Passed my Final Inspection!!! Went very well just a couple of label snags. I had installed the "EXPERIMENTAL" Decals in my cockpit and that is a different class here in Canada, so I had to remove. Just have to wait on my papers from Transport Canada then off to my first flight. I have been training in Doug Pelton's plane and it has been great. His plane flies awesome. I will post my first flight in the next two weeks or sooner I hope......

First of all you may notice that we have skipped that past couple of Zenith Rudder Workshops while moving full speed ahead on the 3 projects that we had going here at once.

I am now feeling like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel to finish up my own plane. Although not complete yet, I thought it would be wise to begin checking with them concerning the registration and certification process.

Fortunately for me I had to be in Oklahoma City on business so I hand carried…

I have some parts for sale I am nor going to use. I am discounting everything 25% off the new price . A Zenair 801 cowl. A Lycoming O 360complete exhaust kit with muffler heat shroud. A carburetor filter heat box for a Lycoming O 360 and a Zenair 801 flap motor. All this stuff is listed on the airplane parts for sale tab on my website karlhippdesigns.com

The reason I am selling this stuff is that I am installing a different engine choice and I have installed manual flaps

Got my form blocks done for the tail section today. Now just waiting for my fluting pliers & bulk pack of rivets...should have most of my rudder parts formed (and maybe assembled) within a couple of weeks. Can't believe it took this long to get going! Got my rolled aluminum sheet, Cortec primer and hardware from Zenith just before Thanksgiving...got about 8 solid hours of work in this weekend.

Cut out the 8 flaperon brackets and 8 slat supports from 0.090".  I don't have a bandsaw, but it's amazing what you can do with a table mounted circular saw, a belt sander and some patience...

Tried the new 5.5" solid rivet driver on the remaining spar rivets on the starboard spar.  Found it tends to kick around more than the short heads, so even more care has to be taken.

Is anybody fliying behind an Aeromax light duty engine?  Any outstanding things, good or bad? How many hours?   How was woprking with Bill Clapp?     Thanks

does any one have info on the older style air operated retrac system for amphib floats i am trying to get mine on but can not find any info !!!!????

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We have hit a milestone today, we got her on wheels

Is there a hardware kit from Zenith that has all the AN bolts washers and what not, and how much is it.

Hi,

I'm looking for a set of wheel skis for a 701, any contact information would be appreciated.

Thanks

Cliff

Commenced solid riveting on wing spars.  Almost completed one spar - found it difficult to set the rivets along the top of the spar doubler because of the bend at the top, so have ordered a 5.5" head which should be long enough to prevent the spring on the air gun from hitting the bent section when setting.

Happy with most of the rivets - had a couple that I had to drill out and re-set because of damage to the head caused by the gun slipping, but 99% worked fine.

Also cut the…

Looking for one already built up so I could install it this winter.  Fuselage about all done except engine controls.

I find things more readable. Good job!

The following is an unusual post because I don't normally comment negatively about competitors.  Competition is good for any industry, forcing us to be innovative and efficient, and there is a place and market for many different airplane designs (and the companies that manufacture them): The current issue of Kitplanes magazine (December 2011) contains the annual Buyer's Guide with 316 different kit aircraft listed (from nearly as many manufacturers)!

The letter that…

I've been wishing for the last year and a half to be able to see recent posts.  I go on every day (almost), but they still get past me sometimes.

This weekend marked the 100th hour of build time and the official start of the wings. Thanks to a bunch of rookie mistakes and some plain old carelessness I think I am probably about 20-25 hours behind a "normal" build time (whatever that is) but I am quite pleased with what I've managed to do: the rudder, the slats, the flaperons, the horizontal stab, the elevator, and the nose ribs/slat support assemblies.

 …

I'm building the wings on my 650  and the fuel return fitting in on the outboard end of the tank, I talked with Zenith and they said something about that end is better to prevent condensation from getting into the tank from the return line???

Anyway, instead of running a long fuel return line outboard to the next lightening hole I'm considering welding a return fitting in the upper inboard end of my tanks.

Has anyone else done this or is there any reason I shouldn't do…