Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ken and Joel Norton on October 25, 2013 at 1:14pm

Thanks Diane, you make a good point!

Joel

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on October 10, 2013 at 5:02pm

Because of the outrageous fee ($400), I'm assuming this is a Canadian build? I know zero about the Canadian regs, but if this is just for your peace-of-mind rather than a required inspection, surely you can find either an A&P or a knowledgeable homebuilder to give your progress the once-over? I was lucky in that one of my good friends is an A&P IA and another is an  A&P and has built several planes - they reassured me I was doing fine and the cost was ZERO!

John

N750A

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Permalink Reply by Ken and Joel Norton on October 25, 2013 at 1:11pm

Thanks John, it seems like everything here in Canada is more expensive. The green paint job on your CH750 looks awesome! I can't wait to get to that point in our build!

Joel

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Permalink Reply by Joe Harrington on October 10, 2013 at 6:36pm

Joel,

All six of us elected to do as much as possible before the MDRA pre-cover inspection. We ended up having to only have the one pre-cover inspection and the next will be our final inspections. If you have no experience and don't have anyone experienced to look over your shoulder, then it might be a good idea to get an inspection sooner than later, I would probably do a few more pieces though in order to include a little variety in the pieces and methods. Having someone with building experience to look at your work and to answer questions is very beneficial.

As far as how picky the inspectors are, well, they are all different. We have two different inspectors and they were both quite different in what they looked at and what they wanted to see (in relative terms). The MDRA website has a breakdown at what they look at and what is expected in general terms.

Good luck,

Joe

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Permalink Reply by Ken and Joel Norton on October 25, 2013 at 1:05pm

Thanks Joe, I am going to wait and do one pre-cover inspection! I really appreciate the reply

 

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Permalink Reply by Normand Lambert on October 11, 2013 at 7:41am

Hi Joel,

Don't waste money on an additional inspection! Find a RAA chapter near where you live and go to their meetings.

There, you'll find knowledgeable builders that can and will check on your work and tell you what to correct/modify, if anything.

 

Make sure you DON'T CLOSE ANYTHING otherwise you'll end up removing lots of rivets!

Having an experienced builder look over your work is more relaxing than an inspector from MDRA and...less expensive too ! Best thing would be finding a Zenith builder near you that either built a CH701 or CH750...

 

Remember, this is not an F-16 you're building.  

 

If, for your peace of mind, you HAVE to have a MDRA inspector check your work, by all means do it !

Remember, YOU will be flying this thing when finished ! Nothing like sitting in your plane with peace of mind...and having a ball !

Regards,

Norm

CH701

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Ken and Joel Norton on October 25, 2013 at 1:03pm

Hi Norm,

      Thanks a lot for the reply. It's reassuring to know what other people have done. Thanks!

Joel

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on October 11, 2013 at 8:50pm

NOT worth it!!! 

Do as much as you can before the inspection to only do it once.  My pre-cover inspection was pretty much a joke.  These are all simple pull rivets and all the inspector is making sure of is that the edge distances are somewhat respectable, no rivets are so messed up they wouldn't hold properly and that the ribs and such are all straight with no missed rivets.  He won't even peak at your plans, at least mine didn't'...  Storing the parts has some merit, but I was able to close most of them with less than a half dozen clecoes per part so just buy another 50 clecoes to make that happen, will be cheaper than 400$.  Don't forget you have to pay his mileage at $0.50 a klik which can add up if one's not near you.

With the avex I think maybe 2 or 3 out of the thousands I pulled had to be drilled out because something wasn't right.  These kits are all CnC cut and basically a drunk, dyslexic monkey with a brain injury should be able to put it together without issues. LOL  I've had some issues with Zen but fitting the pre-drilled parts together hasn't been one of them, this is a kick-ass kit compared to others I've seen!!! 

I had all my parts done for the inspection and it still only took maybe an hour, hour and a half to do, and lots of that was just non related yapping.  Your better off getting a buddy or even an AME if you can find one to come over and take a look at your work for an hour and slip him a case of beer or a c-note for his time.  Post some pictures here with decent close ups and you'll get tons of opinions as well.  Save the $400 for your panel or better paint... My $0.02

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Permalink Reply by Ken and Joel Norton on October 25, 2013 at 1:07pm

Thanks Mark for the $0.02, it's worth way more than that! I will post some pictures soon. Thanks

 

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Permalink Reply by David J. Beaulieu on October 26, 2013 at 9:27am

 "...basically a drunk, dyslexic monkey with a brain injury should be able to put it together without issues...."

 

Mark - who says you are not a wordsmith? Somehow Zenith should work this into their advertising/promo of their 750 kit!  At the very least, I plan on keeping this in mind whilst I work away in the garage on my project!

 

Cheers!  Dave

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