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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

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

Kit modifica per 601XL

Finalmente anche in Europa il kit modifica per i nostri 601XL! Per l'Italia la distribuzione e` presso i concessionari, in particolare www.flyboys.it oppure info@flyboys.it

Added by Roy Visona` on December 22, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

FAA inspection scheduled one year to the day I started building my CH750

Just scheduled my Airworthiness inspection for my CH750 for January 9, 2010. I thought waiting for my kit to arrive was bad, this is going to be nerve racking at best, waiting two weeks. Still have some little things to do but not enough to keep my mind off Jan 9th. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Clem
75-7497

Added by Clemens Kramer on December 21, 2009 at 1:06pm — No Comments

Lycoming O235C1

I'm installing a Lyc on my XL and would like to talk to anyone in similar situation. Ed Hamilton (609)971-8757

Added by Edward A. Hamilton on December 20, 2009 at 6:17pm — 2 Comments

Jabiru Muffler to engine distance

Can someone measure and post the distance from the top of their muffler to the Carb heat shield.

Thanks,
Mike

Added by Mike Armstead on December 19, 2009 at 8:54pm — 2 Comments

End of flight testing

I finished flight testing this week. I took the day off work and flew off the final 6.1 hours. The plane is fantastic everything I imagined it to be. After 6 hours fkying I have found that I will have to adjust my seats to make them more confortable though. All the jhard work and effort in building the plane from plans has been worth it, so for all the builders out there still working keep at it because the end definatly does justify the means. All the best and good luck Gordon

Added by Gordon Watkin on December 19, 2009 at 1:03am — 1 Comment

Part 24: Installing the "Upgrade Package" to our Zodiac CH 601 XL: Putting it all back together...

As you all know, we've been busy making the producing the parts of the Upgrade Package kit, and now we're also busy shipping them out to builders and owners!

All the Upgrade Package kit parts and hardware shown above can be shipped in the two cardboard containers: One box (18"x12"x6", 25 lbs.) for the smaller parts and all hardware and one 6-foot long 4-inch cardboard tube (about 16 lbs.) for the longer parts. These package are… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on December 18, 2009 at 5:26pm — 6 Comments

airworthy certificate

Just to make sure on your Elsa certificate you need to check your phase two limitations to see if indeed you do have paragraph 13 in it if you do you must contact your FSDO if you do not have it you should be okay. We at QSP have it in my 601xl but our 701 and our other 601 does not all with ELSA certificates so check your limitations first . Hopefully you will not have that paragraph.

Doug

Added by Doug Dugger on December 18, 2009 at 3:13pm — No Comments

ELSA airworthiness certificate

Seems like it never stops. Just found out that our ELSA certificates will expire on Jan 31st of 2010 even if they say unlimited on the certificate. According to my local FSDO contact if you look in your phase two of your flight limitations par. 13 it states (no person may operate this aircraft for compensation or hire,except this aircraft may be used for compensation or hire to conduct flight training in accordance with 91.319 until January 31 2010, at which time this airworthiness certificate… Continue

Added by Doug Dugger on December 18, 2009 at 2:22pm — 1 Comment

Rotax increase TBO on 912 series engines

Just got a ROAN update announcing the increase of the TBO on the 912 series engines from 1500 hrs to 2000 hrs or 15yrs,. Welcome piece of news.

Added by Thomas Richardson on December 15, 2009 at 4:13pm — 4 Comments

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