Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers

Build It! Fly It! The Companion Website to the Zenair Newsletter

Bob McDonald's Page

Latest Activity

Bob McDonald added a photo to the album 'Around "The Patch"'
P1020989
yesterday
Gone flying !
August 25
A photo by Bob McDonald was featured
UPAC Fly-in Can-Zac Booth
Ultralight Pilot Association of Canada held their annual fly-in in Bright, Ontario @ the Lubitz Field. Mark Townsend of Can-Zac was present with his recently completed CH701 demonstrator / Ultralight trainer. My CH750 could not attend as the weather…
August 24
Bob McDonald added a photo to the album 'Can-Zac Spycam'
UPAC Fly-in 2010 005
August 23

Profile Information

Aircraft Model
STOL CH 750, ZODIAC CH 601
Project Status
Flying
Building From
Kit
Building Experience
Have worked on airplanes before
Flying Experience
Private Pilot
Profession / Employer / Background Info
Co-pilot / Camera Operator Capital Air Surveys, Chemical Operator Bruce Heavy Water Plant,
Electrical Power System Operator Ontario Hydro,
Hydro-Electric Operating Technician Ontario Power Generation... getting ready to retire.
Private Pilot since 1975, used to own 1963 C172, flying a 2000 Challenger AULA, also a 1/2 ownership Rotax 912 CH601HD that is flying.
Ordered a CH750 from Can-Zac. Start building December 2009. Built as AULA with Rotax 912S engine. CH750 finished March 2010.

Bob McDonald's Photos

Loading…

Bob McDonald's Blog

Bob McDonald

CH750 / CH701 Gas Caps

I have gas caps that leak when I go flying. This is evident by the fuel streaks down the top of wings from the filler necks after I land. I suspect this is from the position of the filler neck & fuel caps is steep turns. High wing tank leaks in a turn. I also noticed that the right fuel tank level was always higher than the left after going flying.


The tanks would start out level if left in the hangar over night. I went to dip the tanks after flying and heard a "whoosh" upon openin

… Continue

Posted on July 28, 2010 at 8:17pm — 8 Comments

Bob McDonald

Another Day At Can-Zac

Remember the CH750 kit owned by Angus Watt from Ottawa, the one I spent 8 days working on last month? Well, at the end of 4 weeks it looks like this... by the end of this day the wings and all flying surfaces are final fitted and it is once again dis-assembled and shipped to the paint shop today.
The CH801 (Yellow/Blue?White paint)in the back ground is a 4 seat model built for an outpost camp in Alberta.

Posted on November 17, 2009 at 6:59am — 2 Comments

Bob McDonald

CH701 & CH750 Wheel Skis

I heard a rumour that Zenair was going to release plans / kits for wheel skis to fit the CH701 & CH750 model aircraft. I thought it would be a wonderful early Christmas present (project) for the model owners from Zenith (Chris Hientz).
O.K. I will admit to starting the rumour ! I saw a wonderful looking set on a CH701 owned by Rob Nelson on the completions section of the Zenair web site. Winter comes early here in Canada and wheel skis would be a ray of sunshine in my part of the Zenith worl… Continue

Posted on October 30, 2009 at 1:20pm — 5 Comments

Bob McDonald

CAN-ZAC POWER BUILD

I was offered a chance to be part of a 3 man (sometimes 4) team conducting a CAN-ZAC Power Build program. The kit owner Angus Watt from Ottawa started with Mark Townsend building from a 6ft X 6ft X 12ft crate Friday, and I joined them on Monday afternoon. Neither Angus or myself had any previous kit building experience... but we were closely supervised by Mark Townsend of Can-Zac in his Kitchener hangar. The working day starts at 8AM (or earlier if you can't sleep) and generally goes hard until… Continue

Posted on October 27, 2009 at 8:19am — 5 Comments

Bob McDonald

CH601HD Bungee & Gear Leg Replacement

Well... Yesterday I started into job on the CH601HD that is very much like force feeding a Porcupine to a Grizzly Bear ! I used an ATV jack to lift The Zen, there is no weight the wings... its a "Plan B" thing. Grantley Este & Bob "Mr. GoodWrench" Braden pitched in to get me started on the job I have been putting off for a year now. Changing the out of date main gear bungee (5 yr replacement cycle), so far it has taken 3 guys the better part of a day to jack up the aircraft and get the gear… Continue

Posted on June 26, 2009 at 7:44pm —

Comment Wall (14 comments)

You need to be a member of Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers to add comments!

Join Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers

At 4:02pm on August 28, 2010, Paul Poulsen said…
Hi Bob,
It is surprising how loud small conrtacts can be when you are not expecting them. Great news on the nil damage. I think that the roller triker is a mod that will be going onto my 750. I am no light wieght and if I take up pax then the chances are increased of a possible strike. Off to a fly in this morning (Driving in unfortunately) but with luck I maty be able to get up :).
Clear skies
Paul
At 9:19pm on August 24, 2010, Kevin Rudd said…
I like pick ups I have one myself and a friend has a 801 with a franklin 6 cyld I think about 220 hp its a great plane short field and climbs like a monkey he can almost hang it on the prop like a rotary wing thingy and ecconomy cruise at about 100 to 110 knt any faster gets expensive he said I havent seen the 750 in real life yet but will at the next airshow down here, be good enjoy your flying cheers Kevin
At 7:13am on August 17, 2010, Normand Lambert said…
Hi Bob,

You're right, it has to be done from underneath. Jacks will be used OR 3 guys lifting each a wheel at the same
time. For the 701, I think that each wheel should weight around 150lbs so it's still manageable. If heavier, I would try lifting the plane by the fuselage (sling around the fuse ) and then block the wheels while the plane floats in the air.

Nice challenge, I guess. Good luck !

Norm
At 4:37pm on August 9, 2010, Wayne Clagg said…
Hi Bob, I answered your comment on my page. I also posted a video on youtube today of
another takeoff if you are interested. Wayne
At 2:36pm on August 3, 2010, John Clarke said…
Hi Bob. Thanks for your suggestion about the fuel cap being the cause of the smell of fuel in my cockpit. A proper examination today with a very bright torch revealed showed up a leak where the pipe fitting comes out the bottom of the tank. With luck I'll have the aircraft back by Friday. The idea about the fuel cap is in my notes for future reference.

John.
At 10:34pm on July 1, 2010, Ron Leclerc said…
G'Day Bob

I guess the 750 is what you call progress! I purchased my 701 drawings back in 2006... so I've been at it for a while, I'm building as an amature built[scratch building] and I really look forward to making all of the parts... nothing like making a part and it actually works. I was quite skeptical at first... did not think that I could do it, now I would not have it any other way. This is the best part about scratch building!

I did not build the Rudder first as they tell you to do... I built the Firewall first which I had no problem doing! I had never worked with aluminum before so that was a bit of an education to get started... but after a few parts I was on a real roll. Now after building the Firewall first... I find that building the rest of the 701 is a snap. One problem when I'm building now, is I'm always looking at making the 701 better... if you can imagine - how can that be done, to a pretty good palne as it is!

Since the 750 came out I have had a chance to review some of the features and will include them in the 701 build. I like the 750 wing... so I've changed my wing to match the 750, along with the stabilizer/elevator. The wing has some nice features I really like... such as the rear spar channel[4 pieces] which is a hell of a mess on the 701[14 pieces]... lots a bloody work for nothing and the skinning is better. You get a straighter, stronger wing with less work. It also is 50mm deeper at the aft trailing edge... ie longer chord! I also added 2.5' to the overall length and made the stabilizer/elevator a full 8' to keep the same wing-stablizer/elevator ratio in tact. If you do one... you have to do the other also.

One area that I'm trying to get straightened out is the size of the streamlined tubing for my spreader bars and struts on the floats... the numbers seem to be all over the place, but then that seems to be the same with a lot stuff when building.

Well Bob... nuff for tonight, keep in touch,
Ron
At 9:14am on June 29, 2010, Andre Levesque said…
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info. I just got off the phone with a TC representative and he tells me the rules is the same for AULA 1232lbs and amateur built 1350lbs..... the floats have to be calculated as part of the max gross weight and NO allotment on top for either options.
i asked them for a LINK to see it in writing for TC but I'm still waiting for that link.

Man o man... how difficult to get info that is common to all their representatives.

Andre
At 8:23pm on June 16, 2010, Richard Benson said…
Bob,

Thanks for your insight. I think that the use of a 912S is a no-brainer in my application for all of the reasons that you mentioned. I hope that you are able to get IKIM in the air in the air in the near future and start enjoying it. Please keep all of us informed on your flight testing and performance data.
Where is your home in Ontario?

Rich
At 4:48pm on June 15, 2010, Richard Benson said…
Hi Bob,

I'm currently working my way through a 750 kit and I need to make an engine decision. I am trying to decide between the 3300 and the 912. I'm thinking that the Rotax might be easier to cool here on our average 95 degree Florida summer day, but I don't want to sacrifice performance to the Jabaru. My question concerns the difference in performance in the two installations. Have you had a chance to fly either C-CLXT or C-IKIM and compare the performance to the Jabaru birds? I know that many of us are interested in the rate of climb and cruise comparison under similar conditions between these two. We all value your opinion, so please let us know what your impressions and data are.

Thanks,

Rich
Ocala, Florida
At 12:05am on March 24, 2010, Debra and Patrick Nesbitt said…
I can relate, so happens my cowling had to go back to the painter as the colour was off from the fuselage. Anyway got the engine started today, just having problem setting the carbs. Off to Rotec in the moring for a crash course on setting them, then 3 hour drive to the airport and try again. Once that's done we are ready togo. Yes James has quite the eye.

Pat

View All Comments

 
 
 

Subcribe to Zenair News

Zenair News is the official newsletter for builders and owners of Zenith aircraft. Now in color, and FREE bonus DVD with every issue!

New from Zenith:

NEW super-bright LED lights for your Zenith:

These Zenair-branded 3-way wingtip-mounted LED lights from AeroLED are the brightest and highest quality LED lights available on the market today. Available at a great price exclusively for Zenith builders and owners.

The official Zenith Aircraft DVD has been updated with new footage and features, and now includes the STOL CH 750 and the ZODIAC CH 650.

© 2010   Created by Zenith.Aero.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service