A friend and I drove to the Zenith plant on July, 27, 2011 to pickup a CH 650. After loading the plane, with help from the Zenith staff on the 28th, we trailered the kit back to Fort Collins, CO. We chose the CH 650 after months of considering other kits (rejecting the RV 12 and Rans 19, BTW). I completed the small structures (rudder, flaps, elevator, stabilizer, ailerons, and landing gear) in my basement, did the wings in my garage, and finished the other structures in a friend's heated pole barn. We trailered the parts from the barn to my rented hangar at the Greeley, Colorado airport for assembly, inspection, and such. The plane has a Rolls Royce O-200-A overhauled engine and the usual, very simple, equipment (steam gauges). I made the first flight on Novenber 19, 2012. No problems, mostly because everything is absolutely straight, level, plumbed, and such to the point of being anal retentive. I went light sport because I plan to just fly the plane as long as possible. I am almost 80 years old and have been flying for 65 years in many types of piston driven airplanes. So, thanks, Zenith, for making a fine kit available.

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Comment by Damien Graham on November 10, 2013 at 7:18pm
That is what I would like to build, a 650 with an 0-200 and a simple steam gauge panel.
Comment by Tim Garrett on January 2, 2013 at 8:45pm
I hope I'm still flying at 80. You have a nice looking plane there. Was this your first homebuilt? Tell us why you chose the 650 over the Van's or the Rans?

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