I finished drilling the pilot holes to attach the bottom wingskin to the the left wing.

The video documents the setup that I used so when I am ready to do the right wing, I can

duplicate the same setup.

While preparing to drill the bottom wing skin to the ribs, I wanted to be sure that the center line of the ribs were straight.

When doing top wing skin I had used a metal strip with holes drilled in a straightline to be able to verify straightness.

The improved version uses a 1/8" acrylic strip about 2 inches wide with a line drawn to verify the center line of the rib flange  is straight.

In addtion, two red lines were added that would give me a warning if a drilled hole…

Fred Westbrook, of Owego, New York, sent us this inspiring story of his build experience that we share below.

Don’t Get Discouraged

My name is Fred Westbrook. A few years ago, when my son Josh was about fourteen years…

Aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz, the designer of all "CH" light aircraft designs, passed away on April 30th, 2021. Best known in aviation circles as a prolific and talented aircraft designer, innovator, builder, entrepreneur, lecturer and author, Chris touched the lives of thousands throughout his…

Prepped and painted the black trim. Time to start the elevator.

Ordered the finishing kit for my 701. They said it won't ship until late September. Building an airplane requires a lot of inspiration and motivation maintenance as it is. We've all heard of the high percentage of projects that take more than a decade or never get completed. I am dedicated and determined to my project in spite of the odds. I would like to drop a line in the old suggestion box if I could. Zenith please be more informative with your orders with regards to pricing and shipping.…

I fly my 701 out of a 7000' airport, L35, and have a 912 engine with high comp pistons installed to produce about 90 hp at sea level. Plane has the fixed slats installed. The plane's performance is so marginal that I can not take a passenger because the plane will not climb over 50 mph with nose abnormally high just to stay level in the air. However at lower altitude airports of 3000', performance is better and there is better flying margin and I can climb at 400 fpm solo.

The plane…

Horizontal stabilizer is nearly complete. Just need to complete skinning and install hinge.

This is "The Zen".

It is a 2005 kit built CH601HD that was built by Trevor Page, and sold to me & Ray Nash in 2007. At the time Ray & I had been flying Quad City Challengers on wheels / skis / amphibian floats. We wanted a faster go further adventure aircraft that was still in the Advanced Ultra Light Aircraft (AULA) category here in Canada. It was also the aircraft that introduced me to Zenair / Zenith kit planes, the Rotax 912 series of engines, and the hopeless addiction of…

Well, I thought things were going too smoothly.  Two days ago I received the anxiously awaited prop spacer and when fitting to the prop flange, it would not allow all the bolts to thread easily into the flange.  A few of the bolts treaded easily through the spacer into the flange.  The next bolt started to bind after a few turns were made.…

Just wanted to post an update. The tail and flaperons kit arrived last month and I have completed the rudder and am currently working on the horizontal stabilizer.…

March 8, 2021 is a big day for me. I ordered a CH 750 STOL kit for pick up at Mexico, MO. I'm busy setting up the workshop in anticipation of picking up the kit and starting the build. I'm like a 5 year old kid waiting on Santa!

Check this YouTube channel out if you enjoy "Grass Roots"  flying videos. Mix of GA aircraft and the CH601HD / CH701 aircraft. CH601HD (both taildragger & tricycle gear) flying skis. They fly in Ontario, Canada.

This is for a 1993 601 HDS, taildragger. 

In the tri gear drawings, the center wing ribs (from inside to out) are at 585, 665, 770, etc. on the main spar.

The taildragger replacement drawings put the same ribs at 530, 650, 770 etc (the others are the same, only the first two ribs are different).

The issue is that 6-V-4-2 (this piece helps from the boundaries of the cabin) is riveted from the…

Plumbed through the ribs, added a junction box on top of servo and will run Tefzel single run from servo to switch, eliminating all connections.…