All Blog Posts (2,411)

My first Post!!

Hello All... I recently attended the rudder work shop at the Zenith factory in September. I came home and started and finished my workbench along with cleaning the garage in preparation of ordering the rest of the tail kit...... and having Zenith send my completed rudder so I can hang it on the wall!!

I'm in NE Ohio an eastern suburb of Cleveland...let me know if anybody is in the area

looking forward to the building experience and keep up with all the forums etc

John

Added by John Mazzolini on October 14, 2012 at 6:49pm — 1 Comment

Flying in the wind !

On October 12th, 2012, I decided to go flying.

10 knots winds gusting to 21 knots.OAT 36F.

I still had to fix the slight turn to the right problem and then I would take the little bird to the sky for a spin.

I unscrewed 1 turn on the left aileron; problem fixed !

Got on board for a test flight. A Cessna C-150 (instructor/student) was doing circuit work so I asked them how the winds were....TRES SPORT, I was told. 

Lined up the runway, went to full throttle…

Continue

Added by Normand Lambert on October 13, 2012 at 9:52am — 9 Comments

Annual completed - Wooden Prop care and feeding

I keep my plane outside and was worried about my wooden prop and the weather here in Western Washington.  Sensenich is able to completely refinish and rebalance their wooden prop for $200 plus about $35 for shipping and handling.  The prop looks brand new, and is a lovely golden brown.  It took 3 weeks turn around time and well worth the money.

Added by Louis Gallego on October 12, 2012 at 6:39pm — 1 Comment

Fuel tanks

Borrowed a bead roller and rolled the beads in my fuel tank(s) skins. Little nervous as screwing up could ruin a lot of material. Beads came out great and I even put in an extra in the center top and bottom of the tanks. Shouldn't have worried.

Added by Tim Smart on October 12, 2012 at 2:12pm — No Comments

weather seal option

The weather seal option makes it simple to stiffen the front edge of the door. The photo is of the forward lower edge of the pax door. This also gives a nice deep seal to keep the front edge of the door from 'catching air'

Added by wij Horemans on October 10, 2012 at 8:02pm — 2 Comments

Rudder rod boots

The photo shows the ruddder rods with a great set of boots.

Added by wij Horemans on October 10, 2012 at 7:57pm — No Comments

Propeller for 650 B with Lycoming 0-235 Engine

I am currently building a 650 B with the fuselage about 90% done and the wings probably 30-40% done.  I purchased a used Lycoming 0-235 engine which is currently at a shop being overhauled and I am looking for a propeller.  My question is, especially for those who have an 0-235, what propeller do you have or are planning to use?  Any details on your experience would be appreciated. 

Thanks, Tom Johnson

Added by Thomas Johnson on October 10, 2012 at 9:47am — 4 Comments

Wings Removed for paint

Time to paint fuselage and final install windscreen. The aircraft really fills up the shop when assembled. It's nice to walk around without ducking under the wings.

Flaperons, slats, and struts primed.…

Continue

Added by Steven Winn on October 8, 2012 at 9:22pm — No Comments

My Shop

Some of the tools I have used to build the 701

Grob 24" I converted to single phase(replaced motor and added gbox). Very useful for airplane building.

South Bend Heavy 10 tool room lathe with taper attachment. Knobs are painted with wife's old…

Continue

Added by Steven Winn on October 8, 2012 at 9:04pm — No Comments

ARF

 The last few months have been hectic and seemingly slow going. In reality the construction of my 601 has been steadily moving  forward.Working with Flight Crafters out of Zephyr Hills, Florida, has been educational and fun. The guys there are very knowledgeable and seem able to handle any situation. The suggestions the make for upgrading engine performance on the Jabiru 3300 have been heeded and this week should be ready for first engine start! Last week we did the weight  and balance and…

Continue

Added by Captain Dennis Kirk on October 7, 2012 at 10:56am — 2 Comments

801 Lycoming Options

Looking for the best power option for operating in very hot african conditions. Can anyone assist. Mike from Port Elizabeth

Added by Michael Hubsch on October 6, 2012 at 3:13pm — 2 Comments

How efficient are our Propellers ?

 

Hi again,

 

After I started looking at RPMs from our planes, I wanted to see if we were using their propellers efficiently.

Now, the most efficient range for any given propeller is when the TIP of the propeller turns below 82% sound barrier - but the closer the better.

Between 88% to 92% time the sound barrier speed being the redline and over being noisy and inefficient.

Since I…

Continue

Added by Normand Lambert on October 6, 2012 at 12:30pm — 3 Comments

From Point A to Zenith: EAA Employee STOL CH 750 project takes off

From Point A to Zenith: EAA Employee STOL CH 750 project takes off

The following was published on the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) website. Photos are courtesy of EAA:

October 4, 2012 - They say that every journey begins with a single…

Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on October 5, 2012 at 4:14pm — 3 Comments

A funny thing happened at the local open house ...

My local municipal airport had an open house last Saturday and the FBO manager begged me to display my 750. Of course, that didn't take much arm-twisting! HA!

I was determined, however, to not let the plane out of my sight while on display as I have heard horror stories of little kids swinging form various parts of planes that were never intended to bear any abuse, parents plopping kids in the pilots seats and getting spills and/or the products of various kid's orifices on your seat…

Continue

Added by John Austin on October 5, 2012 at 9:33am — 3 Comments

started

Well today i started drawing out my form blocks for my 750. Need to find out how much i need to order for metal (.016-.020-.025-.040-.063.090) any help wouid be great.

Added by jmcclure@securespeed.us on October 4, 2012 at 2:55pm — 3 Comments

Quality Sport Planes Oct 6th fly-in

 Just a quick reminder we are 2 days away from our fall fly-in so get your Zeniths ready to go and come be a part of the builder and flyers that are coming into Cloverdale this Saturday for a lot of visiting and gabbing about the impossible things that they did this summer. Will have a BBQ lunch put on by the Cloverdale Lions  club so bring a couple of bucks or so. We will be giving a few prearranged demo rides for those of you that are seriously thinking of building a Zenith aircraft. check…

Continue

Added by Doug Dugger on October 3, 2012 at 6:20pm — No Comments

2 1/4" Instrument panel holes

I was wondering, what folks are using to cut the holes in the instrument panel to place round gauges.

I need to cut 3 2 1/4" holes and only want to do it once.

 

Please share what you are using and or method.

 

Thanks,

Rich simmons

Murfreesboro, TN

601XLB

Looking at next spring flight!  (I hope!)

Added by Richard Simmons on October 3, 2012 at 7:00am — 3 Comments

My Zenith CH 701 Build Log, N943TR

This is what started it all off for me--the Zenith info pkg.  Well worth getting.…

Continue

Added by Terrell W. Rees on September 27, 2012 at 9:30pm — 1 Comment

Viking Girl At Zenith

Hello everyone, this is Samantha AKA “The Viking Girl”. I just wanted to say what a great deal of fun I had at the Zenith Fly- In 20th Anniversary. I would like to give thanks to all my demo ride guys: Gary, Creston, Clyt, Jerry S., Don L., Jeff, Lynn, Roger, Dale, Otis, Kevin, Don D., David G., Elmer, Charlotte, Gabriel, Chris, Jerry Si., Brad, Fred, Thomas, Rick, Steve, Devin, Zachary, Bob, Jerry W., Ron and Jonathan.

Again thank you all so much, I had an absolute…

Continue

Added by Jan Eggenfellner on September 26, 2012 at 3:54pm — No Comments

Exhaust Rubbing Engine Mount

Today I was finally able to begin disassembly of my exhaust system to investigte the damage done to my engine mount.  The right side cyl. tubes are too close to the lower tube of the engine mount and have rubbed a hole in the lower engine mount tube.

 

 

As can be seen in the photo, there is very little clearance between the right side exhaust…

Continue

Added by Doug MacDonald on September 23, 2012 at 6:15pm — 1 Comment

Monthly Archives

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

1999

New from Zenith:

Zenith Planes For Sale 
 

Classified listing for buying or selling your Zenith building or flying related stuff...


Custom Instrument Panels
for your Zenith
:

Custom instrument panels are now available directly from Zenith Aircraft Company exclusively for Zenith builders and owners. Pre-cut panel, Dynon and Garmin avionics, and more.


Zenith Homecoming Tee:


Zenair Floats


Flying On Your Own Wings:
A Complete Guide to Understanding Light Airplane Design, by Chris Heintz


Builder & Pilot Supplies:

Aircraft Insurance:

 
 

West Coast USA:

 
Pro Builder Assistance:

 

Transition training:

Lavion Aero

K&S Aviation Services

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty for all your building and pilot supplies!

How to videos from HomebuiltHELP.com

Developed specifically for Zenith builders (by a builder) these videos on DVD are a great help in building your own kit plane by providing practical hands-on construction information. Visit HomebuiltHelp.com for the latest DVD titles.