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Calibrating the Airspeed Indicator (ASI)

A sometimes overlooked part of the flight test program is calibration of the airspeed indicator (ASI). The airspeed indicator is (arguably) the single most important instrument we have on board our airplane, and it's important that owners/pilots make sure that the ASI has been calibrated (that it has been corrected for errors).

Indicated Airspeed (IAS) is the speed of the aircraft as shown on the airspeed…

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Added by Sebastien Heintz on February 12, 2010 at 12:00pm — 5 Comments

Dual sticks

Does Zenith make a dual stick conversion for the 701,Or do I have to make a conversion of my own?

Added by Wayne Silvan on February 10, 2010 at 10:28pm — 4 Comments

Painting – Why Can’t I do it Myself?

Having sent in a few photos recently of my first attempt at spray painting the tail sections of my 701, I have been invited to commence a blog on the subject. I’ve never done a blog before – nor built a plane for that matter, so here goes:…

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Added by Jock Struthers on February 10, 2010 at 2:00pm — 8 Comments

Bubble door gas struts

Thanks Michael, Jonathan, Phill, Bob, and everybody else who took the time to respond to my request.

You guys have been very helpful.

Michael, I think I will go to NAPA and try your solution since it seems to be working.

I originally purchased two struts from Aircraft Spruce, but I didn't realize they were really for raising a canopy.

They are short and very strong, will not work very well for the larger movement needed of swinging open a door. I envy you guys…

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Added by William Heath on February 10, 2010 at 12:59pm — 6 Comments

Wing Templates and last thoughts

I'm about to start the second wing and this will be my last blog on the Upgrade. I'm hoping to be ready for the Inspection by the end of February, or really close :-)



Expanding on my last blog Nose rib template, I've added another template for the bottom cap angle, 6ZU-1-5. I installed with the bolts to the wing spar using the template to postion and then traced around the cap angle. Removed the bottom Nose rib template and set the… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on February 6, 2010 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

Latest Update

Finished the holes and splitting of the prototype cowl on Monday, 2/1/10 and loaded the two halves in the car for delivery. Wednesday 2/3/10 was bright and sunny but cold, my wife and I made the trip to Weauwega to deliver the protoype cowl to the factory for final layup. They are loaded with work so I do not expect to see the finished product probably until March. Weather is still cold and I have not installed a heater so will wait for better weather anyway. It was a long day 3 hrs driving… Continue

Added by Phillip Owens on February 4, 2010 at 6:44pm — No Comments

Where I stand now

It has been a while since I have posted, so here is where I stand now.



Back in October I grounded my 601 because of the engine using oil, low oil pressure and just not running very well for very long. What I found was a partial oil ring on the #3 cylinder as well as a few bearings that were at service limits on the crank shaft and cam shaft. I also found a stud that had pulled loose from the crank case under the rear cam shaft journal, so the case needs to be line bored also. I also… Continue

Added by Glenn Johnson on February 3, 2010 at 8:09pm — 4 Comments

VGs on the CH-750...... wings, elevator or rudder?

I have been reading various articles about how VGs help in the flying characteristics and landings of various aircraft and I plan on using them on the elevator of the CH-750 as Zenith suggests. But I have a question for any aeronautical engineers out there regarding VGs and if they would have any affect or be of any aid should they be applied to the plane’s rudder and if they were applied, would they be placed along the leading edge or someplace else? I’m just curious to find out if they might… Continue

Added by Jay Parker on February 3, 2010 at 7:17am — 6 Comments

Nothing goes as Planned

The plan was to finish before the weather got bad here in British Columbia, test fly the aircraft then paint it this winter. Well one thing after another and here we are end of Jan., still no test fly due to weather. So C-IIOA got sent off to the paint booth yesterday. In about two weeks we see what the weather holds for us and C-IIOA will have a new look.

Added by Debra and Patrick Nesbitt on February 1, 2010 at 4:39pm — 1 Comment

Wing Upgrade - doubler and nose rib template

Now that I'm past the solid rivets it's onto the wing doubler. This seemed fairly easy, except that back drilling the doubler was going to be a challenge, so I removed the 2 rear ribs. I've seen pictures of others doing this.

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backside wing doubler

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finished doubler

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Next step was to reinstall the nose ribs. First I replaced the top… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 31, 2010 at 4:10pm — 2 Comments

Flying the Upgraded Zodiac

We've had lousy flying weather in Mexico, Missouri lately (which is really not that typical), so when the sky looked OK this morning Roger and I pulled out the upgraded Zodiac XL for a pleasure flight...

Here's the video:



I hope you enjoy it as much as we… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on January 27, 2010 at 4:30pm — 14 Comments

I just took a big turn around in my desired engine for my CH-750, switching from Rotec R-2800 to the Jabiru 3300.

Today I took another look at the Jabiru 3300, 120 hp engine and really liked what I saw. I was comparing it to the stylish radial engine, the Rotec R-2800. I like the fact that it is only $17,500 new and sold in a town not far from where I live now here in Tennessee. It includes all the accessories including mounting for that price. They also sell the front cowling/nose bowls for the engine (they show an engine mounting process for a on a 701 or 750 on their website:… Continue

Added by Jay Parker on January 27, 2010 at 1:02pm — 11 Comments

Solid Rivet removal - Navy Method

Started on the wings today, 26Jan10, and struggled for hours to remove any solid rivets and I have the tools. So I searched the Internet and found "Removing Solid Rivets" by Gil Alexander – EAA Technical Counselor.



It works really well on the big solid rivets. I drilled with a #20, but not as deep as he recommended and used the Riveting Hammer to punch out the rivet. I have a cinder… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on January 27, 2010 at 7:39am — 5 Comments

Completing the fuselage Upgrade.

In this blog: Side Doublers, Seat Angles, Rear Attachment Uprights, "Z" angle, 2x4 assistant, Bucking Station revision, "T" and ..... links to other blogs at the bottom of this page.

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I needed to block up the fuselage after removing the rivets and bolts. The right side was off just a bit, I had problems on the left. Must have been an original manufacturing issue ...

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Added by Jake Reyna on January 26, 2010 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2010

Following is a recap of the Sebring LSA Aviation Expo from last week in Sebring, Florida.

The bright yellow STOL CH 750LS and the "upgraded" Zodiac CH 650LS at the Sebring Expo:

On the two days prior to the show,… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on January 25, 2010 at 5:51pm — 3 Comments

Needs BRS for my CH-701

Looking for a BRS for my freshly rebuilt CH-701
Regards
Ranbir

Added by Ranbir Singh on January 22, 2010 at 5:30am — 2 Comments

BBQ at Sun-N-Fun

I am planning to come to the Picknick at Lakeland. I will be bringing a friend again this year.
Bill Campbell

Added by William Campbell on January 21, 2010 at 2:22pm — No Comments

First Zenith 750 Flight in Canada

I took my Zenith 750 airborne for the first time today. I believe it is the first 750 to fly in Canada. It literally leapt into the air. Flies well--excellent cockpit visibility. Easy to land as well.

Added by Angus Watt on January 20, 2010 at 4:44pm — 2 Comments

rivet painting

what are you guys doing about painting; I thought about a pencil brush and doing each rivet ,I also have to respray the right wing skin when I stripped the wing I left theskin on the floor a gust of wind came blew it around a post so accidents can happen even when zodiacs are in amillion peices [ a big flutter]

Added by Paul Hammond on January 20, 2010 at 3:15pm — 2 Comments

Prospective Camera's

Are any of you guys aware of a permanently mountable camera that could go in the wing or somewhere in the cockpit area.

Requirements would be to shoot extended video times (!hour or so), small, perhaps the lenses potion mountable in the wings or a given location and then wired to hardware in the cockpit. Something along that line!

Thoughts?

I could always swipe my wife's hard disk camera but, . . .

Added by Richard Simmons on January 20, 2010 at 12:47pm — 7 Comments

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