tying something new at Zenith.aero, a Product Review site that will allow builders to share their actual experience with a specific instrument, system or new idea that has been implemented.

An example would be Dynon's EFIS-D6. A blog will be posted and using Dynon's descripton of the specific product. Those of you that have actually used the system can post your comments. Pros and cons, hours used, airplane that it is installed, price and would you…

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Added by Product Review on September 30, 2010 at 7:49am — 3 Comments

Kitplanes magazine article on the safety of Zeniths: "Safety is no accident"

The November 2010 issue of Kitplanes magazine (and it's still September as I write this!) has a story on the safety of Zeniths, presented as part of a series of articles on homebuilt (kit) aircraft safety. As the article's clichéd title states, safety is no accident, so I'm reprinting it here (with the gracious permission of… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on September 30, 2010 at 7:30am — 1 Comment

N number now in the FAA database

I don't know why this should make me feel elated, since this is hardly critical at this point in time. Somehow, though, it seems like a rite of passage of some sort. Hopefully, N274AJ will be in test sometime next year!

Maybe it's encouraging, since the rest of the day has been full of bent or broken parts. :)

Added by Jim Belcher on September 29, 2010 at 2:21pm — 1 Comment

Started marking out

Finally bit the bullet and started. Drew up curvy bits such as wing, stabilizer and rudder ribs on CAD. Printed them out 1:1 scale and traced them on to the 6061-T6. Only done the 0.016" bits so far (oh and the 0.025" spar webs), but it was good to finally get some aluminium out and start work.


Question now is what the best tool is for long cuts. 300mm shears? Nibbler? I know for damn sure I won't be making 12 foot cuts with aviation snips!…


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Added by Marty de la Motte on September 28, 2010 at 6:38am — 2 Comments

Newsletter #180 (Sept-October) Mailing now!

Look for more examples of completed 601XL upgrades in this issue of the Zenair Newsletter which is now in the process of mailing throughout the world.

Ulis Temos, who has been featured before in the newsletter regarding his cross country flights in his CH701 shows pictures of a custom toolbox that he built into the seat of his aircraft.…



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Added by Zenair News on September 27, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

It's a bird it's a plane, another Zodiac 601XL leaving the ground

After many obstacles, 417SX departed U76 this afternoon, I should have

waited until tomorrow morning, it was warm today, 91. I decided to do a

high speed taxi to see if the Airspeed Indicator was alive, it was, and

figured that a short flight to test my FWF had come. Taxied back and I

was airborne quickly, remembered to keep the nose down in a cruise

climb, 500 fpm, Airspeed was indicating 120mph and the GPS was giving a

similar reading with the engine turning at… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on September 25, 2010 at 10:00pm — 14 Comments

Zenith CH 650 featured in Playboy, October 2010

Playboy magazine is known for its quality articles, right? Well, there's a nice article (and photo!) of the CH 650 in the October issue of the magazine:



Page 31: Click the image above to view a larger image.



How did the CH 650 end up in Playboy… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on September 25, 2010 at 5:00pm — 9 Comments

Fix Rudder or Rebuild....

My rudder is twisted, somewhere along the line it wasn't flat on the beams (in fact the beams themselves weren't flat - see my forum post) and so the final product won't lay flat.



Zentih think the twist is in the bottom ribs so I will start at the bottom and drill out upwards until it lies flat. Depending how far I get I will re-rivet. Or I will get another kit. Coming with no experience of any of the tools and techniques needed for this endeavour, I've learned so much and if this… Continue

Added by Paul Sanders on September 25, 2010 at 2:30pm — 6 Comments

Get Well Soon to CH750 Builder Clay Hollenback...

Clay Hollenback (http://www.zenith.aero/profile/ClayEHollenback) underwent surgery this week, and is not able to work on his CH750 for a up to eight weeks. I am sure that he could do with some get well messages - since he is probably feeling sorry himself, sitting there holding a handful of rivets, gazing out of the window, begging his family to purchase a flying magazine from the local store....


Clay is a great…
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Added by Jonathan Porter on September 25, 2010 at 5:30am — 6 Comments

House resolution recognizing the value of recreational aviation...

This article was recently published on GeneralAviationNews.com (September 16, 2010):

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a resolution recognizing the value of recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips on America’s public lands.

Resolution 1473 acknowledges the many benefits…
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Added by Sebastien Heintz on September 24, 2010 at 10:00pm — 1 Comment

Test Pilot or Moron, there is a fine line.

Living on a lake has it advantages. I have cut a ramp on my front lawn down to the lake so that I can get my 701 amphib up and down since my hanger is up on the flats off my driveway. The grade of the ramp is about 7% and it is about 80 feet long. As you can see in the picture, to overcome this grade I have set up a winch in the back of my hangar and using a remote control I can activate the winch all the way down to the shoreline.…



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Added by John Ellis on September 22, 2010 at 1:31pm — 9 Comments

Zenith's 19th annual Open Hangar Day - Follow Up Report

I've already had many of you ask how our Open Hangar Day activities went, so here's my "official summary report" along with some photos. Above is Ulis Temos with his STOL CH 701 which he flew in from Pennsylvannia, with Rotax expert Dean Vogal (squatting).



We started the activities on Friday afternoon following our monthly hands-on "rudder assembly workshop" class and a hotdog & soda lunch… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on September 21, 2010 at 3:15pm — 1 Comment

band saw?

I am having trouble cutting brackets for my tail section using my horizontal band saw. Pieces are too short for saw and angles too great for rotating table. What have you used that gave precise angled cuts?

Added by David Abbott on September 20, 2010 at 12:36pm — 2 Comments

Being 'On Top' in a 701

Flying VFR is wonderful, we get to see the real world, and we get to enjoy sights that make us smile. When I get asked why I never pursued a career as an airline pilot I have a simple response 'why be a bus driver when you can be a racing car driver!'


I know that the speeds of our aircraft are often around 20% of that of the big birds, but our pleasure and grin factors are much greater thanks to the environment in which we fly - and we do fly - hands on, looking out the…
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Added by Jonathan Porter on September 19, 2010 at 6:00am — 2 Comments

CH701 Cable tensions

I understand from Matronics list that the rudder and elevator cable tensions are: 305 and 205 respectively. Can anyone please tell me in what units these are measured?

Added by Michael Rand on September 16, 2010 at 5:54am — 2 Comments

Finished wings

I finished my other wing and am wondering if I am about on track in the building process. I have completed both wings, rudder, elev. & stab, I have about 250 hrs. const. time so far. Am I ahead, behind, or about average?

Added by Mason Bullard on September 14, 2010 at 8:55pm — 2 Comments

Zenith Open Hangar Day / Builder Fly-In Event - Latest Schedule Update

Here's the latest information on our upcoming Open Hangar Day / Builder Fly-In Gathering: We've added Wayne Lanza of Composite Design to the list of participants. Composite Design manufactures the power panel…
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Added by Sebastien Heintz on September 13, 2010 at 2:23pm — No Comments

Showing the flag at Farmerville, LA Fly-in

This morning I found that my dad and I were internet stars in a video montage from this weekend's EAA fly-in at Farmerville, LA (Union Parish Airport / F87). Trying to evade as much of the heat as possible, we flew up there early and were the first arrival so the Papa Goose got video coverage at the fuel pump right at the beginning of the video.

We had to bug out before the P-51 arrived but we did get to see the low pass by the Air Tractor crop duster, complete with airshow…

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Added by Dr. Edward M. Moody II on September 13, 2010 at 10:29am — 3 Comments

Successful First Flight N8701W CH701

Yesterday morning weather was good so made the first flight with my 701. I had never flown a 701 before or a plane with a joystick. The angle of attack at take off surprised me a little so the take off was a little sloppy. Flew for 45 minutes remaining over the Rushville IL airport. All temps stayed in the green and everything was looking good. I had to make some adjustments on the flaperons, when I landed, because I had to hold the stick pretty hard to the right to maintain a level flight… Continue

Added by Mike Webster on September 13, 2010 at 7:57am — 12 Comments

BLOIS CELEBRATES ITS 30th YEAR - Zenair owners fly in... (40+!!!)

ULM EVENT (France) - September 4-5, 2010



This event is the largest annual ultralight gathering of the year in France. With well over 100 exhibitors and close to one thousand ultralights in attendance, it is one of Europe's finest. Great weather helped make this year's show another great success; Zenairs were flown in from as far away as the UK, Austria and Italy.…

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Added by Michael Heintz on September 11, 2010 at 1:30pm — 3 Comments

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