Jonathan Porter's Posts - Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers2024-03-19T06:24:07ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorterhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2131505748?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://zenith.aero/profiles/blog/feed?user=2ny7z7fwmu7r1&xn_auth=noOne Week Wonder - Chapter Ten - Thunderbirds are GO! (but only after the One Week Wonder!)tag:zenith.aero,2014-08-25:2606393:BlogPost:3757432014-08-25T16:30:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>With the FAA paper finally in hand, the shout came out from Charlie 'Move that plane NOW!'. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Thunderbirds (you know the F16s that display really well), were ready to do their display to close the whole weeks events... but they couldn't. The crowds were on the line, and the planes had their jet engines running, but they were not being given the 'GO!' until after the One Week Wonder did its first ever 'under its own power' taxi. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370411?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></p>
<p>There…</p>
<p>With the FAA paper finally in hand, the shout came out from Charlie 'Move that plane NOW!'. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Thunderbirds (you know the F16s that display really well), were ready to do their display to close the whole weeks events... but they couldn't. The crowds were on the line, and the planes had their jet engines running, but they were not being given the 'GO!' until after the One Week Wonder did its first ever 'under its own power' taxi. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370411?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>There was only a little problem. Five hundred yards. A host of airplanes in the way - and crowds waiting to watch the Thunderbirds... but there would be no 'Go!' for those F16s until one little CH750 did a dance - with the physical touch, contact and input of two thousand five hundred builders pulsating in every molecule of 6061 T6 and 4130 steel of the machine. Not one wire went in without the touch of many, and so that plane would make it to the show... it really would...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Chris Heintz sat in the plane, side-saddle, and the One Week Wonder die hards chanted One Week Wonder, One Week Wonder as they pushed the plane all the way to the show line. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>A large show line bouncer tried to stop the parade - but it passed him by, as he shouted 'you can't go there - it is time for the Thunderbirds!'. Little did he realize that the Thunderbird team had a vested interest in the little, unpainted, newly hatched aircraft that was about to make its first major public performance. No person ever becomes a pilot, nor engineer without first being inspired - and so, just perhaps, a future pilot of the Thunderbirds had recently pulled a rivet in that little plane that was heralding their performance! And so they waited patiently in line for N140WW...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It took a few moments, and as the crowds parted to allow the entourage to pass, the Thunderbirds engines could be heard at the end of the main runway, not impatient to fly, but shouting their encouragement to the One Week Wonder aircraft to reach its goal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once the crowd was back behind the line, and safety was ensured, a loud 'CLEAR PROP' and 'Clanker, clanker, clanker'... the engine didn't start. We don't know why, but the engine didn't fire as it had earlier (probably the battery was a little low from having the widescreen TVs running for so long during the FAA inspection - after all, we have to blame the FAA for something!) </p>
<p> </p>
<p>A few seconds passed as the One Week Wonder team held their breath. Then, Roger, pressed the start button once again, it took just two turns of the prop for the Rotax 912iS Sport to come to life, calling back across the airfield to the jet engines of the Thunderbirds. 'I am alive, and I will dance' it shouted! It was almost magical to think that less than a week ago this airplane was nothing more than a set of parts in a box, and the imagination of a small group, led on by the Spirit Of Building Aircraft.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370440?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>With announcements coming over the speakers, the little plane made a proud display around the apron, shaking her tail, and waggling her control surfaces... finally, she came to a standstill, shutting down face-to-face with Chris, Caleb and the entire team. Smiles spilled out like M&Ms from the factory storage bins... sweet, multi-colored and full of happiness. Thumbs went up, and the ONE WEEK WONDER cheer was echoed along the show line.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370950?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370950?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>N140WW was now the front drop to the Thunderbirds as they blasted down the runway, afterburners saluting the latest aircraft to be born. </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231371088?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231371088?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>It had been done, but this was only the beginning. The One Week Wonder aircraft is set to be making its way around the country, saluting the world, thanking its builders and sowing seeds of inspiration and passion in many more than it did during it's 'pregnancy week' of Oshkosh 2014...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Long live the Spirit Of Building Aircraft and long live the ONE WEEK WONDEEEER!</p>
<p></p>
<p>So, what shall we do NEXT YEAR!?</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Next, see <a href="http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/2014-08-5-One_Week_Wonder_Makes_First_Flight" target="_blank">First Flight</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Nine - The Day of the FAAtag:zenith.aero,2014-08-24:2606393:BlogPost:3756622014-08-24T10:30:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Arriving on the Sunday morning, nobody felt 'not tired', but everybody felt 'totally exhilarated'. The One Week Wonder sat out front, like a toddler about to go out in it's push chair for the first time, full of anticipation, ready for an adventure - but looking so innocent and unprepared.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was 99% ready, and with just 50% left to go! But that 50% was going to be a challenge... Then, they came with a black plastic bag and a remote control unit for the countdown clock. It…</p>
<p>Arriving on the Sunday morning, nobody felt 'not tired', but everybody felt 'totally exhilarated'. The One Week Wonder sat out front, like a toddler about to go out in it's push chair for the first time, full of anticipation, ready for an adventure - but looking so innocent and unprepared.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was 99% ready, and with just 50% left to go! But that 50% was going to be a challenge... Then, they came with a black plastic bag and a remote control unit for the countdown clock. It was the time thieves. They had been sent by the EAA management to reset the clock. First, they covered up the one day remaining... then realizing that did not put the right pressure on the team, they reset the countdown to just seven hours. At 15:00, the clock would show 00:00:00 and it would all be over. Just seven hours - and there were no doors, no seats, not all the rivets had been pulled - it was a long shot... but where there is the Spirit Of Building Aircraft, there is a way. And the 'force was strong' in the team. I am sure that Yoda was sitting somewhere, giggling about the stealing of Time. Perhaps, just perhaps, some magical bubble would engulf the One Week Wonder stand and make it all happen... or, perhaps everyone would make that extra effort... if only the weather would hold.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>One team worked on the doors, another under the fuselage, another on the fuel system, another on the wing roots, another on the registration letters and a data plate, for those are a requirement too! The FAA Man was coming, and so the team must be ready...</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231380942?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231380942?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>There were still rivets to be pulled - and some eager 'builders' to pull them... there were more youngsters, and also some Thunderbird 5 crew chiefs - with their '5' badge deliberately sewn on 'inverted'.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381174?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381174?profile=original" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Airshow performer extraordinaire Melissa Pemberton came back, and hung with the team for as long as she could, chatting at length with Patricia from Ghana. Melissa travels to Ghana to fly with Patricia, and flew the Rotax powered camera ship that filmed Patricia flying the Rotax 912iS powered CH701 (the first Zenith worldwide to fly with the Rotax 912iS, which Patricia installed). They talked about flying, engines and inspiration to children. Melissa wanted to pull a rivet, sign the builders log and share some stories with the crowd that had now grown to the size of a small town. And so she did, for this was a day of making wishes come true.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381611?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381611?profile=original" width="601" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then a storm came through - everything got wet, drenched, people were out holding down wings on aircraft all around, crowds took shelter in the One Wonder Tent, where just hours before it was a delivery room for the new baby now sitting out in the rain. Nonetheless, the front moved past and the sun revived the spirits, and work continued.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Necessary tasks were done in broad daylight, with full participation of the crowd. Fuel test, weight and balance, engine checks, and tidying up those last little niggles.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381694?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>With a big crowd on hand, it was time to spread that Spirit Of Building Aircraft wide, and well. So, advantage was taken of being able to describe every step - all in the midst of the crowd.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A narrative was established: 'Rob is doing the final checks on the Rotax 912iS Sport. This is based on the 25 year old, proven and reliable concept of the Rotax 912 aircraft engine series, but updated to an ultra modern, light and powerful engine. With dual ECU, that is Engine Control Units, dual injectors, dual ignition, dual electrical generators, dual rectifier/regulators, dual Manifold Temperature Sensors, dual Manifold Pressure Sensors, dual fuel pumps - in fact dual just about everything, and it uses the CANBus Aerospace protocols, just the same as the airliners' was 'shouted' out over the mobile boom box and into the crowd. Nuggets of information and inspiration, seeds that could land on the ears of anybody passing by, and some would grow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was time for the fuel flow test, and the crowds grew even bigger - waiting to hear the engine start for the first time. Never before has a two seat aircraft had so many observers as it 'pissed' fuel into a calibrated vessel, whilst being timed. The One Week Wonder passed its urological test with flying colors - the final fluid system was complete, sealed, and fully functional. Now, it was almost time for the final items of the build to be fitted, but not until after the preliminary engine test.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The crowd was pushed back ready for the 'first engine test' - nobody wanted to move, they just wanted to be near the airframe, to feel it's energy, to be a part of the event that had taken Oshkosh 2014 from 'an aviation event' to 'a life experience extraordinaire'. The engine would be run for a very short time, at low revs. Part of priming the fuel system, and frankly, just to see if it all worked. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rob warned that it 'might take a few turns before it started' since the fuel system is run at 45psi, with a maximum of 120litres per hour over the fuel rail (about 32USgal), but whilst simply consuming a mere 12 to 13litres (about 3 US gallons) per hour in cruise flight. Exactly the same configuration as any modern motor car engine - a fuel rail run over a series of injectors that sip the fuel for maximum efficiency and reduced emissions. </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381897?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p> </p>
<p>One lady, not the youngest in the crowd, but standing at the front, eyes pinned on the machine before her, started muttering about 'aircraft engines are always hard to start the first time'. Then, as the start procedure was undertaken, everybody was thrilled when the engine didn't even miss a beat, as it fired up and ran as smoothly as sewing machine that had just been oiled. 'Tickity, Tickity, Tickity'. The lady in the front row shouted 'Yay, first time and SOOOOOO SMOOOTH, I want one'. The seeds of inspiration, the change in perception about aviation and building aircraft being 'complicated' were being dispelled - dissolved like soluble aspirin- and it also could be seen to clear the head of many who had never seen an engine fired up for the first time!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The only difficult part of aviation is convincing people that it is not difficult! But that was being achieved.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Spirit Of Building Aircraft was getting stronger, infecting more and more, and the emotions were running higher than cruise level for the SR71 Blackbird!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As the team started to drain the fuel ready for weight and balance, and fix the final components, the scales were brought out to weigh the aircraft. Weight and Balance calculations are essential for safe flight. If the centre of gravity is too far forwards, then the plane will tend to dive and drop the nose heavily on landing. If too rearwards, the plane is likely to tail strike, and could become very dangerous in flight. It must be 'just right', regardless of the size of the aircraft. As the team 'weighed in', Patricia and a young lady from the crowd demonstrated what centre of gravity meant, by using a simple plank of wood and small fulcrum made from a scrap of wood. The opportunity to educate the crowd was greater than anticipated, and they soaked up the knowledge like sponges dried in the desert and then dropped in the sea. Everybody was waiting for the numbers to be called on the CofG, to know whether any extra work was to be needed (moving the battery or adding a weight in an appropriate place). There was no need for fret, since the CH750 is a very 'tolerant aircraft' and the C of G was bang where it needed to be!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At this point, there was a magic moment. One of many, but one that was missed by the majority. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let me share it with you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Patricia and Melissa were standing back in the corner, watching the final checks, when, a young lady, about 11 years old, could be seen to crane her neck to get a better look from 'behind the masses'. When invited forwards, her mother and father explained that 'Emma has been coming here every day this week to see how the One Week Wonder Project is coming on. We are building another aircraft at home, as a family, but she likes this one.' This youngster had been taking in all the details of the engine run, the aircraft build, the facts and figures. Although young, she was ready to learn, to be encouraged, to be inspired - and that is something that we must NEVER overlook, nor underestimate. Furthermore, it transpired that Melissa had sent autographed photographs of her aerobatic plane to the young lady, after she had written to her. Emma was clearly overwhelmed to see her 'air show heroine' standing next to her 'airplane love'. They crossed the bunting line and stood with the plane for photographs, the emotion in Emma's face enough to stop a Sherman Tank in its tracks. Watching the scene from inside the tent, Marc from Rotax came forwards, and looked at the ensemble, he bent down and told Emma that 'Rotax will support you in building a Rotax powered Zenith aircraft', and a makeshift voucher towards the purchase of an engine was produced, e-mails exchanged and the world invested in an aviatrix of the future. Emma's mother could be seen to be as emotional as her daughter, and the proud father was clearly caught off guard. It was not about the One Week Wonder... it was about people, young, old, boys and girls, men and women. About touching lives, inspiring and making the world a better place through the motivation and inspiration that only the Spirit Of Building Aircraft appears to have.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Back to the coal face, the team were pushing to get those last jobs completed... eyes were scanning for anything that The FAA Man would not like.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The clock was ticking down, and there was less than two hours to go.. the team had not quite finished when 'The FAA Man' came along. He looked serious, he walked serious, he talked serious, and his name was Bobby Thomas. Bobby has an interesting link to this whole concept having been involved in the last 'Build a plane at Oshkosh' event in 1976, when Chris Heintz built a plane in 8 days (when Oshkosh was a bit longer... so actually in 7 and a bit days...). All the same, he was not being 'lenient' nor 'compassionate' in any way, whatsoever. Remember, he was, is and always will be 'The FAA Man'. And that is a good thing, really, it is.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bobby set his eagle eye over EVERYTHING. He had to. This was something that needed inspection to the top notch - and all in the public eye as well... The FAA Man asked for some little things to be done here and there, and they were completed as he walked around. He didn't smile, but he did have a determined face on. He wanted to do a thorough job, and he wanted the team to win, but only by the rules.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Finally, he asked for a full engine test. The crowds were pushed back, the clock was ticking down to just minutes to go... But Bobby was not happy. He wanted the crowds further back, and an immovable barrier in front of the aircraft in case it jumped the chocks. The crowds were not co-operating, they wanted to be close to the machine when its heart started to beat. Safety prevented such things, and the delays were putting completion in time in jeopardy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With nothing left but 'orders', the cry was given out 'BY ORDER OF THE FAA YOU MUST MOVE BACK, MOVE BACK AND STAY BACK BY ORDER OF THE FAA'. Moses couldn't have parted the red sea any quicker. Those words 'BY ORDER OF THE FAA' were enough to make the crowd move like a model of fluid dynamics! Charlie drove his car in front of the One Week Wonder aircraft as 'an immovable barrier', and the start-up was called for. No aircraft has ever started so smoothly, nor sweetly, than the One Week Wonder, and the crowd responded with a cheer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bobby smiled, a little bit, almost unperceivable, but he smiled. There was less than five minutes to the 00:00:00 moment, and the end of the challenge.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Charlie, Bobby and Caleb moved to the back of the tent, and, as if planned, but definitely not, as the crowd counted down the last few seconds, 10...9....8....7...6...5...4...3...2...1.... the Charlie ran forward shouting, 'He signed off'. The crowd responded with 'ONE WEEK WONDEEEEEER'. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231428261?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>The One Week Wonder had completed by the deadline of 15:00 on the Sunday...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But that was not the end of the story... </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-nine-thunderbirds-are-go-but-only-after" target="_blank">See Chapter 10</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Eight - Day Six - Getting Wings...tag:zenith.aero,2014-08-23:2606393:BlogPost:3754882014-08-23T11:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p><font size="2">Saturday morning was a blur. Nobody could remember their own names </font>any more<font size="2"> - let alone whether they were coming or going... It was as if those 'patience pills' were affecting memory too! Thankfully, between everybody, everything was being accounted for, but the team were visibly slowing down. Caution was being applied, because everybody knew that it was better to miss the deadline than make a mistake that could jeopardise the long term benefits from…</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Saturday morning was a blur. Nobody could remember their own names </font>any more<font size="2"> - let alone whether they were coming or going... It was as if those 'patience pills' were affecting memory too! Thankfully, between everybody, everything was being accounted for, but the team were visibly slowing down. Caution was being applied, because everybody knew that it was better to miss the deadline than make a mistake that could jeopardise the long term benefits from this punctuation mark in aviation history. Measure twice and cut once was the order of the day.</font></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360685?profile=original" target="_self"><font size="2"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360685?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></font></a></p>
<p> <span style="font-size: 13px;">Doug the scratch builder finished mounting the flaperons and setting the washout - even if new pieces had to be hand made after a slight error... again the advantage of building with sheet metal and proof of such a great design. Final touches were made to the wing tips and lights... but the bull pen would then need to be rearranged. For some reason the right wing was on the left of the plane, and the left wing was on the right. Moving wings around in a smallish bull pen with spectators, volunteers, press and pipe and drum ensembles can only be likened to working on completing a Rubik's cube, in under five minutes, one handed.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Up, down, left, right, duck, dive, turn, lower - and watch out for the pitot tube connection on that left wing... it wasn't mayhem, it was co-ordinated, but it really was an extraordinary dance. Now, with the wings on the correct sides, the wind shield had to be fitted, and the windows... and the header tank... and, then that final life giving liquid couldn't go into the machine until wings were fitted, set and plumbed - and with barely one day left to run to the clock whispering loudly 'YOUR TIME IS NEARLY UP'. The team grasped better the meaning of a Damocles' Sword, for it seemed to be swinging wildly above the team on that final stretch laying between where they had reached and an FAA signed off, taxi under your own power aircraft!</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361062?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a></p>
<p>It was decided that the wings would be fitted INSIDE the bull pen, dihedral (angle up to increase stability) set, and then they would be removed and refitted OUTSIDE, ready for final plumbing and engine testing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Setting dihedral is relatively simple, you level the plane (letting a bit of air out of the relevant tyres is usually enough to make it right), then offer up the two wings, drill the wing roots to the cabin frame, and then set them at the correct angle to each other, and the cabin frame, as well as the planet. Of course, it become a bigger challenge when time is against you, and you have a few hundred people and a media team watching.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361062?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361062?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nonetheless, able bodied wing holders held those wings in place, whilst the angles were set and the wing struts (chunky aluminium extrusions) were cut and set to length for the desired angles. (Nobody had a free hand to photograph the inside setting, so we seem to only have the refitting outside <span>photo available)</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>With the day slipping away, and just a few rivets left to pull, it was time to take the wings off, and cordon off the outside area where final works would take place, ready for inspection in less than 24 hours. </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361277?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361277?profile=original" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>The sun was slipping lower in the sky, and Melissa Pemberton's Edge 540 could be seen tumbling downwards over the runway, just a few hundred yards away. Melissa was opening the Saturday night show, and with it she marked the start of a long evening of work for the engine team. Plumbing, wing roots, prop, header tank and a host of little bits suddenly, finally, COULD take place, in the failing light. Floodlights were run out and the amazing gift of mains power provided 'night sun' brightness to those who would burn their candles at both ends in the sprint towards the finish line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much later, as they worked on, and the night air show crowds departed, Melissa came by to see how the One Week Wonder was coming along... A pleasant late night support from the famous Air Show Performer, who had been following the progress of the One Week Wonder... Perhaps she spotted it coming out of the bull-pen in one of her twists and turns? It was a sight to behold after all!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Would it all come together in the morning? </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-seven-day-seven-the-faa" target="_blank">See Chapter 9</a></strong></p>
<p></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Seven - Day Five - First Words...tag:zenith.aero,2014-08-23:2606393:BlogPost:3754862014-08-23T09:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Friday... less than two days to go... </p>
<p><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231403174?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></p>
<p>everybody finally realized that somebody had been lying to the team - that clock was not right. This was not anything like a seven day challenge. Seven days would have given the team until 08:00 on Monday morning... BUT the organizers had this hidden agenda... the plane would be INSPECTED on the SUNDAY by the FAA... and needed full FAA certification before 15:00 on that very Sunday... so that a public taxi test could take…</p>
<p>Friday... less than two days to go... </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231403174?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>everybody finally realized that somebody had been lying to the team - that clock was not right. This was not anything like a seven day challenge. Seven days would have given the team until 08:00 on Monday morning... BUT the organizers had this hidden agenda... the plane would be INSPECTED on the SUNDAY by the FAA... and needed full FAA certification before 15:00 on that very Sunday... so that a public taxi test could take place! They needed to knock 17 hours off of the countdown!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With neither wing completed and the firewall forward team talking about 'when are we going to test the engine'- and 'The Caleb' saying "on Sunday morning" added to the stress - as did the ever increasing interest from the press and the public... Friday was a stressful day.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Jack Pelton came by and offered words of encouragement - saying that 'If Cessna had a team like this....', whether it was humour or fact, it was clear that Jack was impressed by the achievements...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231457455?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231457455?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The vertical stab had to be fitted, and the elevator cables routed. Clearances were tight, and a lot of discussion was taking place at the tail end. This was not helped by the fact that the cockpit crew kept hitting the stick, and then the levels were all off for setting the deflections. Never before in the building of an aircraft have so many people exhaled deeply, and not shouted at each other! Patience pills must have been slipped into the drinking water for the core team without their knowledge... Shouts of 'NOBODY TOUCH THE PLANE' were common place... BUT the tensions were growing on the riveting teams outside too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231463777?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>With a wing on the outside of the bull pen still being riveted off, the team on the inside wanted it finished to work on - but the public still wanted to pull rivets - and so the question was raised...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>'Is this about building a plane in six and a bit days, or is it about inspiring the next generation of aircraft builders?'... Yes, it was both... but the second aim was the real one - that was the desired impact of breathing the Spirit Of Building Aircraft into the air at Oshkosh 2014. That aim had already been met... The bull pen team remained oblivious to the facts, and pushed, pulled and ran wires relentlessly against the looming deadline.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Small children came with their parents - some too small to reach the rivets, needing to stand on the backs of volunteers who bent down to provide a make shift ladder for the future aviators and engineers of the world... 'Standing on the shoulders of those who came before...' took on a new meaning - and the shouting of the 'One Week Wondeeeeer' mantra grew, in volume, in numbers and in energy. Patricia worked on the wing tip electrics OUTSIDE, whilst the public were still riveting off the wing. This build was 'in the public domain' in more ways than had ever been anticipated.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for any child, first words are special. So, when Charlie Becker wanted to test the radio, we all knew that the Electronics team were under pressure too. The Dynon team came and watched, checked and made sure that the near IMAX experience cockpit was set, and then silence was called for. It was time to test the electronics. Charlie, with the widest grin of the week to date, called the tower and asked which frequency to use for a radio test... He read it back, and members of the public tuned their handhelds so that they too could listen. Using a twelve volt DC external supply the whole system was then powered up... The tension in the air was so crisp that you could snap it in your fingers... Then, Mike called 'we are waiting for the screens to boot'... and we waited... and waited... but they failed to boot. Something was wrong. Charlie stopped smiling for the first time in the whole week. Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, heads dropped, spirits sagged...</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231464200?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231464200?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Disappointment swept over the team and the whole crowd exhaled in unison, with a slight noise, reminiscent of a balloon being let down. The electronics team went silent as their eyes and fingers moved at speeds only to matched by electrons in a hurry. This build was following the actual events of any build</p>
<p>1. expectation</p>
<p>2. disappointment</p>
<p>3. determination</p>
<p>4. try again...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>all that was missing now were the final two phases,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>5. success and</p>
<p>6. exhilaration!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ten minutes later, it was time to try again. The electrical bus was powered up, and the first screen booted... it came alive, in Technicolor... a light, still unsure if it was real, cheer came from the crowd... then the second screen lit up likeTimes Square on New Years Eve... then the intercom permitted 'alive noises' between the Sennheiser headsets... the crowd seemed to be powered by a much greater voltage than the 12V bus of this plane. The whole team took energy from the moment. Success and exhilaration were now within the grasp of the One Week Wonder Team, the crowd and whole Spirit Of Building Aircraft!</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231539294?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231539294?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Silence was called for, once again, as the first radio call was to be made... The call was relayed over the intercom - and as the tower acknowledged clear comms, the shout of ONE WEEK WONDEEEEEER reached every corner of Wisconsin! The electrical team were happy - but there was much to be achieved still.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Caleb really wanted the wings on the plane by Friday night - but it was not going to happen. There was too much pressure and not enough hours - and all that electrical stuff had eaten up access time to the airframe too. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The day ended with everybody tense about the remaining full day and how much had to be achieved. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Saturday was going to be a busy day... but that is the next chapter... </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-seven-day-six-getting-wings" target="_blank">See Chapter 8</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Six - Day Four - The day of Cake.tag:zenith.aero,2014-08-22:2606393:BlogPost:3754022014-08-22T11:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>With all the 'smaller surfaces' completed, day four was a day of looking for jobs for the core team not involved in the fuselage or left wing - there was no shortage of tasks - event the clearing up and sorting out the tools that had managed to have a party and get muddled up! </p>
<p></p>
<p>For those who had built Zenith Aircraft before, this seemed like an easy build - until they all realized that this was a CH750 Cruzer - so it was different. With less than a handful of Cruzers flying…</p>
<p>With all the 'smaller surfaces' completed, day four was a day of looking for jobs for the core team not involved in the fuselage or left wing - there was no shortage of tasks - event the clearing up and sorting out the tools that had managed to have a party and get muddled up! </p>
<p></p>
<p>For those who had built Zenith Aircraft before, this seemed like an easy build - until they all realized that this was a CH750 Cruzer - so it was different. With less than a handful of Cruzers flying at the time this plane was built, the team discovered that the detail in the design was new in many areas. One thing that was new to everybody was 'balancing the elevator and flaperons'.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Caleb kindly gave a team of volunteers a set of weights and said 'balance the elevator'. Easy... well... it would have been better with a drawing and some instructions... ('We are working on them' was the comment)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nonetheless, the principals were quickly established - and once initially set up, a quick eye over by Chris Heintz himself was proffered - who without a word simply used the following procedure:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Watch the team from a few yards away</p>
<p>2. Walk up and take hold of the elevator and hold it in the neutral position</p>
<p>3. Let go gently and see how well it 'stays in balance' (which it did)</p>
<p>4. Smile broadly, nod, make a happy 'hu hmmmm' sound and walk away to see the next item.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That is the inspection method of the 'man himself'.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The team realized that they needed to make sure that the weights were bolted in a particular orientation (they can go two ways) in order to enable sufficient movement of the control surface. Everybody was learning together on this one - and it was a moment of positive pride for designers, volunteers, core team and the factory gurus.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361147?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></p>
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361481?profile=original" width="490" class="align-left" height="652"/></p>
<p></p>
<p>Talking of wei<span style="font-size: 13px;">ght... the fourth day was the 'day of cake'. Patricia Mawuli, from</span> Ghana, <span style="font-size: 13px;">had her birthday at the event! Unbeknown to her, everybody knew it was her special day, and Charlie from the EAA had organized a special BIG cake for her. So we all got to sing, eat cake and to balance something - ourselves gaining wieight!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>As the day progressed, the horizontal surface was moved to the airframe, and bolted on. Time was taken to ensure that the surface of the horizontal stab was aligned with the cabin frame, and then work started on how to set up the control wires for proper elevator movement. This was complicated by people working in the cabin area!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The team tasked with fitting the flaperons to the wings got stuck in, until they found that they lacked a certain size drill bit for an angle head drill. Some quick running around and the kindness of the lady on the Avery Tools stand, and the right size stubby bit was in hand. Next up was the disaster. Having used the new, correct tool, to drill the hole for the bushing, the same drill was used on the Flaperon extrusion hinge... MISTAKE. Fortunately, the mistake was spotted after just one wrong hole was drilled. But this was a critical mistake and needed fixed. If the team had some more bushing material, it could have been overcome by a different bushing... but there wasn't... So, it was 'fix it time'. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>At this time, another Doug joined the build as a volunteer. Doug is a serial scratch builder and was ready to 'fix it'. Expertly, the flaperon segment was drilled open, and the wrong sized extrusion hinge drilled out, and replaced, then the flaperon riveted together again and drilled to the correct size. The joys of a metal plane with pop rivets! They are so forgiving, and anybody building a Zenith knows that, when necessary, 'calling the factory with a confession' is always a good plan! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The firewall forward team added hoses, clips, lines and anoth<span style="font-size: 13px;">er fluid to the mix; oil. There are three fluids necessary for a Rotax 912 to live... Coolant, Oil and Fuel... Coolant and oil were in the beast, but the fuel seemed a long way off... and it was.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The electrical team were well busy with wires and crimpers... in the cockpit and on the wing tips. The Zenith AeroLed lights on the wingtips provide a red port light with white rear light, and a green starboard light with a white rear light - all from the wing tips! A clever, wire and time saving, solution.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Finally, the cowling appeared to be 'fitted' but not fixed. The team were happy that it looked like the deadlines might actually be met... </p>
<p></p>
<p>The day was punctuated by some great visits - visits that boost all with a spirit of aviation around the world. The fact that Michael Heurta, the head of the FAA came to visit, talk to the team, pull some rivets AND sign the builders log, made everybody smile - especially Sebastien Heintz from Zenith,</p>
<p><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361835?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" style="font-size: 13px;"/></p>
<p></p>
<p>Then the Aircraft Spruce family couldn't resist coming by to pull some rivets too!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362157?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362157?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>As well as some veterans from World War II with stories to tell!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362377?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362377?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://Chapter%20Six%20-%20Day%20Five%20-%20First%20Words..." target="_blank">See Chapter 7</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Five - Day Three - The Joining of Parts Begins...tag:zenith.aero,2014-08-22:2606393:BlogPost:3755572014-08-22T10:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Day three was always going to be the day when we got an idea of where it was all going. Everybody was tired, already. The sprint had been done, and the plane looked like a plane... well almost - but this was not the time to give up - we had to hit the wall and keep on building! </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360868?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360868?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Work started on the flaperons, but it did not go…</span></p>
<p>Day three was always going to be the day when we got an idea of where it was all going. Everybody was tired, already. The sprint had been done, and the plane looked like a plane... well almost - but this was not the time to give up - we had to hit the wall and keep on building! </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360868?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360868?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Work started on the flaperons, but it did not go fast. There was a bit of confusion about the arrangement of the ribs v the tips - and the flaperon team went through several iterations to get it right. The volunteers really wished that the ribs for each side were more easily identified... as they shuttled parts back and forth across the table, in a fashion to make Joseph Jacquard jealous. Just like any build, something that looks simple can be deceivingly challenging!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Matco wheels were fitted - assisted by the Matco team themselves. It is always great when component suppliers are helpful, but it is special when they come personally to a project to see their product being put into use! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The mating of front and rear had to happen on this day. It was a non-event. The 750 mates really effortlessly! </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361601?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361601?profile=original" width="601" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362050?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a></p>
<p>The right wing team seemed to surge ahead at this point, and completed, minus a few hundred rivets, the right wing...and it was sent outside for 'public rivet participation' - albeit that they had not completed the wing tip wiring AND they had riveted off the wing root - which shouldn't have been done. A lesson learned for the left wing - for which parts were already being laid on a bench for!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Later in the day, the plane had to find its feet - and it did so with music from the US Border Patrol Pipes and Drums ensemble. They added a great deal of much needed pomp and ceremony - a boost to the team, raising spirits and pushing the project forwards. It also brought more interest from the crowds as they heard the bagpipe noise - I mean music, and came to see this new baby of skies reaching a critical milestone. They struck up their melody (it actually brought some people to tears) at the moment the wheels touched the ground for the first time.... the joy could only be compared to that of a parent watching a child stand unaided for the first time in its life.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362178?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a></p>
<p>The firewall forward team then swam across the bull pen like a shoal of piranhas.... they wanted to hang that 100Hp Rotax 912iS Sport engine on the front. It was a tense moment, as it always is... The engine mount looks so fragile with just four bolts holding the engine to the airframe... and so, the crowd grew - watching for that moment when the nose wheel stretches the nose gear bungee and the plane sits like a patient, and well behaved, dog, waiting for the masters orders to leap... (except that there were no wings...)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Plumbing of all the radiators and wiring was now 'top priority'. It looked like cardiac surgery with all the different people peering into the various orifices, some with pliers, other screwdrivers, and then Rob turned up with a bottle of pink coolant - reminiscent of a blood transfusion.... Life was being breathed, pumped and wired into the One Week Wonder.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362580?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362580?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Being a 'proper looking' plane the machine got more and more attention. The build crew's spirit was raised... we were 90% complete - if you looked at the project visually, but still had 90% left to go if you knew what was really to be done!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With the flaperons completed, sitting ready and waiting for a completed wing to be hung on - all control surfaces were just waiting to be added to their right places. Dr Frankenstein would have been proud of the team... If the tent had been struck by lightening, who knows what may have happened that night!</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-five-day-four-the-day-of-cake" target="_blank">See Chapter 6</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Four - Day Two - Drilling out rivetstag:zenith.aero,2014-08-22:2606393:BlogPost:3754592014-08-22T09:30:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>When the team arrived on day two they looked over the work from the day before... and noticed some mistakes. That happens on EVERY build. Every builder makes mistakes, so having some mistakes in One Week Wonder was to be expected... The mistakes were minor. Not all the rivets had pulled well - it happens - and some had been pulled that shouldn't have been yet - that happens too! So, as the volunteers for day two were lining up, the core team set about some minor fixes. It should be…</p>
<p>When the team arrived on day two they looked over the work from the day before... and noticed some mistakes. That happens on EVERY build. Every builder makes mistakes, so having some mistakes in One Week Wonder was to be expected... The mistakes were minor. Not all the rivets had pulled well - it happens - and some had been pulled that shouldn't have been yet - that happens too! So, as the volunteers for day two were lining up, the core team set about some minor fixes. It should be noted that even on the airliners rivets get drilled out... in all honesty thousands of them! So, to drill out a few rivets on a CH750 being built in a week is nothing exceptional. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is easy to do, just position a drill with a drill bit of the original hole size over the rivet head, and drill off the head. This is made even easier by the Zenith domed head rivet system. Then, you can simply 'punch the old body out', and hey presto, you have fixed the problem! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It didn't take long for the team to correct the minor mistakes from the day before, and then the building could be picked up once again.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361457?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361457?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The interminable clock ticked down, and the new set of volunteers in the bull pen had to quickly catch up with the concepts from the day before. All the same, sub assemblies and milestones were being met with increasing frequency. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Industry leaders and celebrities came by, as the One Week Wonder news spread across the airfield site. The Spirit of Building Aircraft insisted that these visitors to the event were drawn in and engaged in assisting the production of this new machine.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Desiree from Aircraft Spruce learned to drill holes and pull rivets.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361526?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361526?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p>Whilst Chris Heintz worked hand in hand with Patricia on pulling rivets. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231366532?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231366532?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>As the tempo built, the sponsors of this project suddenly realized that is was bigger than they thought and came around to encourage the teams to 'Keep Calm and Build the Plane'.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373499?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373499?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>As the day progressed, complacency was starting to build. It looked great - it looked as if completing in one week was going to be easy. But the team had to keep reminding themselves that the devil lives in the details... and as the day progressed, the build seemed to slow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 'big sections' had come together in a breeze, but the wiring, the plumbing, and the joining together. The setting of all the controls were still be done. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The firewall forward team were being very quiet as they were now fitting the expansion tank for coolant and other necessary items for the engine in place. Day two saw many people get to pull rivets, but not as many as should have. </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373537?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="400" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373537?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="398" class="align-left" height="266"/></a></p>
<p>And so the day came to a close with a very tired core team and just five days left to complete the machine.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By the end of day two, the right wing appeared to be running behind schedule - it was desperately needed for folkst to start pulling rivets en-masse... but a good cook is never rushed, and those wings had to be done right.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The horizontal stab and elevator were all but complete - but not balanced... and it was left with a number of rivets unpulled for the crowds to participate in.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Vertical stab was finished, as far as it could be without mounting to the fuselage.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The two fuselage halves were <i>almost</i> (almost is a big word when you are building an airplane!) ready to be joined together (mated to be more correct!).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The firewall forward team looked stressed, so we didn't ask too much about that side of things. As you say to children who taunt large dogs 'stay away if you want to keep your fingers!', and let's be honest, there was a lot of pressure on the firewall forward guys - they needed an airframe FIRST before they could start their work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was not as exciting as day 1... but it was exciting in seeing how stressed people could become about that ticking clock!</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-five-day-three-the-joining-of-parts" target="_blank">See Chapter 5</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Three - Day One - A Day of actiontag:zenith.aero,2014-08-22:2606393:BlogPost:3754552014-08-22T09:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>It was a tense moment, all of these people who didn't know each other - about to start in five minutes - building a plane in less than a week. They all stood awaiting the starters orders... and then they came, from Jack Pelton, the EAA Chairman. Jack comes from the illustrious aircraft manufacturer Cessna, and is now the leader of the EAA pack in feeding the worlds aviation spirit at a grass roots level.</p>
<p> …</p>
<p>It was a tense moment, all of these people who didn't know each other - about to start in five minutes - building a plane in less than a week. They all stood awaiting the starters orders... and then they came, from Jack Pelton, the EAA Chairman. Jack comes from the illustrious aircraft manufacturer Cessna, and is now the leader of the EAA pack in feeding the worlds aviation spirit at a grass roots level.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362182?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362182?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="500" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p>The crate was opened, and people watched... amazed to see that there were no surprises - it really was a kit of parts. Nothing was pre-assembled... this was the real deal... a proper challenge...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As with all aircraft builds, it only took about five minutes before the first band-aid was needed - a timely reminder that sheet metal must be respected - and also that these parts would need to be de-burred (the sharp edges from cutting and drilling removed).</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362560?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362560?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Parts were handed over the fence from the public area into the bull pen. Each part had a part number sticker on it - which included a letter identifying which aircraft sub assembly they would belong to. W for wings, R for Rudder, F for fuselage, etc. The clock ticked by, and nothing but unpacking and cleaning up was taking place.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373553?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373553?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Ambassadors started rivet training out the front of the tent. The Zenith Aircraft series use a simple 'pop' or 'blind' rivet, fitted using a specially adapted head on a rivet gun that 'domes' the head of the rivet to give strength and aerodynamics.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373713?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="400" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373713?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="400" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p>Volunteers were busy inventory checking and deburring, whilst others learned 'how to pull a rivet in 3 easy steps'. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>There were nearly ten thousand rivets to be pulled in the week... and the vast majority would be pulled by volunteers - most of whom had NEVER pulled a rivet before.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On that first day the team were asked ''why do you call it pulling a rivet'... to which the answer is simple; the rivet gun (whether manual or pneumatic) literally pulls a steel stem through a specially shaped aluminum body to create a fastening between two or more pieces of metal. At the end of the fastening process the rivet stem breaks off (since it is no longer needed) with a 'pop' sound... hence a 'pop' rivet. That, of course, led to the question 'why are they sometimes called 'blind' rivets... to which the answer is 'you do not need to see or work on both sides of the work piece... hence you are working 'blind' to the other side'. (This is different to a 'bucked rivet where you need to have a rivet hammer on one side and a bucking bar on the other.) Blind or pop rivets are one of the easiest, and amazingly strong, sheet metal fixations to set - and as shown, can be learned effectively in a very short time - by those of all ages and strengths! Each type of fixation has its advantages and disadvantages, and the aircraft designers must choose. Thankfully for the One Week Wonder Team, Chris Heintz was more interested in building strong planes that would build and fly well quickly, using the pop rivet system!</p>
<p></p>
<p>The clock ticked on, and the people who were learning how to pull a rivet were getting impatient - since there was no rivet pulling taking place! The team in the bull pen were still not ready to have any rivets pulled...</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374064?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374064?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Then, as if by magic, but really by virtue of the Zenith 'match hole technology', sub components started to come together. The holes in each part of the standard Zenith CH750 kit are pre-drilled to final size by very accurate CNC machine tools at the factory, prior to shipping. Once you have identified the correct parts to match up, using drawings and a comprehensive photo guide, you simply 'Cleco' the parts together and check that it all looks right (according to the drawings!).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Cleco (so called because it was originally designed by the <b>Cle</b>veland Pneumatic Tool <b>Co</b>mpany) simply acts as a temporary fixation. You can see them on the top of the practice sheet above, and all over the parts in future images. They simply clip into place, roughly in every third hole, to hold the pieces together waiting for the rivets to be pulled to make the final assembly. Once rivets are pulled in the holes between the Clecos, the Clecos are removed and rivets take their place for a final, complete, and very strong structure.</p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374041?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="400" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374041?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="400" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p>The first afternoon actually saw quite a few pieces come together, and the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) were keen to see how this was all going to happen. The team pulled those officials into the bull pen to help! Some FAA staff members were quickly pulling rivets on a fuselage panel, working between the Clecos. Each volunteer puller was asked to sign their rivet also!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To add to the challenge, a group of young people worked on the horizontal tail (that is the horizontal stabilizer and the elevator), led by Patricia Mawuli. Patricia is relatively new to building aircraft, having grown up in a mud hut in West Africa, fetching water on her head each morning. Just eight years ago she asked for a job on the Kpong Airfield in Ghana, and learned to build, fly, and maintain aircraft. (She is also a flying instructor and Rotax iRMT instructor!)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374293?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374293?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Not only was this build international in flavor, but it was also about family unity, and the Rudder team had a grandfather, son and grandson working together on it. That family already planning to build their own CH750, and this was a great moment for three generations to volunteer into the bull pen as part of the One Week Wonder!</p>
<p>To ensure that the project was on track, the back of the bull pen had a progress chart, surmounted by the countdown clock... Each sub assembly was ticked off as it was considered complete during the build.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> B<span style="font-size: 13px;">y the end of day one the teams had achieved</span></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>Rear fuselage major structure cleco'ed together and about half the rivets pulled.</li>
<li>Front fuselage outline structure cleco'ed together and a few rivets pulled</li>
<li>Firewall forward had the firewall put together and cleco'ed</li>
<li>Right wing had all ribs in place, and bottom skin roughly fixed</li>
<li>Horizontal tail had the stabilizer almost completed and elevator started</li>
<li>Rudder was completed.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>After ten hours straight building, everybody was happy... tense, but happy. The team, volunteers, ambassadors and general public all headed out to find something to eat, to sleep and to prepare for the next day.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-four-day-two-drilling-out-rivets" target="_blank">See Chapter 4</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter Two - A CAST OF THOUSANDStag:zenith.aero,2014-08-20:2606393:BlogPost:3752602014-08-20T17:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Over the week over two thousands five hundred people were involved in the build - and signed the builders log - the worlds biggest builders log! But it was down to a core team, and a lot of organization to make the week come together...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>THE</b> <b>CORE</b> <b>TEAM</b><b>:</b> This is the team that were practically full time in the Bull Pen - that place where the machine was being brought to life. It should be noted that the core team had not met before the day... they…</p>
<p>Over the week over two thousands five hundred people were involved in the build - and signed the builders log - the worlds biggest builders log! But it was down to a core team, and a lot of organization to make the week come together...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>THE</b> <b>CORE</b> <b>TEAM</b><b>:</b> This is the team that were practically full time in the Bull Pen - that place where the machine was being brought to life. It should be noted that the core team had not met before the day... they didn't all know each other... they were different folks, all with very different strokes. But, they all had one goal, to show the world that the Spirit Of Building Aircraft was alive, well and pulling rivets at Oshkosh 2014!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Let's meet the Core Team (if I missed somebody, please let me know!)</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Name</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>From</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Background</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Task</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Caleb</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Missouri, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Aeronautical Engineer at Zenith Aircraft</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To keep the project on track</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Roger</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Missouri, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Test Pilot and build instructor at Zenith Aircraft</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To answer technical questions and dive in where necessary</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Steve</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Missouri, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Works in the Zenith Aircraft Factory</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Lead teams on the wings and fix whatever might need fixed</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Doug</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>California, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Serial Aircraft builder</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To guide volunteers in their project sections and fill the gaps</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Tracey</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Wisconsin, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Aircraft designer, builder and painter</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To guide volunteers in their project sections and fill the gaps (and later paint the aircraft!)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Philip</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>South Africa</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Zenith rep in South Africa, serial aircraft builder and aircraft fanatic</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To guide volunteers in their project sections and fill the gaps</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Rob</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Canada</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Rotax Rep in Canada</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Engine Installation team leader</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Mike</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Minnesota, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>SteinAir panel builder</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Electrical installations</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Dan</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Minnesota, USA</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>SteinAir avionics guru</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Electrical installations</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Jonathan</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Ghana, West Africa</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Zenith and Rotax rep, and serial aircraft builder in West Africa</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To shout, encourage and support the teams and fix whatever he could</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="164" valign="top"><p>Patricia,</p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Ghana, West Africa</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>Zenith and Rotax rep in West Africa avid serial aircraft builder and aviation fanatic</p>
</td>
<td width="164" valign="top"><p>To work with the youth teams in building sections and any other build or installation job that comes along</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>SUPPORTING CAST IN THE</b> <b>BULL</b> <b>PEN:</b> In addition, the Bull Pen had the 'overseers'; the Zenith Aircraft designer, Chris Heintz, 76 years young was there to keep an eye on things - pulling a few rivets and passing a critical eye over every aspect of the build of this new baby. Retired, Chris's vision lives on through his sons, three of whom were actively present in the bull pen during the week, Sebastian (President and CEO of Zenith Aircraft Company), Matt and Nick (from Zenair in Canada). </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>THE AMBASSADORS:</b> Ambassadors are people who have experience in building planes and work out 'front of house' to teach wannabe builders how to pull a rivet and answer questions. They took shifts and worked the crowds... introducing many more people to pulling rivets than those who actually pulled a rivet on the aircraft. EAA's Ron Wagner was in charge of the ambassadors, and it was EAA's Charlie Becker, Homebuilt Community Manager, who seemed to run around non-stop to make the whole project a 'go'. Charlie made sure that everything ran smoothly from the air supply to the sandwiches - and a birthday cake - he was active in and out of the bull pen all week. </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361866?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361866?profile=original" width="316" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>THE PUBLIC:</b> What an amazing crowd that was... from freshly hatched babies through juveniles to full grown humans. They came in all sizes, boys, girls, men and women - and from so many countries that the United Nations may have considered sending an official 'jealousy card'. Seriously, it was as if the whole world had joined hands on this project. They came and they filled the One Week Wonder with WONDEROURS moments. </p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-three-day-one-a-day-of-action" target="_blank">See Chapter 3</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Chapter One - BEFORE THE EVENTtag:zenith.aero,2014-08-20:2606393:BlogPost:3750232014-08-20T17:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>We all know that any project of the magnitude of the One Week Wonder has to be planned. This event started well in advance of the 28th July 2014 deadline - but not that many months in advance. The team had to get all the parts for the project together, and a suitable space available to build the machine! But that is no different, whatsoever, to any other aircraft project.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Clearly, all aircraft build projects require parts - quantity and type based on your project. Once…</p>
<p>We all know that any project of the magnitude of the One Week Wonder has to be planned. This event started well in advance of the 28th July 2014 deadline - but not that many months in advance. The team had to get all the parts for the project together, and a suitable space available to build the machine! But that is no different, whatsoever, to any other aircraft project.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Clearly, all aircraft build projects require parts - quantity and type based on your project. Once you have decided on the airframe, engine and avionics, those parts must be ordered, and delivered to your build site. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the case of the One Week Wonder, the team chose to build a Zenith CH750 Cruzer with a 100Hp fuel injected Rotax 912iS Sport engine, furthermore they had to get a range of other parts and tools together, in advance of the start of the project:</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>THE AIRFRAME:</b> In Mexico Missouri, USA. The proud Zenith crew prepared a standard Zenith CH 750 Cruzer kit - ready to ship - exactly the same as for any other builder...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361805?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231361805?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The CH750 Cruzer offers a builder what is known as 'match hole' technology. That means that many of the holes are already drilled to size, and simply need cleaning up of the edges, being cleco'ed together, and some final drilling, some further deburring and then riveting together. It is one of the privileges of living in the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) production world. Zenith has CNC routers and folders that make sure that each part is produced to the highest standards, and the team at the factory put love and care into each and every part produced, labeled, packed and shipped.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>THE ENGINE: </b></p>
<p>The Rotax 912 series of engines have just celebrated their 25th anniversary - and the very first engine produced is still flying! The 912iS Sport is the latest engine in the Rotax 912 range and offers state of the art operation, with dual ignition, dual injectors, dual ECU (Engine Control Unit), dual generators, dual manifold air pressure sensors, dual manifold pressure sensors, dual rectifier regulators and a host of other features that make this engine as simple to operate and maintain as a modern motor car engine. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231411529?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231411529?profile=original" width="632" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Built in the factory in Gunskirchen, Austria, the Rotax 912iS Sport was put on the dyno for testing, the same as any other Rotax engine, and with no more special treatment than any other engine (they are all special in their own way), was sent to SkyTec in Canada where they produce a 912iS Sport firewall forward kit for the CH750 Cruzer. SkyTec then incorporated the 912iS Sport into its standard package, just as for any other customer.... and once prepped, it too was shipped to the One Week Wonder tent in Oshkosh.</p>
<p></p>
<p><b>THE INSTRUMENTS:</b> The One Week Wonder is a modern aircraft, and as such it has a modern glass cockpit. A dual Dynon Skyview 10" touch screen, with GPS, EMU (Engine Management Unit), and more gizmos and gadgets than you will find on many airliners! This was built into a customer ready unit by SteinAir, who prepped the installation kit exactly the same as for any other builder. SteinAir regularly prepare panels and looming (wiring) for builders.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>THE TOOLS:</b> From files to rivet guns, clamps to rulers, drill bits to snips... building a plane requires some basic tooling. For many years the words Aircraft and Spruce have been associated and Aircraft Spruce shipped their wares to the site ready for the big day. Aircraft Spruce ship all over the world an with the biggest aircraft supply catalogue out there are the premier supplier of parts and tools for aircraft builders.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Normally, a builder might order the other bits and bobs as he goes, but when you are going to build a plane in a week (actually six and a half days), you need to be sorted out with everything else in advance. Matco sent the wheels, Flightline Interiors did the upholstery and stick boot, Sennheiser provided headsets, Sensenich the propeller and, thus, the scene was set to make it happen...</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231412093?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231412093?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Continuation: <a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-two-a-cast-of-thousands" target="_blank">See Chapter 2</a></strong></p>One Week Wonder - Prologuetag:zenith.aero,2014-08-20:2606393:BlogPost:3750182014-08-20T17:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>It all started in a dark, damp, fuel and oil perfumed hangar. The dim moonlight seeped through a crack in the hangar doors, picking out, with an eerie glimmer, a shiny spinner. A large brown and black spider could be made out as it crawled along the strut towards the pitot tube of another unsuspecting aircraft, as they waited for they next flight. That hangar held within it the 'Spirit Of Building Aircraft', also know as the SOBA. That spirit, the very source of creativity and…</p>
<p>It all started in a dark, damp, fuel and oil perfumed hangar. The dim moonlight seeped through a crack in the hangar doors, picking out, with an eerie glimmer, a shiny spinner. A large brown and black spider could be made out as it crawled along the strut towards the pitot tube of another unsuspecting aircraft, as they waited for they next flight. That hangar held within it the 'Spirit Of Building Aircraft', also know as the SOBA. That spirit, the very source of creativity and adventure, along with tear stains from happy and sad moments, and a smattering of blood stains from cut fingers - were all to be found in this small space. There was something special in the air, these sentiments, experiences and the thick air of that night, boldly filled the hangar with something special. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>On the floor some rivet stems could be found, swept to the corners where they might be forgotten. A few broken drill bits were embedded in the floor. Some aluminum filings were clinging to the grease on the hangar door hinges. All signs that this was a place where dreams had become reality. A place where the SOBA had found its place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was a place where an aircraft had been built. There is nothing more magical, more inspiring or more emotional than building an airplane and watching it take to the skies. The SOBA was truly in that hangar, but it felt neglected, it realized that too few people had known the magic of bringing to life a flying machine... And so, the Spirit Of Building Aircraft decided to seep out into the night, with a mission....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That spirit searched the planet, seeking out minds, receptive minds, minds fertile for a new adventure, one that would light a fire for a new generation - an adventure that would start on a Monday morning in July 2014, and, in just seven days, ignite a fuse with the potential to change the world... </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It found those minds, and they were indeed fertile, they were all associated with the EAA, and they were all primed from years of exposure to light aviation. The spirit gave them a challenge... To build one plane, with the involvement of thousands of builders - and all in just one week...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That seed germinated, and was fed and watered, supported and sponsored...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Together they met, they spoke in hushed tones, they doubted at times and yet they convened - they planned - they connived - and together they brought to the world:-</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>ONE</b> <b>WEEK WONDER - Oshkosh 2014</b></p>
<p> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362746?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362746?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If aviation were to be a religion, Oshkosh would be the Holy Place, and this One Week Wonder would be the miracle that built strength in those who believed, revived faith in the wavering and gave a moment of inspiration and 'conversion' to those who were new to it all! The One Week Wonder was all about the Spirit Of Building Aircraft!</p>
<p></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">In the coming years the fruit of this One Week Wonder event, a fully operational CH750 aircraft, </span>will tour the USA, touching more lives and inspiring more and more people - young, old, men, women, boys and girls, to explore what aviation and engineering are really about. As you read the story below on how this week developed, we hope that you too will find a new spirit of adventure, of development and that you will reach out to discover more about light aviation, aircraft building and the wondrous joy of flying. Perhaps the SOBA will plant a seed in your imagination - and you too will find the inspiration to build and fly your own aircraft!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p align="right">On behalf of <br/> over two thousand five hundred people <br/> who participated in the event and are <br/> signed in the builders log of N140WW</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.zenith.aero/profiles/blogs/one-week-wonder-chapter-one-before-the-event" target="_blank">See Chapter 1 for the continuation</a></p>From Ghana to Oshkosh 2014tag:zenith.aero,2014-07-08:2606393:BlogPost:3666662014-07-08T14:30:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p><span>It's confirmed! Oshkosh 2014 here we come! </span><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231365797?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231365797?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></span></p>
<p>Patricia and I will be there! We will be spending our time at the One Week Wonder Event - and hope to see our fellow Zenith builders too! We will be more than happy to answer face-to-face all those questions about building and flying in West Africa and how light aircraft really do change lives. WE…</p>
<p><span>It's confirmed! Oshkosh 2014 here we come! </span><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231365797?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231365797?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p>Patricia and I will be there! We will be spending our time at the One Week Wonder Event - and hope to see our fellow Zenith builders too! We will be more than happy to answer face-to-face all those questions about building and flying in West Africa and how light aircraft really do change lives. WE also look forward to learning some new tricks from other builder - new, old, tall, short, slim or slimmer, boys or girls! Looking forward to catching up with our friends from the Zenith Aviation family. If anybody has any requests for goodies from Ghana, please let me know!<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231365797?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>Santa with a 701 Difference!tag:zenith.aero,2013-12-12:2606393:BlogPost:3279712013-12-12T15:59:28.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>I guess that we are a bit like a 'sensible Santa' in our part of the world... we fly over the African Bush and look for communities that need some health education and then drop them a package! (no chimney, no reindeer, no toys)... our Rotax 912iS powered 701 works really hard... and today we dropped over 100 packages to rural communities - some which have never had even a motorcycle to them!…</p>
<p></p>
<p>I guess that we are a bit like a 'sensible Santa' in our part of the world... we fly over the African Bush and look for communities that need some health education and then drop them a package! (no chimney, no reindeer, no toys)... our Rotax 912iS powered 701 works really hard... and today we dropped over 100 packages to rural communities - some which have never had even a motorcycle to them!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362442?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362442?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Yup, it is the biggest drop run we have ever done.... and we are exhausted - but very happy to achieve it this week as the Harmattan is filling our sky with sand particles and reduced visibility!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231388490?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231388490?profile=original" width="640" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">We have been asked about the Rotax 912iS installation before, and we can tell you that the Rotax 912iS is actually the easiest engine we have ever installed - you just need to think differently, and be aware that you must work a different approach to fuel, electrics and cooling (oil and coolant). Once you start from that perspective, it installs quicker than any other engine I have dealt with - AND - this engine provides fantastic in flight feedback on engine condition (we use the Stock EMU instrument) and is a breeze when it comes to maintenance - just like the 701!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Do remember the planet surface temperature this morning was over 35C / 95F) and we operate between 200' and 500' agl, apart from crossing lakes and ridges as you look at the performance graph!</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231389220?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231389220?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>We drop to about 200' agl, then climb to 500' agl, then drop to the next community, and so on and so forth! It requires a lot of power changes - and the engine is worked very hard, at low levels with a lot of dust in the air!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231389491?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231389491?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Most exciting is that we have reached, today, in 3.5 hours, thousands of people without roads - and covered about 350km (220miles) of flight track. To do the same with a good off road 4x4 would have taken <em>at least</em> 2 weeks, driving 8-10 hours per day! </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231407387?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231407387?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>To see the kids running to pick up their packs, and waving, knowing that the lady flying the plane grew up in similar village to theirs! Patricia Mawuli flew brilliantly - spotting villages, school fields, fishing groups and avoiding terrain and some really tall trees - all with a sand filled sky with closing visibility. By the time we got back to the airfield, visibility was down to 5km (3miles) - and the ground temp into the high 30's C (about 100F)</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231407717?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231407717?profile=original" width="592" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Whilst Patricia handles the plane (with special permission to operate at lower levels and also to drop items!), I get to be the drop master - it can be disorientating at times - but you also get some special views through the drop hatch!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2131675700?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2131675700?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Village life can be very interesting! Helping them to live a healthier and better educated life is a fantastic gift - perhaps we should rename Patricia Mawuli as 'Santa Patricia'!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thank you Zenith for such a wonderful aircraft! (and Rotax for such a brilliant engine!)</p>
<p></p>
<p>You really do help us to CHANGE LIVES, ONE FLIGHT AT A TIME!</p>
<p></p>
<p>(For the animal lovers out there, please note that no reindeer were used in this mission, and we avoided hitting the many large birds that operate in the same airspace as we do!)</p>
<p></p>The nose job....tag:zenith.aero,2013-09-02:2606393:BlogPost:3089522013-09-02T15:32:17.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>As we work ever creatively towards using the Zenith STOL aircraft in practical applications, in the heat of the tropics, we are currently working towards a concept for improved cooling. It has taken us a long time, but we are close to test flying the 'nose job' on the 701 with a Rotax 912iS up front.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231363968?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231363968?profile=original" width="598"></img></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The fun part is the new nose shape and the…</p>
<p>As we work ever creatively towards using the Zenith STOL aircraft in practical applications, in the heat of the tropics, we are currently working towards a concept for improved cooling. It has taken us a long time, but we are close to test flying the 'nose job' on the 701 with a Rotax 912iS up front.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231363968?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231363968?profile=original" width="598" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The fun part is the new nose shape and the radiator arrangement (do note that in this picture there are lots of Clecos, which get replaced with rivets BEFORE test flights!). We have lowered the cowling lip considerably, to reduce pressure behind the cowl, and also for improved efficiency when we fly with our belly pod, and hope to see at least 10-15C (50 - 60F) overall improvement in our temps - CHT and Oil. The challenge has been the development of a suitable radiator gantry - and until we get 50 or more hours on the design, we will keep that bit under wraps. The engine is the pretty green Rotax 912iS, and we have a lot of specialist adaptations on our 701, so please do not think that it is a 'standard' (although I doubt that there are many of them out there anyway!) 701!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231366591?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231366591?profile=original" width="450" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The majority of the new shape is achieved using two rolled pieces of 6061 T6 - the stock and trade of Zenith aircraft. Then we have a little bit of fibreglass work (it would have been less without the previous attempts). We have removed considerable amounts of the original fibreglass cowling and we actually hope that our finished design will be a little lighter than we started with! </p>
<p></p>
<p>We are ready to give up some aerodynamics (what is a little drag between friends) for better cooling, especially with our full load long flights at low level in air on temps over 40C (104F). You may note that we take the air in from the outside to the air filter - it really helps for performance! Of course, the oil rad is now at the front, so we remove the NACA duct completely - lots of changes and factors!</p>
<p></p>
<p>If the weather is in our favour, we will test fly this week, and let you know the results... </p>
<p></p>
<p>Then our plan is to use the same configuration on the CH750 - which we still hope to build and fly to Europe in April next year !</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>News From Ghanatag:zenith.aero,2013-08-26:2606393:BlogPost:3074982013-08-26T08:06:13.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p></p>
<p>For those who have been wondering what is happening in Ghana - well, we have a few challenges! You can read our latest newsletter in the PDF below... </p>
<p></p>
<p>We are also working on a radiator gantry for the 701/750 for the Rotax 912iS (and the other Rotax installation, but we are working on improved cooling for the iS at the moment) and a really simple cowling modification that goes with it. We expect to carry out flight tests next week, and, if all goes well, will share…</p>
<p></p>
<p>For those who have been wondering what is happening in Ghana - well, we have a few challenges! You can read our latest newsletter in the PDF below... </p>
<p></p>
<p>We are also working on a radiator gantry for the 701/750 for the Rotax 912iS (and the other Rotax installation, but we are working on improved cooling for the iS at the moment) and a really simple cowling modification that goes with it. We expect to carry out flight tests next week, and, if all goes well, will share with you what we did, and how it can be easily replicated.... so, until then, please take a moment to catch up on our other news!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231365801?profile=original" target="_self">News%20Letter%20MoM%2013-08%20final.pdf</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Regards from Ghana!</p>Flying with 912iS in a CH701tag:zenith.aero,2013-06-24:2606393:BlogPost:2922712013-06-24T07:31:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>One of our pilots from Brazil is transitioning to the CH701 with the 912iS. He put a GoPro on the mount and then created with You Tube video... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ijgyJhgUic">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ijgyJhgUic</a> - although it is speeded up, it shows a lot of interesting hand movements in the cockpit... watch carefully as you see me in the right seat moving my hands around a lot! Also check out the full and free movement prior to take off - as well as enjoy…</p>
<p>One of our pilots from Brazil is transitioning to the CH701 with the 912iS. He put a GoPro on the mount and then created with You Tube video... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ijgyJhgUic">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ijgyJhgUic</a> - although it is speeded up, it shows a lot of interesting hand movements in the cockpit... watch carefully as you see me in the right seat moving my hands around a lot! Also check out the full and free movement prior to take off - as well as enjoy the views of our airfield and countryside.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231367102?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231367102?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>We are still working on getting a CH750 airframe to Ghana soon and to putting a 912iS upfront. We will be using our new radiator gantry which we will soon be showing you all... we have learned a lot from the 912iS on the 701 and look forward to flying a 912iS powered CH750 across the Sahara des<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231367102?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a>ert to Europe next year, all things being equal!</p>Zenith 701 Humanitarian Podtag:zenith.aero,2013-04-18:2606393:BlogPost:2797712013-04-18T15:32:36.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Our drop tests went 100% to plan. We now start working on how to get our new project to reach the tougher parts of West Africa with the 750 platform (more load, more range!). Thank you Zenith and Rotax for making it possible!<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231356361?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231356361?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Our drop tests went 100% to plan. We now start working on how to get our new project to reach the tougher parts of West Africa with the 750 platform (more load, more range!). Thank you Zenith and Rotax for making it possible!<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231356361?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231356361?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>Zenith STOL CH 701 Air Drops help African communities grow...tag:zenith.aero,2013-03-18:2606393:BlogPost:2734752013-03-18T11:30:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Those who know what we do will remember that we are authorised to drop health education materials to rural communities using our specially modified, <a href="http://www.flyrotax.com/enginesImpressum/product-rangeImpressum/InjectedImpressum/912-iS-100hpImpressum/Description.aspx" target="_blank">Rotax 912iS</a> powered, <a href="http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/index1.html" target="_blank">STOL CH 701</a> aircraft. As part of this we made the first ever aerial supply drops into the Afram…</p>
<p>Those who know what we do will remember that we are authorised to drop health education materials to rural communities using our specially modified, <a href="http://www.flyrotax.com/enginesImpressum/product-rangeImpressum/InjectedImpressum/912-iS-100hpImpressum/Description.aspx" target="_blank">Rotax 912iS</a> powered, <a href="http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/index1.html" target="_blank">STOL CH 701</a> aircraft. As part of this we made the first ever aerial supply drops into the Afram Plains last week. This part of Ghana, in West Africa, is isolated, but easy to fly over. The 100km (about 60mile) line of sight <em>flight</em> from our airfield is pretty quick - or you can take 12 hours or more by road. To reach the communities without roads you would add days to your travel time. By air we can visit many in a matter of hours, and are only held back by our load capacity of the 701 (hence we are working towards a CH750!). </p>
<p></p>
<p>As part of the first drops Red Bull were filming for a documentary about some of the work that we do (to be released later this year), and took a camera crew into one of the villages. What made it more interesting was that several villages had come together, so we exceptionally dropped multiple times to the same community... (normally we drop just once, and bob up and down over the area, dropping in a pattern to the communities - we are about to start dropping to nearly ONE THOUSAND locations in the coming months, funds permitting!)</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231359692?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231359692?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>This provided some interesting data and images, that we are happy to share with our Zenith friends. You will note that the aircraft runs a circuit pattern down to 200' and has to avoid trees and other obstacles whilst targeting a zone of about 50' diameter (usually the middle of a playing field, or durbar ground) - we have well over 90% success in hitting the zone each time!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360264?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360264?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>The air speed is dropped to less than 50kts at the moment of drop, and you can see here the manifold, temperature, ground speed, track and engine speed read outs - it really is a workout for the pilot (in this case the 701 was flown by Patricia Mawuli and had Lydia Wetsi as drop master - I flew the spotter plane to monitor and capture data). To become proficient at drops like this takes many hours, and is not for the faint hearted - if anything goes wrong you are eating trees!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360592?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360592?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>The crowd on the ground are known to actually catch the specially packaged and dropped materials that would take many days to send (and often not get there at all) by any other means.... and with over 6 million children at risk of Schistosomiasis in our area, we take our work seriously!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360874?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360874?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360592?profile=original" target="_self">I</a>f you would like to help us make more drops and support us towards our next step to the CH750, please consider making a donation. You can send funds directly to Zenith, marked simply 'Medicine on the Move', or via our website: <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/index.php/donate/donate">medicineonthemove.org</a>, and it will move us steps closer to reaching more communities, changing more lives and all done through training West Africans to build planes, fly planes and take support to other West Africans - sustainably... just a little bit of help goes a long way. </p>
<p>Thank you all in advance.</p>Research and Results for Fuel Supply Solutions Rotax 912iStag:zenith.aero,2013-03-05:2606393:BlogPost:2700882013-03-05T06:06:33.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Finally we have reached the point where we consider that we have expressed how we have established our fuel system for the 912iS in our test bed CH701. No, it does not contain all that we wanted to, but we feel that it conveys the points about what we have done, why we have done it and what we would prefer to do.</p>
<p></p>
<p>We LOVE LOVE LOVE the engine and the airframe combination. It is a great airframe and a great engine. A marriage of heavenly proportions, for us and what we use…</p>
<p>Finally we have reached the point where we consider that we have expressed how we have established our fuel system for the 912iS in our test bed CH701. No, it does not contain all that we wanted to, but we feel that it conveys the points about what we have done, why we have done it and what we would prefer to do.</p>
<p></p>
<p>We LOVE LOVE LOVE the engine and the airframe combination. It is a great airframe and a great engine. A marriage of heavenly proportions, for us and what we use our aircraft for, at least!</p>
<p></p>
<p>It is not a short document... 14 pages long... but it does make great bedtime reading for those who are interested. It demonstrates what we found, and how we approached it. It does not contain some of the other things we tested, that relate to ALL the Zenith Aircraft, in relation to the 'fuel tanks levels' - which I can assure everybody are fantastically good and very well balanced, even if there are many comments about them not being (but that is another set of pages and calculations!)</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2170977972?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="364" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2170977972?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="364" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>In the meantime, if you are considering installing a Fuel Injected Engine, whether it is Rotax or Viking or UL or any other, please be safe, think about what you want to do, and make sure that you follow the engine manufacturers guidelines... in the mean time, enjoy this bedtime reading... (link is below the thumbnail <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231354194?profile=original" target="_self">The%20Magic%20of%20Electronic%20Fuel%20Injection.pdf</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>Header Tanktag:zenith.aero,2013-01-25:2606393:BlogPost:2616852013-01-25T01:34:51.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>In our line of operations we often experience a lot of turbulence at low level (we are approved to operate below 500' for aerial dispersal and supply drops). We also get some long, at times fast, descents. With this combination of events we have decided that we really want a header tank for a variety of reasons... We have simulated 'uncovered ports' in ground tests, and do not like the VERY unlikely possibility that it could cause. By taking the 'Tee'ing of tanks to a low point 'air…</p>
<p>In our line of operations we often experience a lot of turbulence at low level (we are approved to operate below 500' for aerial dispersal and supply drops). We also get some long, at times fast, descents. With this combination of events we have decided that we really want a header tank for a variety of reasons... We have simulated 'uncovered ports' in ground tests, and do not like the VERY unlikely possibility that it could cause. By taking the 'Tee'ing of tanks to a low point 'air being sucked' can be limited, but better still a header tank can solve the challenge altogether, provided you are happy with the weight, extra complexity and engineering necessary to fit it into the package! Also, if you need a return line, as is more and more common, a header tank can avoid you running lines all the way back to the wing tanks... (each individual installation is different and each builder must make their own decisions on what is right for them, and following the original plans is the preferred solution in most cases - we take no responsibility for anybody copying our approach)</p>
<p></p>
<p>We looked at making our own tank, we looked at contracting it out... then we were introduced to the Viking Header Tank... designed for the 701, and they have one designed for the 750 too. IT is remarkably close to our needs, and can be adapted for the final parts of our project. So we ordered one.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353381?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353381?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>It is a beautifully crafted 2 gallon (US Gal) tank that comes with a number of options. Our application is not a standard one, and this was designed for the Viking Engine (based on the Honda Fit block), and we were all really impressed with the customer service from Jan and Samantha. They dispatched within a matter of hours and the workmanship is outstanding. </p>
<p></p>
<p>It is really nice when you can chat with somebody technical about such a project and get the support you need about it - and a quality product at the end - the same reason we all deal with Zenith... </p>
<p></p>
<p>Do take a look at the work that Jan is doing over at <a href="http://www.vikingaircraftengines.com/Airplanes/ZENITH.html">http://www.vikingaircraftengines.com/Airplanes/ZENITH.html</a> - based on the customer service and technical support,we give Jan 'two thumbs up' and look forward to meeting him again at Oshkosh, where we will discuss, without doubt, the finer points of aircraft engines and share our passion - keeping planes in the air, safely. . </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>Building an airfield...tag:zenith.aero,2012-11-30:2606393:BlogPost:2512372012-11-30T04:28:51.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p><span>Building Zenith aircraft is a pleasure we all enjoy. Being a little more than 'naive' my team got to build the aircraft, the hangars and the airfield - as well as work on the regulations and approvals process for Ghana! Today, we administer the training and assessment, as well as licence issue for the National Licence (LSA equivalent) on behalf of the Authorities. It has been a long journey, and we have further to go.…</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Building Zenith aircraft is a pleasure we all enjoy. Being a little more than 'naive' my team got to build the aircraft, the hangars and the airfield - as well as work on the regulations and approvals process for Ghana! Today, we administer the training and assessment, as well as licence issue for the National Licence (LSA equivalent) on behalf of the Authorities. It has been a long journey, and we have further to go.</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353011?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353011?profile=original" width="640" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Perhaps the biggest challenge was to transform the bush lands.... Planning and developing the largest private airfield in West Africa has been a challenge. Approvals, laying out, budget constraints (what budget?), time and climate... all have given us some challenges... but the end result (with about 5000 movements per year) is really looking good and changing lives, one flight at a time! <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/</a></span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>Recovering from Oshkosh 2012tag:zenith.aero,2012-08-28:2606393:BlogPost:2347312012-08-28T08:20:18.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>It is hard to believe that it is nearly one month since the annual pilgrimage of the faithful came to an end. We are all back in Ghana, and busy getting ready to start 4 more girls from the bushlands on a 4 year programme of learning to fly, build and maintain aircraft, run an airfield and use a computer...as well as drive a tractor and a truck! …</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231428043?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231428043?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>It is hard to believe that it is nearly one month since the annual pilgrimage of the faithful came to an end. We are all back in Ghana, and busy getting ready to start 4 more girls from the bushlands on a 4 year programme of learning to fly, build and maintain aircraft, run an airfield and use a computer...as well as drive a tractor and a truck! </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231428043?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231428043?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Being at Oshkosh is like a medicine - it really is. You know, when you get an infection you need anti-bodies to fight it off, at times you need a shot of antibiotics to enable you to get ahead in the battle. In the same way, when you get down, after a full year without seeing your friends in the developed world, you need a shot of Oshkosh to boost your morale, remind you that you are not alone in the world and to feel the love that only Oshkosh seems to know how to share.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231431302?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231431302?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>This year, visiting with Patricia and Lydia, was even more fun than last. It was Lydia's first trip outside of the country. She had been to the city about a dozen times before travelling to the USofA. Lydia can fly, is swift with cleco pliers, can use file as well as any of us, and runs the tower at the airfield like a General. But she had never seen an escalator! Watching her face as she was whisked up two flight was a delight itself. She is now renamed escalator girl - and is spreading the gospel of 'moving stairs' to many. </p>
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<p>For the many of you who came across at Oshkosh - THANK YOU! WE loved meeting with you, some for the first time, but many for the second or third. Your kind words to the girls, your well-wishing-nesses, you demonstration of care for what we do. Some of you came and told Lydia how she inspired you - that went a long way, and you will never know just how much you have changed a little persons life. One gentleman sat for an hour waiting for Patricia to come by and autograph a card for him, that meant so much to us all. We felt the love, and we have brought it back to West Africa and are nurturing it, passing it on, changing lives, one flight at a time...</p>
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<p>The Zenith Builder evening was fun and we enjoyed sharing with you, we hope that those there enjoyed the song that the girls gave you. Song is a gift that we cherish in West Africa, and I noticed a lot of people recording it on their smart phones! Play it back, and think of us, we will feel it!</p>
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<p>Lydia is back in the saddle of our Rotax 912iS powered 701, and we are working towards completing an 801, probably it will now be sold to raise funds to enable us to embark upon a 750. We will soon share with you how we installed the 912iS - and how much we enjoy it!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231431980?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231431980?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>We all like the 750. We have been involved in helping fellow builder and Webmaster of MoM, Clay Hollenback (seen above with Lydia and his son Garret at OShkosh), based in Iowa (if you live near him, look him up and go pop some rivets with him!). We also got to help out with the repairs to the Sun n Fun pilotless-aerobatic 750 - the one that did back flips at the command of a tornado last year. Watching Lydia and Patricia work on the 750 and seeing the look in their eyes, coupled with the load capacity, range, fuel tank systems, and more make the 750 appear to be an ideal airframe for the sort of work we do with these bits of kits. </p>
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<p>So, we thank you all once again for reading, for visiting us in Ghana, for chatting to us at Oshkosh and for being such an encouragement to us all.</p>
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<p>Take care, fly safe. IF you fancy a flying holiday where your funds will go towards changing lives, one flight at a time... let us know, our new accommodation unit will be operational very soon, and we would love to host you! <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/</a></p>Zenith STOL Prevents Teen-Pregnanciestag:zenith.aero,2012-05-02:2606393:BlogPost:2121742012-05-02T17:30:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Incredible as it may sound, that is the fact of today.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352493?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352493?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>At the request of a teacher in a rural African community we were asked to extend our drop run to fly around a remote school so that the teachers could tell the girls 'that is a plane built by Ghanaian girls and flown by them' - and then to use that towards an 'anti-teen-pregnancy' talk. (you…</p>
<p>Incredible as it may sound, that is the fact of today.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352493?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352493?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>At the request of a teacher in a rural African community we were asked to extend our drop run to fly around a remote school so that the teachers could tell the girls 'that is a plane built by Ghanaian girls and flown by them' - and then to use that towards an 'anti-teen-pregnancy' talk. (you can read more here <a href="http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/2012/05/stopping-teenage-pregnancy-by-air.html">http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/2012/05/stopping-teenage-pregnancy-by-air.html</a> )</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352566?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352566?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>I am always amazed at how what we CAN do with our aircraft can change so many lives - in fact, I know that I change at least 1 or not 10 or 100 every single flight we do. That is why we call it 'Changing Lives, One Flight at a Time'... </p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231410016?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231410016?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>So, as you build you plane, fly your plane, talk about your plane - realise that you have a powerful tool, and a plane just like yours is helping to prevent teen-pregnancies in a tough part of the world... <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231410406?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231410406?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>Learning to Fly with a broken wing...tag:zenith.aero,2012-04-11:2606393:BlogPost:2077142012-04-11T19:23:27.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Lydia is already known to many of you, she has undergone a lot of challenges in her little life.... yet, through the amazing healing power of Zenith Aircraft, she is getting above her problems...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351353?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351353?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>As we beat out the circuits with the occassional 12kt gust that made her work harder, we started to chat....</p>
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<p>'How many 16 year old girls learn to fly?'…</p>
<p>Lydia is already known to many of you, she has undergone a lot of challenges in her little life.... yet, through the amazing healing power of Zenith Aircraft, she is getting above her problems...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351353?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351353?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>As we beat out the circuits with the occassional 12kt gust that made her work harder, we started to chat....</p>
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<p>'How many 16 year old girls learn to fly?' not many ....</p>
<p>'How many black girls learn to fly?' not many...</p>
<p>'How many girls in Africa learn to fly?' not many...</p>
<p>'How many disabled girls learn to fly?' not many....</p>
<p>'How many disabled student pilots are there in West Africa?' ONE! (and here she is!)</p>
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<p>We both laughed at the amazingness that a girl who was working in a village market just two years ago, with less than 2 years total formal education, is now reading and writing beyond her age group, helping build aircraft, runs the tower radio at weekends, is learning to drive, can fight fires, do patient assessments (she is excellent at taking blood pressure and generally putting a patient at ease), as well as learning to use her unique geometry to overcome the force of gravity...in our wonderful CH701! </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352251?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352251?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p> We are looking to sponsor more girls into our programme.... Would you like to help? Take a closer look... <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/index.php/projects/avtech">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/index.php/projects/avtech</a> - perhaps you, or somebody you know, can help us to change more lives, one flight at a time!</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352540?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352540?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>127 Children flown at Kpong - over half flown in CH701'stag:zenith.aero,2012-03-18:2606393:BlogPost:2033922012-03-18T18:31:16.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Despite being cut short due to bad weather, we flew 127 children on Saturday, as part of our annual fly-me day at Kpong. It is all part of a complex health education programme and the children are from rural communities - and it is a great life changing motivator. Many of the children have never experienced electricity in their homes, let alone tap water, some may never have slept inside a building with windows... these are the same youngsters that we be in our sights as future aircraft…</p>
<p>Despite being cut short due to bad weather, we flew 127 children on Saturday, as part of our annual fly-me day at Kpong. It is all part of a complex health education programme and the children are from rural communities - and it is a great life changing motivator. Many of the children have never experienced electricity in their homes, let alone tap water, some may never have slept inside a building with windows... these are the same youngsters that we be in our sights as future aircraft builders and pilots! </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231371282?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231371282?profile=original" width="640" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>See more photos and find out more in the coming days at <a href="http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/">http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/</a> </p>
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<p>MoM, Zenith and Rotax, changing lives together in the African Bush, using a sustainable model. What a team! Join us!</p>Cleco's to Africa!tag:zenith.aero,2012-02-12:2606393:BlogPost:1963372012-02-12T08:12:02.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231384644?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231384644?profile=original" width="640"></img></a></span></p>
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<p><span>Our heartfelt thanks go to Randy and Tim for kindly sending their 'left-over' cleco's, wiring, instruments, clamps, breakers and other goodies to us in Ghana. Randy and Tim both built Zenith aircraft, and at the end had some parts that had some good deeds left in the packaging... They responded to the Medicine on the Move…</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231384644?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231384644?profile=original" width="640" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
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<p><span>Our heartfelt thanks go to Randy and Tim for kindly sending their 'left-over' cleco's, wiring, instruments, clamps, breakers and other goodies to us in Ghana. Randy and Tim both built Zenith aircraft, and at the end had some parts that had some good deeds left in the packaging... They responded to the Medicine on the Move and AvTech call for spares and sent them to friends in Atlanta late last year. Last week, two packages arrived with Ben and Michaela and today the girls got to sift through, squeal with delight that some shiney Clecos were on the table, ('Ohhhhhh we needed more of those silver ones'), un wrap a slip ball ('coool, can we install this one in Oscar Mike!'), smile, ask questions such as 'what does that do?' and 'why are airplane parts all so pretty?'.... Rand and Tim, you have no idea the joy you have given - and the opportunities provided for us to change lives together - you are MoMmmers!</span></p>
<div><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231400948?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231400948?profile=original" width="640" class="align-center"/></a></div>
<div>If you have some left-overs from your build, please contact us, we often can find a good home here in West Africa where we train the local young ladies to build and fly planes, maintain them and use them to deliver health care to rural communities, changing lives, one flight at a time....</div>
<div>Lydia (the young lady on the Left) and Patricia (second from right) hope to be at Osh2012 - so come and find us there! Tim and Randy, you will certainly be given the biggest African smiles you have ever seen, so be ready to find us!</div>
<div>MoM needs your support.... We love being a part of the Zenith family, and we need you! (and your leftovers!)</div>
<div><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231401215?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231401215?profile=original" width="640" class="align-center"/></a></div>Oshkosh 2012tag:zenith.aero,2012-02-01:2606393:BlogPost:1944492012-02-01T14:00:00.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Ghana will be back at Oshkosh this year - and we are camping!</p>
<p>Not only will <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.aopa.org/aopalive/?watch=NlMmZwMjp62dn23PfhuLyLy9ckwog1Ix" target="_blank">Patricia Mawuli</a></span> be back but we hope to also bring the only disabled student pilot in Ghana too, Lydia (she is 16). If you are likely to be at Oshkosh, and particularly camping, and would like to share some stories of building and flying in Ghana, West Africa,…</p>
<p>Ghana will be back at Oshkosh this year - and we are camping!</p>
<p>Not only will <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.aopa.org/aopalive/?watch=NlMmZwMjp62dn23PfhuLyLy9ckwog1Ix" target="_blank">Patricia Mawuli</a></span> be back but we hope to also bring the only disabled student pilot in Ghana too, Lydia (she is 16). If you are likely to be at Oshkosh, and particularly camping, and would like to share some stories of building and flying in Ghana, West Africa, please let me know as we try to get some sort of plan together!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231348946?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231348946?profile=original" width="640" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Our aim is to network, find solutions, share and gain inspiration - for we really are 'in the aviation desert' where we are.... but we also hope to be able share some of our enthusiasm for using Zenith aircraft to change lives, one flight at a time!</p>
<p>You can read more about Lydia: <a href="http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/p/lydias-story.html">http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/p/lydias-story.html</a> </p>Moved Partstag:zenith.aero,2011-12-30:2606393:BlogPost:1868882011-12-30T10:17:05.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Yesterday we moved all but the last few parts from the old site, ready to sell the family house (we call it the 'farm - 52 acres with its own runway) to raise funds, to clear debts and hopefully contribute towards the purchase of floats for the 801... IF you know anybody interested in a unique property in Ghana, please contact me asap... </p>
<p>Yesterday we moved all but the last few parts from the old site, ready to sell the family house (we call it the 'farm - 52 acres with its own runway) to raise funds, to clear debts and hopefully contribute towards the purchase of floats for the 801... IF you know anybody interested in a unique property in Ghana, please contact me asap... </p>Make a Wind-shield Faring - 701, 750 or 801tag:zenith.aero,2011-12-17:2606393:BlogPost:1830802011-12-17T15:11:11.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>Suzy Patey is responsible for the following challenges in Ghana. Thank you Suzy...</p>
<p></p>
<p>You see, SHE pasted nice pictures of a windshield fairing on her 801. Our girls told me that our 'silicon putty windshield seal looked ugly'. So, I told them 'If you can do better - go do!'.... and they did.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231350896?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231350896?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>When we teach the girls here in Ghana, they have to…</p>
<p>Suzy Patey is responsible for the following challenges in Ghana. Thank you Suzy...</p>
<p></p>
<p>You see, SHE pasted nice pictures of a windshield fairing on her 801. Our girls told me that our 'silicon putty windshield seal looked ugly'. So, I told them 'If you can do better - go do!'.... and they did.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231350896?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231350896?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>When we teach the girls here in Ghana, they have to write up all that they do - and so, you all now have three students renditions of 'How to Make your Own Fibreglass Windshield Fairing' - but please remember, these are young ladies from the African bush. Juliet ( <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351546?profile=original" target="_self">Juliet's Instructions...</a> ) has completed Senior High School, Emmanualla ( <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352350?profile=original" target="_self">Emmanuella's version</a> ) completed Junior High School and Lydia ( <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352818?profile=original" target="_self">Lydia's fibre glass fairing instructions</a> ) only had a couple of years in school before coming to us.... for all of them this is the first few months of using a computer.</p>
<p>I have not corrected their spellings or grammer (you will be able to tell) and each rendition has its own 'flavour'.</p>
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<p>Please enjoy - and if you would like to thank the girls for giving these instructions, please go to the Medicine on the Move Website and donate - or send funds directly to Zenith Aircraft Company, marked 'WAASPS/MoM'. If you would like to sponsor one of the girls in Ghana, we hope to start some more soon.... just think what they could produce as 'extras' for your planes?</p>
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<p>Have a wonderful season of rest and recuperation, for 2012 will be a busy one... for us, we will be changing even more lives, one flight at a time.... <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/</a> </p>
<p></p>Santa provides logistical inspiration to 701...tag:zenith.aero,2011-12-16:2606393:BlogPost:1829162011-12-16T10:54:15.000ZJonathan Porterhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ElizabethPorter
<p>In Ghana, Santa has been giving inspirations to the CH701 building ladies of WAASPS and Medicine on the Move.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373585?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373585?profile=original" width="480"></img></a></p>
<p>Consideration was given to renaming the the aircraft as 'Metal Sleigh', for, afterall, both the Wooden Sleigh of the red-coated-white-bearded aviator (Reindeer powered, of course), have great similiarities....</p>
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<p>1. STOL capabilities - both…</p>
<p>In Ghana, Santa has been giving inspirations to the CH701 building ladies of WAASPS and Medicine on the Move.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373585?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373585?profile=original" width="480" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Consideration was given to renaming the the aircraft as 'Metal Sleigh', for, afterall, both the Wooden Sleigh of the red-coated-white-bearded aviator (Reindeer powered, of course), have great similiarities....</p>
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<p>1. STOL capabilities - both can operate very short. Any 701 pilot will tell you that 'if they have to they can operate from a roof top.... and believe you me, if it were legal, we probably would!</p>
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<p>2. VFR flight - both Santa and the 701 pilot love VFR flight - both machines excel even with minimal instrumentations...</p>
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<p>3. Quiet engines.... a lot of 701s are flying with Rotax engines (ours are) - and we know that at 1000' we are practically un-hear-able - just like the magical flight of the sleigh...</p>
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<p>4. Long range - using extended range tanks, the 80hp engine and careful engine power management, the 701 can stay airborne 10 hours or cover a range of well over 1200km, without needing to top the reindeer!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373971?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231373971?profile=original" width="480" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>5. Simple and robust construction. The Sleigh is built and maintained in tough conditions - the pole. Access to spares and engineering facilities is not easy - just like in West Africa (but it is warmer in West Africa). The simple and robust construction techniques for the sleigh are implemented by little people without prior exposure to extensive aeronautical studies.... it is the same for the 701 in West Africa, where it is the young women from the rural areas without extensive educational access, who are building, maintaining and flying the CH701... </p>
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<p>6. Load carrying capability: The sleigh carrys a lot of goodies, as does the CH701.... using the new Bag Drop system, developed by WAASPS and Medicine on the Move, it is possible to make health education materials supply drops to up to 100 communities on one flight.... or to over 500 with the 801 (soon to fly in West Africa!).</p>
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<p>7. Optional Lighting: We hear that the sleigh does not meet FAA standards, being equipped with only one permanently light mainly front showing red light (attached to the nose of 'Engine Rudolf' - however the 701 can be equipped with fully FAA compliant lighting...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374141?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231374141?profile=original" width="480" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>In 2012 the MoM 701 and 801 will be delivering health education materials to many communities, and, if you would like to make a seasonal contribution to the work of the young people in West Africa, and to help us to get that 801 on to floats, please visit <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/</a> and <a href="http://www.medicineonthemove.org/">http://www.medicineonthemove.org/</a> and read some more, and if you are convinced, clink on that donate button - it will change even more lives, one flight at a time...</p>
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<p>Seasons Greeting to all our Zenith Family friends!</p>
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<p>The Ghana Team...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2170964815?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2170964815?profile=original" width="480" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>(this is Lydia, hugging our mission 701 - you can find out more about her background here ...<a href="http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/p/lydias-story.html">http://medicineonthemove.blogspot.com/p/lydias-story.html</a> )</p>
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