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JG Ginther
  • Male
  • Burke, VA
  • United States
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JG Ginther added 2 photos
December 22, 2009
JG Ginther added a blog post
As I continue to meditate on the recommended grounding of my 601XL, I find myself more frequently browsing the ads in Barnstormer. One caught my eye today for a Ballistic Recovery Chute for $1200. My mind then wandered to a concept learned many year…
November 13, 2009
JG Ginther added 2 blog posts
November 9, 2009
JG Ginther added 3 photos
June 12, 2009
JG Ginther added a blog post
I had set off for a day of pattern practice in the hopes of smoothing out my take-offs and landings in the Zenith. The events of the day proved I needed the practice and I learned something about the Zenith 601 XL in the process. It was my second t…
June 12, 2009
JG Ginther added a blog post
There is the Garmin, pilotage, dead reckoning and now the nose. My flight was to the eastern shore of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and a little town called Crisfield. I had read about Crisfield and thought it would be a perfect place to locate my boat…
May 29, 2009
Thanks for the post Stephen - It is great to hear about people enjoying their XL. James
May 5, 2009
JG Ginther added a blog post
It was easy to find the Farmville, Virginia Municipal Airport (right next door to the Farmville Municipal Golf Course) because it was the only thing down there in the very heart of Virginia. My trip was 109nm from my base at Potomac Airfield in Mary…
April 27, 2009
JG Ginther added a blog post
I found this today on Trade-a-Plane: 2008 AMD ZODIAC CH601XL. Like new. 50-TTAE, Dyno dual glass panel. Garmin VHF, TXP, GPS-396, XM Weather, many other extras. Was $89,000, now $69,000. Is this rational or is it fear? Without knowing anything abo…
April 22, 2009
JG Ginther added a blog post
I flew my Zodiac XL from Potomac Airfield across the Chesapeake Bay to Cambridge Maryland. It was my first long flight in the airplane since purchasing it and the first flight since learning that the plane was recommended for grounding. It seemed I…
April 20, 2009
JG Ginther added a photo
Golden Zen
April 14, 2009

Profile Information

Aircraft Model
ZODIAC XL
Project Status
Flying
Building From
Purchased finished aircraft
Building Experience
No Experience
Flying Experience
Private Pilot
Profession / Employer / Background Info
Educator

JG Ginther's Photos

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JG Ginther's Blog

JG  Ginther

Opportunity Cost: Mods or BRS System

As I continue to meditate on the recommended grounding of my 601XL, I find myself more frequently browsing the ads in Barnstormer. One caught my eye today for a Ballistic Recovery Chute for $1200. My mind then wandered to a concept learned many years ago in an Economics class. The concept of opportunity cost - if I spend my money on mods, I will not be able to spend it on other things. Whatever I don't buy because of the mods represents an opportunity cost of the mods.

I still don't have any go… Continue

Posted on November 13, 2009 at 2:30pm — 10 Comments

JG  Ginther

Cash for Clunkers: What is my Zodiac Worth?

Unlike many of you, I didn't build my Zodiac. It was built in a factory in the Czech Republic and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have the bent bicycle wheel that I attempted to straighten and the cable tv box I blew up with a little handy homeowner outlet I installed. No one wants me building or fixing an airplane. So I read the letter and learn there is going to be a tidy little "kit" to install and exorcise the demon in the machine. A kit sure sounds pretty easy. I then turn to the Zenith… Continue

Posted on November 9, 2009 at 10:43am — 9 Comments

JG  Ginther

The Zodiac Solution: Training Wheels on a Motorcycle

I flew my Zodiac three hours Saturday enjoying a breezy fall morning following the ridge line of the Shenendoah. The plain flew beautifully, hands-off for the most part, and passed its four hundredth hour of flight (70 with me at the helm). Little did I know that it might be my last flight for a while. As I was dancing in the clouds, others were buy putting the finishing touches on their effort to ensure my "safety." The NTSB, FAA, Zenith, The Associations and several foreign bodies had designed… Continue

Posted on November 9, 2009 at 10:04am — 10 Comments

JG  Ginther

Zenith Wheelbarrow

I had set off for a day of pattern practice in the hopes of smoothing out my take-offs and landings in the Zenith. The events of the day proved I needed the practice and I learned something about the Zenith 601 XL in the process.

It was my second trip around the pattern at Warrenton-Fauquier airport (HWY) in rural Virginia. It is the airport where I earned my wings in 2000 and seemed like a good place to practice in my new airplane. On this particular landing, I touched down OK but made the mis… Continue

Posted on June 12, 2009 at 10:51am — 3 Comments

JG  Ginther

You can smell it from 500 feet at 90kts

There is the Garmin, pilotage, dead reckoning and now the nose. My flight was to the eastern shore of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and a little town called Crisfield. I had read about Crisfield and thought it would be a perfect place to locate my boat for the season and fly there for mini vacations. All of the descriptions I read about Crisfield commented on the charm of a "salty" fishing village. At 500 ft a different tale was told - something missing from the descriptions. Crisfield smells. As I… Continue

Posted on May 29, 2009 at 9:36am — 1 Comment

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At 7:53pm on June 13, 2009, Chumphol Sirinavin said…
Last April must have been bad for CH601 builders/owners. Since school days, I have learned of aircraft accidents all along history of flight. Orville and Lt.Selfridge had a big one, and I have had many bad landings to walk away from, including many close calls. Determination and Stubborn do share the same coin.

Keep up your good writing, and I can do without Sunday papers supplements.

Thanks.

Champ
At 12:00pm on May 3, 2009, John Cange said…
JG,
I wanted to ask you how you liked the "Y" stick. If I had to do all over again, I'd get one with dual sticks, I think. The Y stick is a real challenge when you're in turbulence and you need to do something, like change radio frequencies, with your right hand. It just seems like your right hand is totally comitted to flying the plane, where if you had dual sticks managing instruments would be so much easier.
John
At 12:46pm on April 30, 2009, Dr. Edward M. Moody II said…
Nope not yet. I'm a pretty good dog if you feed me right, so I have played by the rules. We have an aerobatic contest going on at my airport this weekend and I won't do a first flight with high performance planes doing practice routines up in the box. I'll get there when the weather and cicumstances are right for it. I've waited like an adult for 37 months already, so.... what's another week or two among friends?

Stand by for the update though. I didn't build this to be a museum piece.

Ed
At 4:30pm on April 27, 2009, John Cange said…
Also, I like the gold. I remember when I was looking, and I saw that gold, I had a couple people look at it, and it is really quite intruiging.
Also, it seems like I saw that airplane on some Zenith sites.
Keep up the good writing. It seems to be uplifiting to everyone.
At 11:55am on April 27, 2009, John Cange said…
JG, you should really start a journal. You're a great writer. Also, I found out who built your plane. DEFELICI DAN. I think he's involved in the sportcruiser now. http://www.czaw.cz/files_downloads/mags/EAA_SportPilot_10-2006.pdf
At 4:10pm on April 20, 2009, Dr. Edward M. Moody II said…
I understand what you mean. The symbols we should be reacting to were in Philadelphia however. Those were the guys who risked it all and from whom we reaped the benefits of freedom. DC rose from the mud of a swamp during John Adams' presidency and frankly it is more of a swamp in many ways today.

Thanks for the kind words about the Goose. My dad is as agravated as me... he's been working with me side by side and waiting patiently for his chance to fly in it. I hope the swamp dwellers don't mess with his dreams for too long. He doesn't deserve that.

Ed
At 7:43am on April 16, 2009, John Cange said…
Yes, DD was one of the owners of Czech Aircraft works, or he worked there.. but that was his plane. I even remember something about it having an extra alternator.
At 4:30pm on April 15, 2009, John Cange said…
Jg, I think I recall seeing your airplane for sale down in Florida back in 2007 when I was looking. I actually talked to DD on the tail. Can't remember his name tho. Don't feel stupid about buying. We're all in this together. What's frustrating is Zenith's lack of response to the rash of crashes in their airplane and more importantly the loss of life. Zenith's reputation is at stake here, and the whole avaiation community is talking about this. It won't do them any good to shy away from this again.
 
 

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