All Blog Posts (2,409)

Video of fabricating a simple angle bracket

While working on my wing spars I realized I had put a nose rib angle in backwards and needed to make another one. I decided to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate the method I use for for laying out, bending and checking parts that I fabricate.

Added by Damon Brantley on December 10, 2016 at 9:00pm — 1 Comment

Rainy weekend means drilling!

I had my rudder ready for priming and riveting last week, but it's been too rainy to prime. So I just moved on to the fin and kept drilling. :)

http://justplanechris.com/drilling-drilling-drilling/

Added by Chris Boultinghouse on December 4, 2016 at 10:29pm — No Comments

Adding Louvers to cowl for cooling 3300

Has anybody tried to cool down a 3300 with louvers added to the cowl?

Added by Mike Miller on December 1, 2016 at 1:57pm — No Comments

Starting to rivet spars

After what seems like too way long a time I am finally starting to rivet the spars.

Added by Damon Brantley on November 24, 2016 at 8:32pm — No Comments

Some tools I have found useful

Below is a list of some tools I have found useful while scratchbuilding. Some of these I already had because I have machine tools, but have been very useful for building my plane.

1. Magnets- Neodymium magnets work great for holding parts together for doing test fit ups. Wrap magnets in duct tape with extra hanging off as a tab to grab onto them.

2. Steel sheet- Laying steel sheet on my workbench and magnets to hold aluminum and layout tools in place. I use  20…

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Added by Damon Brantley on November 23, 2016 at 11:00am — 3 Comments

Winglets for 750 Cruzer

I am interested in changing from the wingtips provided in the CH 750 Cruzer kit to winglets.

Perhaps you might be able to steer me to further information.

The Cruzer kit is the absolute best in the business, and your efforts toward improving it are clearly visible.

Bravo!!

Ronald LeBlanc

Added by Ronald LeBlanc on November 22, 2016 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Happy Birthday Chris Heintz!

Today, November 21, is Chris' 78th birthday. While most of you know Chris or are familiar with him and his work, I know many new Zenith builders and owners are not as familiar (since his retirement about six years ago) so below I am sharing an article written by aviation writer and friend Jim Cavanaugh in 2011 for the "Zeniths to Oshkosh" celebrations honoring Chris Heintz at EAA AirVenture.…

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Added by Sebastien Heintz on November 21, 2016 at 3:00pm — 26 Comments

arizona 701

Hi, Just bought a 701 in Texas with approx 120 hrs. I would like to connect with another 701 owner in southern  Arizona. The plane will move out of my garage to Norgales International airport within the next month or so.. Is anyone out there? Thanks, Allan West 520 400 4161

Added by allan west on November 21, 2016 at 10:50am — 1 Comment

Rudder skeleton assembly started

A bit more time was spent in the workshop this weekend, and I have drilled and cleco'd parts to show for it!

Added by Chris Boultinghouse on November 20, 2016 at 9:50pm — No Comments

Finished canopy frame ant latches

Finished canopy frame and latches

Added by Chet Lundy on November 11, 2016 at 10:49pm — No Comments

Uneven fuel tank flow

Thanks Guys....I modified the fuel tank caps adding a snorkel vent to each and am hoping that will ratify the situation. Replumbing to connect a vent to each tank that was not supplied by Zenith as well as adding a selector valve, again not supplied by Zenith, would be a big undertaking at this point. Will let you know the results. Thanks again.

Added by Chris M. Brammer, Jr. on November 11, 2016 at 8:57pm — No Comments

Viking at the Deland FL showcase

Deane Philip installing his Honda based Viking 130 in the CH-701 
Nice installation

Viking promised the DUC propeller company to test their Carbon fiber blades and hub system.  We have now made one flight and so far so good.  Initial…

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Added by Jan Eggenfellner on November 7, 2016 at 2:31pm — No Comments

Using magnetic drill for drilling holes in spar

My focus for the last few months has been to complete spar construction.Most of the holes were drilled and match drilled into the doublers using my mill to insure that the holes were perpendicular. However some holes near the root were left  deliberately left undone because of uncertainty in the plans. .Once the spar was clecoed together I had a better understanding of the hole locations and needed to drill those out.

Despite my best efforts it was not going to be practical to…

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Added by Damon Brantley on November 6, 2016 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Unequal fuel tank flow

Hey Guys....Looking for HELP. I have the same problem with my recently completed CH750 STOL as far as unequal fuel flow from the right and left tanks. SCARY!!! I flew about 40 minutes yesterday, starting with even tank levels of about 8.5 gallons in each, and landed with 4 gallons in the left and 8 gallons in the right. I have the vented caps that were supplied with my kit. Also noticed 100LL blue stain on my new vinyl covered right wing. A bummer. I plumbed both tanks straight across in the… Continue

Added by Chris M. Brammer, Jr. on November 5, 2016 at 3:29pm — 7 Comments

Preparing the way

Patricia and I have been busy preparing the new workshop for our winter project... a CH750 STOL with Rotax 912iS at the pointy end. It will be our demo plane for the next year or so... but also something more..

Those who know us from the One Week Wonder and our previous work in West Africa, will know that we enjoy promoting aviation... and this build will be no different. 

Last year we relocated to the UK, and earlier this year set up our own business (…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on October 29, 2016 at 3:24pm — 1 Comment

A good word well deserved

October 28, 2016.

   Now it can be told. On August 4, 2016, the $23,000 plywood crate containing my CH-750 kit arrived looking like this:

Crate on arrival.JPG Mis-weighed .jpg

   FedEx had “reweighed” the 877 pound crate as 415 pounds, and then loaded 450 pounds of freight on top of a box clearly marked FRAGILE in letters six inches high.  I didn’t take the end off this crate; this is…

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Added by Rich M Ward on October 28, 2016 at 10:07pm — 6 Comments

Assembly and rigging incidences

Hello all, I am a UK builder having constructed and flown many aircraft. I recently purchased a almost finished 701 only requiring final assembly.The documentation package  and drawings  supplied don't  seem to show anything on either wing or tailplane incidences.  The only info I can find is dihedral to set and the airframe datum line/Level. If anyone  with this info could forward it to me that would be appreciated. Many thanks Eric. 

Added by Eric bentley on October 27, 2016 at 10:38am — 1 Comment

Bending Brake done!

Tonight marked the emergence of the first part from my version of the "Dave Clay" bending brake! Read more on my website:

http://justplanechris.com/making-a-brake-for-it/…

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Added by Chris Boultinghouse on October 26, 2016 at 9:30pm — 4 Comments

Gary Simmons contributing to the Zenith community with engine tips

COWLING INSTALL

INSTALLING AN AIR INLET IN THE COWLING…

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Added by Jan Eggenfellner on October 21, 2016 at 7:25pm — No Comments

25th annual Open Hangar Days & Fly-In: Beautiful planes, great people, many activities, and blue skies!

Here's a follow-up of the 2016 Zenith Aircraft Open Hangar Days & Fly-In, the 25th annual event, held on September 23 & 24 at the Zenith Aircraft kit factory in Mexico, Missouri:…

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Added by Zenith.Aero on October 21, 2016 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

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