All Blog Posts (2,410)

After Oshkosh...

I decided not to write about Oshkosh - since there was a lot already.. .but the Medicine on the Move (MoM) team are just winding up their USA tour - and looking forward to getting home to the team that are still in Ghana working hard on keeping the airfield ready for our return (they chose to dig out some large stones whilst we are away... and now need to fill the holes!!)

 

Last week we had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Zenith Factory.  For Patricia this was her…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on August 12, 2011 at 10:11pm — 2 Comments

Another Satisfied Group at American LSA

Today we hosted another luncheon for a group of Zenith Rudder Workshop participants.

They keep growing in size. I'm not sure if it's because Zenith is selling more kits or we are doing such a great job with lunch that people are coming just for that.

In either case we certainly enjoy having everyone join us.

If you are ever in the area please take the time to stop by and visit our Builder Assist & Assembly Center here in Mexico, Mo. not far from the Zenith…

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Added by Bill Carter on August 11, 2011 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Zenith STOL aircraft for SALE

Flight Crafters has a CH750 and a CH701 for sale.  Both are finished and have not been registered.  Go to  www.flightcrafters.com/zenithaircraft/zenithaircraftforsale.html

for all the information.

 

Or call me at 813-779-1156 to discuss either of these excellent opportunities. 

Added by Russell Lepre' on August 11, 2011 at 10:18am — No Comments

To Joe in Florida

Hi Joe,

 

This is Rick Lach from Raven Aviation. You called early this morning (Thursday 8-10-11) and a second time later in the morning and left a message about Wing Strut Fairings for 701's. Well the machine didn't get all of your phone number, so I can't call you back. So would you please try again at the following numbers:

 

Home:  760-378-3870

Cell:     661-345-7755

 

Thanks

 

Rick 

Added by Rick Lach on August 10, 2011 at 5:40pm — 3 Comments

More elevators...

Last night I trimmed skins to size, deburred, cut out slot in trim tab spar for control rod and filed all the edges.

I'd seen other people use a Dremel tool to do the control slot - I don't have one (used to, think I lent it to someone!!) - but found that a step drill, used carefully and with wood clamped behind the aluminium, worked fine.  Even on the 0.016 skin.

I also made a doubler (just 0.016) for where the trim servo is riveted to the top skin.  

Still need some…

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Added by Marty de la Motte on August 9, 2011 at 5:58am — No Comments

Zeniths to Oshkosh 2011... Part Four

We were busy throughout the AirVenture week at the Zenith booth, meeting with both existing builders and owners, and showing the demo aircraft to potential new builders. We flew in our two new factory demonstrators: The STOL CH 750 and the low-wing CH…

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Added by Sebastien Heintz on August 8, 2011 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Elevators - continued...

Over the last few days I've continued working on the elevators.  Drilled all holes and removed skins from skeleton.

After some measuring and muttering, I carefully cut out the trailing edge of the port rear skin where the trim tab goes.  Reattached the skin and mounted the tab and hinge, drilling through the skin, hinge and tab spar.  Turned the elevator over and drilled the bottom skin to tab spar as well.

Trim tab looks good in the slot and moves freely.  The side gaps…

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Added by Marty de la Motte on August 8, 2011 at 1:49am — No Comments

Zeniths to Oshkosh 2011... Zenith Builders Banquet (Part Three)

Wednesday will be a day to remember for many years.  It was the day for the Zenith Builders Banquet to honor Chris Heintz.  The location for the banquet was the scenic EAA Nature Center right on the AirVenture grounds under a large tent, big enough to hold all 250 attendees:

EAA's founder Paul Poberezny was the special guest for the evening, and he and Chris spent a…

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Added by Sebastien Heintz on August 5, 2011 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Zeniths to Oshkosh 2011...Part Two

With the opening day slated officially as "Chris Heintz Day" at AirVenture, Chris had many activities scheduled during the first couple of days.  My son Calvin, age 17, was tasked with escorting Chris during the…

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Added by Sebastien Heintz on August 3, 2011 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Elevator skins

Had a good weekend - on Sunday I cut out & bent the rear skins (made them a bit oversize in span so I can cut the ends to fit), drilled and clecoed them to the skeleton on Tuesday evening.

Yesterday I had a couple of free hours, cut out the front skins and got one taped on.

I love front skins.   A simple rectangular piece of metal, give it a bit of a bend, and all of a sudden you've got a complete airfoil shape.  Fantastic!

Added by Marty de la Motte on August 3, 2011 at 6:28pm — No Comments

Zeniths to Oshkosh 2011... Day One

Following are just some of my photos from Oshkosh 2011.  Many of us will remember this Oshkosh fly-in for many years thanks to the "Zeniths to Oshkosh" initiative which included EAA's official "Chris Heintz Day" activities on July 25, 2011, and the…

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Added by Sebastien Heintz on August 2, 2011 at 10:30pm — 3 Comments

My 2011 Oshkosh Experience

What a week Oshkosh was this year!!  I arrived at Whitman Field on the Saturday afternoon preceding the start of Oshkosh 2011.  Since this was our big “Zenith’s To Oshkosh” year, there were already several Zenith aircraft in the three rows of homebuilt parking earmarked for our types.  I parked my 601XL between Andy Elliott’s 601XL TD and Al Beyer’s 601HDS.  For a few days Matt Archer’s 601XL was parked right behind me.  During the week, aircraft came and went, but at the height of the show,…

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Added by David Gallagher on August 2, 2011 at 1:30pm — 8 Comments

Inflight Vibration

FWIW  Went out enjoying the sky this morning. Had not flown in almost two weeks due to it being really hot and storms. 

I felt what I believed to be a slight increase in vibration levels, nothing that really concerned me but I did an inflight mag check at the cruise rpm.  Mag check ok. I landed at a nearby airport to say hello to the staff. My prop had stopped in the vertical position and I repositioned it to horizontal- and heard some noise coming from the spinner. I was able to drop the… Continue

Added by Tony Graziano on August 1, 2011 at 12:42pm — 4 Comments

Plz add me as a friend

Patrick,

         Please add me as your friend, I would be honored to be added to your list. Thanks, Pat & Peace

 

                        Mike Festa CC20

Added by Michael J. Festa Sr on July 31, 2011 at 11:52pm — No Comments

How dose the engine get cooling air with this type of cowling?

Hello every one,



I have this type of cowling http://www.zenith.aero/photo/dry-fit-cowling-8 and going to be installed to CH750 airframe, for Rotax 912S. The question is    dose the engine need in let openings for air cooling from the front of the cowling puting in consideration the high temp. in Saudi where it reaches 47c in summer time.? 







Thank you all members for sharing experience …

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Added by Adel Alyahya on July 30, 2011 at 9:00am — 4 Comments

Elevator skeleton riveted

After pulling my air riveter to bits and removing the 6 jammed rivet pins stuck in it, I riveted most of the skeleton together.  Didn't rivet the hinge pins, thought it might be easier to remove them to drill the holes for the split pins...

On to the rear skins next - can't wait.

Added by Marty de la Motte on July 30, 2011 at 6:15am — 2 Comments

Trim tab hinge sorted

A good evening in the shed tonight!

 

I'd been having difficulty sourcing a suitable piano hinge for the trim tab.  While the Zenith one is entirely reasonable at about $21, it would have cost $108 for postage to Australia.

Finally tracked one down locally today - it's stainless steel instead of aluminium, but because of the thickness (about 0.025") it's light enough for the purpose.  I intend to well and truly coat it with an anti-corrosive paint to avoid any corrosion…

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Added by Marty de la Motte on July 29, 2011 at 8:28am — No Comments

zodiac 601 shock rings

time to replace our shock rings.  plan calls out 1080 for landing gear but doesn't show any # for nose wheel.

 

help?

 

thank you

Added by roy ensminger on July 29, 2011 at 5:23am — 3 Comments

waiting for aluminum....

Waiting on my aluminum to arrive.. Ordered 10 May, from interstate supplier had a 10 week wait on one size... Due in to their warehouse 25th July... Shouldn't be long now.........

Added by keith bennett on July 25, 2011 at 10:32pm — No Comments

One Year Anniversary

Talking to a co-worker about the build project today I had to look up when I started and according to my blog I picked up my first rudder piece a year ago this week. 

 

I only get to build on weekends so I'm not sure if I am doing well or not (or even if I should care, just enjoy the ride) but I've spent roughly 80 hrs and have completed the rudder, the slats, the flaperons and the stabiliser; elevator is on the bench waiting to be deburred, and wings kit is in its crate at my…

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Added by Paul Sanders on July 20, 2011 at 4:35pm — 2 Comments

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