Dan (Dempsey, Zodiac XL) has been trying to reinstate the weekly builder chats and last night we had a nice chat with the participation of a few builders. We are hoping more of you can join us on Tuesday evenings/nights so the we have moved the time to 9 PM to make it easier for those on the West coast to join in the chat without inconveniencing those of us on the East coast.

Perhaps John (Austin, CH 750, Forum Moderator) can sticky this topic in the Open Forum to keep is on top and generate more interest. If we have active Zenith.aero members join the chat and help spread the word to those who don't frequent the site we are sure to have a livelier and more informative weekly chat.

So mark it on your calendars, put reminders in your phones and see you all on Tuesday! 

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I was there and enjoyed it very much, different things came out of the chat that I didn't consider subject matter for the forum (small details) but I found very interesting in the chat room. I also liked the interaction with my fellow builders, and hope more will show up next tues it was informative and entertaining.

Dave

Chat once again tonight. Would love to see everyone there.

Hi everyone,

Here is the chat discussion from today's builders chat for those of you who missed the event. Hopefully we can have more participation in the coming weeks.

PART 1:

  • Dan Dempsey

    checking in

  • 7:21 PM
  • Efe Cem Elci

    Hey Dan

  • 8:42 PM
  • Efe Cem Elci

    Making the trip to the rudder workshop at Zenith early tomorrow morning

  • 8:46 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    Efe, still there?

  • Efe Cem Elci

    yep just got here

  • Dan Dempsey

    Going to Mexico Mo?

  • Efe Cem Elci

    yeah leave tomorrow morning

  • bit of a flight but its worth it

  • Dan Dempsey

    Exciting first step

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Yeah just picked up the binder from another local builder who's working on a 750

  • forgot it there when I was last over working on his plane

  • Dan Dempsey

    Will you be building in a hanger?

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Doesnt look like it currently

  • Dan Dempsey

    I built mine in my living room

  • Now that I'm at the airport I see the advantage of having a community around you

  • Efe Cem Elci

    working on forming an EAA chapter locally. so I'm hoping we can have a common work area where everyone can work on their own project

  • Dan Dempsey

    good idea

  • share the costs

  • Efe Cem Elci

    and more experience, let the guys who have seen it and done it help out those just starting

  • Dan Dempsey

    very valuable

  • Efe Cem Elci

    and perhaps people who might not be able to get their own plane financially get to collaborate on a club/joint plane

  • Dan Dempsey

    I've piddled around and lost the warm weather.. now I have to work in the cold

  • Efe Cem Elci

    any heating at the airport? :D

  • Dan Dempsey

    I could warm it up some, but it's a big mettle building

  • Efe Cem Elci

    ouch

  • I'd say dress warm but either way the hands and feet will feel it

  • Dan Dempsey

    I need a little good weather to get this job completed

  • 8:56 PM
  • Efe Cem Elci

    we got the first snow over here but its much warmer back home. wont start building till at least january anyway. spring is more realistic though

  • 8:57 PM
  • Gary Motley

    Hi guys, just noticed the talk about the cold. Hate to rub it in but I just finalized the natural gas heater to my garage. I received my Cruzer tail kit this past weekend and am I drilling holes!

  • Dan Dempsey

    Good to hear Gary

  • Efe Cem Elci

    been "interning" at a local builder, his 5th kit plane! great experience, and you really learn a lot from a guy like that

  • Dan Dempsey

    I've been spoiled.. built the plane in my house

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Hey Gary, that's great to hear.

  • Dan Dempsey

    Where are you Gary?

  • Gary Motley

    This is my second project but hope to build more. I'm in the Denver area.

  • Dan Dempsey

    Go Broncos

  • Gary Motley

    Sorry, not much of a sports fan. Too busy flying and building!

  • Dan Dempsey

    Same here Gary.. I listen to Nascar.. and hardly ever watch a ball game

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Hi Guys

  • Dan Dempsey

    Patrick.. hello

  • I've been speaking with my DAR today

  • He was answering some of my questions about how to fill out the paperwork

  • Patrick Hoyt

    You must be very close now...

  • Dan Dempsey

    Patrick did you do the fuel flow test at climb attitude?

  • 9:04 PM
  • Patrick Hoyt

    Yes. I think I still have a video of that someplace.

  • Dan Dempsey

    How'd you get the plane angled up?

  • 9:05 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    I want to do a WOT test at the same time

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Put nosewheel on ramp. Didnt have wings on at the time. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uAW2_E7RpAI

  • Dan Dempsey

    Last couple of weekends have been a bit too windy

  • 9:07 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    I was going to pull the nose wheel up onto my trailer

  • Mark LaPierre

    Hey Dan, what are you building?

  • Dan Dempsey

    CH601XL

  • Patrick Hoyt

    I still havent figured out effective heat. 16 degrees F today here.

  • Mark LaPierre

    What engine are you using Dan?

  • Dan Dempsey

    You have a heater and it's not working?

  • Mark.. Corvair conversion

  • 9:10 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    Mark how far along are you?

  • I'm also a plans builder

  • Mark LaPierre

    I've barely started

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Exhaust muff heater. Gets a few seconds of lukewarm, then cold air....

  • Mark LaPierre

    I have 15 parts built from scratch sitting in a box

  • 9:12 PM
  • Mark LaPierre

    I'm working on the pay as you go plan and I'm finanially embarrased at the moment

  • not to mention a Mustang sitting in the middle of my garage waiting for me to bolt it's heads back on

  • Dan Dempsey

    Mark.. I've got other hobbies too that have been dormant

  • including several old classic cars

  • Mark LaPierre

    I just bought a new belt/disk sander to help make forming templates

  • Patrick Hoyt

    90 hours on the Hobbs. Kinda itching to build again.

  • Dan Dempsey

    Patrick.. hows the corvair doing

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Running very well. I actually bought 2 more cores the other day.

  • Dan Dempsey

    I've 2 others as well. THought I'd build an spare engine once I'm flying

  • 9:18 PM
  • Patrick Hoyt

    One spare, the other one for your next project!

  • Dan Dempsey

    hehe

  • 9:19 PM
  • Mark LaPierre

    What are you flying Patrick?

  • Patrick Hoyt

    N63PZ - XL w/650 canopy, Corvair.

  • Mark LaPierre

    What do you have for avionics?

  • 9:22 PM
  • Patrick Hoyt

    Dynon D6. Mechanical gauges, iPad and charts for nav. Flew to Oshkosh this year.

  • Dan Dempsey

    Mark, I also work for NG

  • Mark, where are you at?

  • Mark LaPierre

    Oh cool! I'm going to Oshkosh some day.

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Flew to Zenith in MO a couple months ago.

  • Mark LaPierre

    Newport News, VA

  • Dan Dempsey

    Fly down to VA Patrick, I'll let you use my couch!

  • Mark.. I'm in VA too.. Charlottesville

  • Mark LaPierre

    Not far away

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Time to Spare - Go by Air. I understand that now!

  • Dan Dempsey

    I've got all sorts of form blocks and some jigs I used. I could loan them to you

  • Yeah.. I never have thought of my flying as transportation

  • Mark LaPierre

    Thanks for the kind offer. I'll give it serious consideration.

  • Patrick Hoyt

    The journey becomes the adventure. It's great.

  • 9:28 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    Patrick.. what airpressure do you use in you tires?

  • Mark LaPierre

    Hey Dan, do you know of anyone offering sport pilot flight training in the area?

  • Dan Dempsey

    Mark, I went to Tennessee and flew with Buzz Air for training

  • Patrick you did the same true?

  • Mark LaPierre

    I think I may have to go to a dedicated couple of weeks long program somewhere

  • Patrick Hoyt

    I did transition training with Buzz, too.

  • Dan Dempsey

    I spent a week.. must have hundreds of touch and goes

  • Patrick Hoyt

    About 50 psi in the tires.

  • Mark LaPierre

    How did you arrive at the 50 PSI setting?

  • Patrick Hoyt

    I think thats Zeniths spec.

  • Dan Dempsey

    I was asking because I have mine set at 35 now, and it seams low

  • 9:35 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    Hello all

  • Dan Dempsey

    Hello Todd

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Hey Todd

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Hi Todd

  • Dan Dempsey

    Todd, what r u building

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Welcome to the chat

  • Todd Loomis

    New to this chat room I am building a 701

  • all the sheet metal is done now I am putting it all together

  • Dan Dempsey

    Todd, what engine

  • Mark LaPierre

    Where are you located Todd

  • Todd Loomis

    1 more year

  • a 912

  • billings mt

  • do you all know of a place where I can get some 701 training

  • Dan Dempsey

    Yes.. YOu should contact Buzz Air

  • Todd Loomis

    thankyou

  • Efe Cem Elci

    We were just talking about that :)

  • Dan Dempsey

    http://daniel.dempseyfamily.us/zodiac/fly/buzzair.htm

  • They have a 701, I think in Reno Nevada

PART 2:

  • Todd Loomis

    what do you all have

  • Dan Dempsey

    I did 601 training with them in Tennessee

  • I have a nearly finished 601 XL

  • Efe Cem Elci

    I'm planning on starting on a 650

  • Todd Loomis

    cool

  • i made mine from scratch big mistake

  • 9:45 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    Todd.. same here

  • Todd Loomis

    wish I had just bought the kit

  • Dan Dempsey

    We've got a bunch of plans builders here tonight!

  • Todd Loomis

    tried to save money

  • Dan Dempsey

    I'm 8 years into mine

  • Mark LaPierre

    Why do you think it was a mistake to scratch build Todd?

  • Gary Motley

    I'm back. Doesn't look like many guys are chiming in. It may be hard to run a chat with so many different interests in the zenith line. What do you think?

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Grass is always greener. I built from component kits. Next airplane will be from scratch.

  • Todd Loomis

    time is twice as maybe three times as long

  • Dan Dempsey

    Maybe Gary.. but if it takes off we could split it up some

  • Todd Loomis

    but at least you have something to fly

  • Gary Motley

    how many weeks have you guys been at this?

  • Dan Dempsey

    Gary, this is just the second week after Sebastian helped announce it

  • Todd Loomis

    great experience

  • Dan Dempsey

    I tried a couple of weeks before that on Monday's but it was bust

  • Mark LaPierre

    I guess we've been here for the last three weeks

  • Okay two weeks

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Its nice to interact with other builders in real-time.

  • Todd Loomis

    first week for me I like it

  • Dan Dempsey

    We had a pretty active chat several years ago..

  • Todd Loomis

    any 701 builders on.

  • Gary Motley

    well, I certainly hope the spirit picks up. I'm a Sonex flyer and I have to say their sites are really active. When I look at this builders site it appears very helter skelter to me.

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Few years ago there was a good chat. Was great.

  • Mark LaPierre

    I considered joining up with my local EAA Chapter but I didn't see the benefit it would bring me

  • Patrick Hoyt

    depends on the chapter. We have a good one here (25).

  • Dan Dempsey

    I went to an EAA meeting near me a few years ago, but there wasn't a single builder in the group.

  • Todd Loomis

    WE HAVE A GOOD ONE IN BILLINGS

  • Dan Dempsey

    It was just a flying club

  • Efe Cem Elci

    I attended my first chapter meeting with a local chapter here

  • Mark LaPierre

    I went to a couple of get togethers to find out what they were up to

  • Dan Dempsey

    At the Airport I have my plane at there's no EAA chapter, but a very active builders group

  • Mark LaPierre

    didn't seem to be much more than hanger flying

  • Efe Cem Elci

    apparently a chapter in FL gathered funds and got space at a local airport and made their own hangar

  • so we are considering doing that

  • Dan Dempsey

    Efe.. I think that's a great idea

  • Patrick Hoyt

    We have a chapter hanger. Guys in phase 1 use it.

  • Dan Dempsey

    I'm jealous of you guys with active EAA chapters

  • Todd Loomis

    what is phase one

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Yeah and apparently the airport gave them 25 tie downs and let them keep profits from those

  • Dan Dempsey

    There are some good ones in VA, but not near enough to be practical for me

  • Efe Cem Elci

    so they are actually supporting the hangar and the costs out of that

  • Dan you could always start one if there is enough interest

  • Todd Loomis

    ok got to go see you all next week

  • Efe Cem Elci

    I've started working towards forming a chapter back home now. Talked with EAA and got the ball rolling

  • Mark LaPierre

    Phase 1 is the primary flight testing that any homebuilt must go through before it is approved to carry passengers and fly outside the test area

  • Dan Dempsey

    Efe. I might bring it up, but I'm the new guy

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Take care Todd see you

  • If you know any other builders Todd let them know as well

  • Mark LaPierre

    Generally that is a minimum of 40 hours to complete a thourough flight testing of the aircraft flight envelope

  • 9:56 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    Patrick.. what did you do for a flight test plan?

  • Spencer Rice

    Hello everyone! I'm a little late...

  • Dan Dempsey

    Hello Spencer

  • Mark LaPierre

    hey Spencer

  • Dan Dempsey

    Spencer.. make any parts this week?

  • Patrick Hoyt

    I set a goal for each flight. And if anything was amiss, I'd fix it prior to the next test.

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Hi Spencer

  • Dan Dempsey

    I saw the pcks you posted of flanging dies

  • Patick.. Did it have to be written down to present to your DAR?

  • 9:59 PM
  • Patrick Hoyt

    No, the DAR was more for the paperwork for registration, etc.

  • he did look over the plane...

  • Spencer Rice

    Yes! Not sure how many of you have heard of Larry McFarland. He plans built a Zodiac HDS a few years back and made a huge journal on his experiences. Anyway he has been a great contact for me and has helped me out a lot. I purchased his alumium flanging dies he made on a lathe.

  • Mark LaPierre

    The DAR's requirements vary depending on his/her preferences.

  • Dan Dempsey

    Spencer, I made my flanging dies out of wood

  • they worked great

  • Patrick Hoyt

    Gotta run - nice talking to you guys.

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Likewise Patrick. See you next Tuesday if you can make it

  • Dan Dempsey

    http://daniel.dempseyfamily.us/zodiac/wings/skeleton/flangingdie.htm

  • nice chatting patrick

  • Patrick Hoyt

    <...poof...>. LOL

  • Mark LaPierre

    I've got it set up as a repeatiig appointment on my calendar

  • See Y'all next week!

  • Dan Dempsey

    cya mark

  • 10:04 PM
  • Dan Dempsey

    OK guys I'm logging off

  • hope to chat again next week..

  • Spencer Rice

    See ya Dan!

  • Dan Dempsey

    Sorry to leave so soon after you got here SPencer.. but I've got to get some rest

  • Efe Cem Elci

    See you Dan

  • Spencer Rice

    No problem! Just thought I would drop in a see what everyone was chatting about!

  • Efe Cem Elci

    I'm going to try to get the log up on the builder chat thread so people who werent here can see what is shared and may be thus motivated to join in

  • 10:07 PM
  • Spencer Rice

    That's an idea! Also we could try and think of a topic each week?

  • 10:08 PM
  • Efe Cem Elci

    Yeah that could be good as well.

  • Spencer Rice

    Well I should probably go work on the plane. Maybe talk again next!

  • 10:10 PM
  • Efe Cem Elci

    I have an early morning flight to Kansas City via Charlotte to attend the Zenith rudder workshop

  • So have to wake up at 4:30am

  • Probably will call it a night in about 15

PART 3:

  • 10:13 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    Ok I am back

  • Efe Cem Elci

    WB Todd

  • Todd Loomis

    efe what plane do u have

  • 10:44 PM
  • Efe Cem Elci

    Haven't started yet but I'm thinking of doing a 650

  • Will be at the Zenith workshop Thu and Fri

  • Todd Loomis

    Cool have you gone to the zenith open hanger days yet

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Hope to get a chance to fly it and make the final decision

  • Not yet. Currently in the US but live in Turkey so its a bit of a flight over for anything :D

  • Todd Loomis

    ok I really enjoyed it hope you can go befor you go back to turkey

  • have you done any other projects

  • Patrick Borton

    Oops...I'm late :)

  • Todd Loomis

    hi patrick

  • Patrick Borton

    howdy

  • Todd Loomis

    what plane do you have

  • Patrick Borton

    750/UL350iS

  • you?

  • Todd Loomis

    Cool I am building a 701

  • Patrick Borton

    i wouldn't mind doing a 701 next...

  • Todd Loomis

    i started it just before they came out with the 750

  • is it flying

  • Patrick Borton

    it is. About 65 hours so far

  • Todd Loomis

    wonderful I am looking forward to the day mine is too

  • Patrick Borton

    keepfar keep cranking away...you'll get there!

  • Todd Loomis

    i am just stating the put all components together stage

  • Patrick Borton

    plans building?

  • Todd Loomis

    i made mine from scratch

  • Patrick Borton

    sweet.

  • Todd Loomis

    lots of time

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Todd I'm "assisting" a local 750 builder but I'm learning a lot from him. First kit plane project for me.

  • Todd Loomis

    wish I had just bought the kit

  • Patrick Borton

    I can't imagine the time commitment compared to a kit

  • Efe Cem Elci

    I thought of doing the plans but when I actually saw the kit I realized how gigantic a task that would have been

  • Patrick Borton

    750 from a kit is a really fast build...until you get into fuel and wiring. That's when you hit a wall and things slow down

  • Todd Loomis

    i am making it in the garage kind of fun to go out and pound out ribs etc my favorite was the spar

  • 10:56 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    i bought the fuselage in kit form but every thing else is scratch

  • Patrick Borton

    the spar seems like it would be an intimidating part on a scratch build

  • Todd Loomis

    opps sory I made the rudder at an open house

  • 10:58 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    not really I picked Marks brain and it went together well

  • mark the guy from canzax

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Patrick thats the part that intimidates me as well. Wiring, fuel, avionics, etc.

  • Patrick Borton

    I guess with the fine support group here, most questions are answered!

  • Todd Loomis

    yep me too

  • Patrick Borton

    i loved the wiring/avionics!

  • Todd Loomis

    good

  • just another project hardest part is getting started

  • the hardest part was finding the lighting hole flange dies

  • Patrick Borton

    planning it all out was harder than starting for me...

  • Todd Loomis

    did you go with steam gauges or glass

  • Patrick Borton

    glass

  • Todd Loomis

    ok

  • if you had a do over what would it be

  • Patrick Borton

    the same. I really like the Skyview.

  • 11:05 PM
  • Patrick Borton

    I only had about 15 hours behind glass prior to the Skyview. I don't feel like my eyes are inside too much like I do with a G1000

  • 11:06 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    I really haven't researched that much I am now just getting ready to buy engine cowling prop etc...

  • Patrick Borton

    which engine are you using?

  • Todd Loomis

    I am planning on a 912 uls

  • I hear good things about them other than the price

  • Patrick Borton

    how do they compare to the UL Power 260 engines price-wise?

  • Todd Loomis

    i plan on buying the firewall forward kit from zenith I am tired of always reinventing the wheel and their stuff goes together so well

  • Patrick Borton

    gotcha. The 912 is tried and true in the 701...

  • Todd Loomis

    i do not know I am sure. The 260 is less but I already bought the 500 dollar engine mount

  • 11:11 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    i build an avid flyer it had a rotax 582 it seemed to work ok

  • 11:12 PM
  • Patrick Borton

    I don't have much experience with rotax. I like the performance, but sont care for the gear reduction personally.

  • Todd Loomis

    the 912 is much more refined as compared to the 582

  • where are you from

  • Patrick Borton

    Thats what I hear.

  • Im in Fort Wayne indiana

  • Todd Loomis

    ok billing mt for me

  • billings. Oops

  • how do you like the way the 750 flys

  • Patrick Borton

    I bet you have a lot more cool remote landing areas there than we do here!

  • 11:17 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    as a kid I used to shoot coyotes from a super cub we would land skin them and off we go I guess that is why I love stol

  • Patrick Borton

    im enjoying the 750. The guy I built it with has a cirrus and wanted something that was more fun for taking the kids up. Something you can sight see in. The cirrus isn't much fun going 200mph at 1800 feet

  • 11:19 PM
  • Patrick Borton

    I did all of phase 1 testing and still fly it pretty much whenever I want.

  • Todd Loomis

    That's what I am dreaming f

  • Patrick Borton

    Everyone who has gone for a flight in it LOVES the visibility

  • Efe Cem Elci

    Guys I gotta run. Gotta get up in 5 hours to go to the airport.

  • Todd Loomis

    before I start phase 1 I want to get some real good training

  • good night efe

  • Patrick Borton

    good night

  • Efe Cem Elci

    See you next chat!

  • Todd Loomis

    get started u won't regret it

  • Patrick Borton

    I didn't do any transition training because most of my experience was very recent and in a cessna 152

  • i knew it was a different animal as far as handling, but used 152 V-speeds on the first flight

  • Todd Loomis

    Gotcha I haven't flown in years all my spare time and money has been tied up in the build

  • Patrick Borton

    i sent my wife away for a good portion of the build ;)

  • Todd Loomis

    haha lucky you

  • Patrick Borton

    no kidding. I'm trying to figure out how to do it again!

  • 11:27 PM
  • Todd Loomis

    let me know how that goes. No my wife has been a real sport. She hasn't been able to park the car in the garage in years

  • what do you do for a living

Why don't you guys use a free thing like Skype or some other verbal chat system, so people can talk with their computer mics. Then you can have a nice q and a session, and get people a little more interested bc they could quickly ask questions about problems and exchange ideas. Just a thought. :)
Or almost every laptop has a webcam, you could use a free video chat system or website. At any rate, it might boost participation.

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