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The Build

Myself and 2 friends (all A&P's) started scratch building our 701's (3ea.)in october 08. After finishing the rudders we went after the horizontals and elevators witch are currently done. I wish now i would have kept track of the times and dates but all I can say for sure they all went togther smothly. Since were building from scratch and doing 3 the roughter table is one of the top used tools we have for building identical blanks like ribs… Continue

Added by david shrader on October 29, 2009 at 3:00am — 4 Comments

CH701 Write-off .

It looks like my CH701 will be written off so I am wondering if there is a market for serviceable parts. The response to this blog will have a bearing on whether I make an offer for the wreck. The empenage and starboard wing are un-touched and many other parts. Aftar running into a ditch, the front undercarriage, cowling prop & fuselage are beyond economic repair. Don Bowtell 01920464585.

Added by Donald Bowtell on October 27, 2009 at 4:10pm — 4 Comments

CAN-ZAC POWER BUILD

I was offered a chance to be part of a 3 man (sometimes 4) team conducting a CAN-ZAC Power Build program. The kit owner Angus Watt from Ottawa started with Mark Townsend building from a 6ft X 6ft X 12ft crate Friday, and I joined them on Monday afternoon. Neither Angus or myself had any previous kit building experience... but we were closely supervised by Mark Townsend of Can-Zac in his Kitchener hangar. The working day starts at 8AM (or earlier if you can't sleep) and generally goes hard until… Continue

Added by Bob McDonald on October 27, 2009 at 8:19am — 5 Comments

Getting Dunked - Egress Training

If you fly floats getting Egress Training is a must!



Earlier this year a local flight school arranged for Bryan Webster from British Columbia, Canada to provide a one day course on submerged emergency egress. Bryan runs his own training company and is also a long-time commercial bush pilot. I found the course well worth the cost. We spent several hours being tossed around in mock cockpit in the pool. Getting wet taught me some very valuable leassons that I though might be… Continue

Added by John Ellis on October 26, 2009 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

Jabiru Tips & Tech

This blog is for all helpful information regarding install, operation, preventative and general maintaining, upgrades and any information to assist our engines to be the best that they can be.

Please ask any questions directly to the person who posted the info but please post any new info arrising from your discussions. This request is designed purely to make it easier to browse information without having to wade through general… Continue

Added by Phill Barnes on October 16, 2009 at 5:46pm — 11 Comments

Progress Update

Empennage is done. Flaperon skeletons are done. Working on wing ribs & ordering materials to complete the wings and fuel system.

Added by Travis Corbin on October 13, 2009 at 8:12pm — No Comments

Please help a Zenith builder with a grad school project!!

All



I am working on a graduate capstone project for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I need to collect some survey responses from current or future airplane owners. THAT IS YOU!



This directly relates to General Aviation and the Next Generation of Airspace in the United States. Please help my research out. Any builder in any phase of building or ownership can participate:



Click Here… Continue

Added by Christopher Nail on October 6, 2009 at 8:38pm — 4 Comments

In the mail this week! Be on the Lookout!

The September/October #174 issue of the Zenair News is being mailed today. Enclosed is the companion DVD with exclusive interviews from the recent Airventure show at Oshkosh.



Below is a summary of the contents from the Newsletter:



After reviewing this issue, please deposit your comments right… Continue

Added by Zenair News on October 5, 2009 at 8:00pm — 1 Comment

Made my first assisted free-fall jump today

Jumped out of an perfectly good airplane today. Ironically, as we climbed to altitude I became gradually less nervous. When it finally came time to jump I was OK. My instructor said I did very well. I went through all my maneuvers in time to pull the cord right at 5500'. It was actually a lot of fun.

Added by Russ Bens on September 30, 2009 at 12:30am — 6 Comments

PilotMag article: Tribute to Zenith homebuilders

PilotMag, a new glossy aviation magazine that bills itself as "The Magazine for Adventure Flying" has a nice story on Zenith builders in its current issue (September/October 2009). The article, by aviation writer Jim Cavanagh, features some well-known Zenith flyers, including Steve Smith of Santa Rosa, California,… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on September 24, 2009 at 8:00pm — 2 Comments

Starting the fuselage Mid September 2009





and the luggage compartments - at least two of the three are finished:…

Continue

Added by Walter.Koeppel on September 23, 2009 at 1:35pm — No Comments

question for those who have built CH 801

I am attaching the slats to the wings on my 801. The instructions seem to have no measurement for the bottom of the slat to the wing - say from the bottom corner to the wing spar rivet line. I've asked that question to Zenith by email but no respons. All I need is a for someone to take their tape measure and check their own and tell me what they found. my email is fournier@kibidula.org Thanks. Jason

Added by Jason Fournier on September 23, 2009 at 9:48am — 1 Comment

Added the VG's

As suggested by factory personel I added the vg's to the tail today, easy job just time consuming. Since I have the short tail it seemed like a good idea.

Added by Phillip Owens on September 21, 2009 at 5:07pm — 2 Comments

Great time at the Zenith Hanagar Days

Enjoyed my time at the Zenith hangar days 2009, fist time back since I picked up my kit in 2000. Appreciated all of the events that the factory folks provided, obtained lots of information from various folks and vendors and met a lot of really nice people. Thanks to Nick for giving me the 801 instructional ride prior to my first flight, I have a lot better idea of what to expect and am sure the first flight will be exciting. I had just completed my bi-annual flight review in a cessna 172 prior… Continue

Added by Phillip Owens on September 20, 2009 at 7:48pm — 1 Comment

trip to open hangar day in corvair 601xl

Just another quick post about the progress on my corvair 601xl. I flew back from mexico last night to pittsburgh. 6.5 hrs non stop. burned 5.1 gallons per hour. 2.5 hrs of night. 90 hrs total time on plane now w/ no problems.

Added by Louis Kantor on September 20, 2009 at 9:41am — 3 Comments

Inspection and Maiden Flight 601 XL / Jabiru 3300

Just wanted to share my experience with the inspection and maiden flight of my second homebuilt 601 XL. DAR inspection on N115AR took place on Saturday, 9/12. The inspection went fairly smooth. I used the same DAR as in my first XL (Tim Martinez). He was very thorough (took 5 hours). I remembered that on my first inspection Tim found a foot long 2 x 4 inside the fuselage, so this time around I double checked and triple checked for any 2 x 4's. Happy to report that he did not find any.... but to… Continue

Added by Alex Roca on September 14, 2009 at 8:35pm — 3 Comments

A lesson Learned

Washed the airplane on friday and lost the communications with the tower. After returning to the hangar removed the antenna and found small amountof water under the rubber gasket. Dried outall of the water and let the antenna dry out until monday. Checked with the tower and had a good signal. Made a new rubber gasket thicker than the original, put RTV Silicone on the gasket materiel as well as the base of the antenna, also sealed the top and connection point of the antenna whip and base with… Continue

Added by Phillip Owens on September 14, 2009 at 4:48pm — 2 Comments

Horizontal Stabilizer Dimensions... Frustration!

For plans builders... Our experience was that the nose ribs on the horizontal stabilizer were 3 mm too long. If you shorten the nose ribs from the back, make sure you make the forward flange wider to leave enough edge distance for the forward rivet. You can lengthen the tip ribs, but then you have to lengthen the skin. Three sets of nose ribs later, stabs are complete.

Added by Travis Corbin on September 13, 2009 at 9:30pm — 1 Comment

601HD Battery Location

Anyone with a 601HD Cont O-200 with Sensenich Metal Prop. What is your battery location? I have the 8 Gal header tank and wing tanks. Engine mount from Zenith. To early to do a W&B.

Added by William & Michael Mitchell on September 11, 2009 at 12:26pm — 1 Comment

All done - now flying!

Well, I'm finished and my 601HDS is now flying well. The subaru EA81 motor hasn't missed a beat so far. It's using 13 litres/hour at 4,000 revs and giving 85 knot cruise. I haven't done a full power level flight yet to see what the motor's revving too.



I've had five flights so far for 2 1/2 hours. After I've done some more testing I'll fit the wheel spats to see hw much of a difference they make. They are very fat so I'm considering cutting a couple of inches out fo the centre of… Continue

Added by Greg Wilson on September 10, 2009 at 11:56pm — No Comments

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