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A quick trip to Washington and back (Another 1,330 miles for the log book)

On Friday I flew 664 statute miles from Santa Rosa, CA to Shelton, WA to visit my brother Alan and his wife Nathalie who have a Zodiac XL which is a twin of mine. The flight north was one of the more challenging I have experienced. In Northern California I got to choose… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on April 6, 2009 at 11:25am — 3 Comments

Sky Hummer 750 with Rotax Cowl

I told my Son that the 701 is called the Sky Jeep, he turned to me and stated that if the 701 is the Sky Jeep then surely the 750 is the Sky Hummer. I laughed and told him not to call me Shirley, but Sky Hummer is going to stick for the 750 in the Hanger.

I couldn't wait so I installed the cowl just to see how she is going to look. I like what I see! Alot !…

Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on April 3, 2009 at 10:30pm — 2 Comments

UL260i? Yeah, its really that light!

Our ULPower FWF kit is coming together. The cowl will be back any day now. As you can see, the engine hangs out there quite a ways. Much time was spent on determining where the engine should be located to make the CH650 remain in CG with about any possible loading scenario. The engine comes in at 170 lbs. with prop, baffles, and oil. A very light 95hp, and now there is a high compression 260 that burns 100LL and is 105 hp. The empty weight of the 650… Continue

Added by Gus Warren on April 2, 2009 at 6:27pm — 17 Comments

750 Panel Parts in Particular

As our deadlines approach, many things are coming together. Installing the fuel tanks is all that remains of component building. The panels is finished and is on its way to being mounted permanently. We have an MGL avionics Enigma EFIS/GPS/engine monitor and their new V-10 comm radio. The V-10 weighs almost nothing and interfaces easily with the Enigma. The Garmin transponder and a Van's (sorry) map box complete the… Continue

Added by Gus Warren on April 2, 2009 at 6:13pm — 6 Comments

750 Wing Final

Inspection is over and I did not take time off to relax, I tried, wife let me sleep for 10hrs then I got up and found that my mind was too much on the 750 to be able to read a book. SO I got back to ordering parts for the panel and the wings. THE pictrue above shows the final installation on the bottom of the wings which is the strut attachments.



You really have to see it to believe just how flat… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on April 1, 2009 at 10:00pm — 5 Comments

What is your experience using automotive gas in airplanes?

I fly a 601XL with a Jabiru 3300 engine. The other day I ran into an old-time pilot who has been using automotive gas in his airplane for many years. He reports no problems, in fact he had only good things to say – like longer engine life since he switched. Jabiru does permit the use of premium auto gas in the 3300. I am contemplating the switch for the following reasons:



1) Longer sparkplug life. I have gotten 170 hours out of my last two sets of spark plugs which is hours 70 more… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on April 1, 2009 at 9:57am — 17 Comments

Zenith Aircraft Company introduces the Zenith Flyer!!!

The following is excerpted from the Zenith website:

April 1, 2009, Mexico, Missouri:

Today, Zenith Aircraft Company announced the launch of a brand new product line for the kit aircraft manufacturing company. The flagship model in the bicycle line is the sleek Zenith Flyer.

This bicycle is completely new, designed… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on April 1, 2009 at 12:30am — 10 Comments

Testing Phase 1

After 205 inches of snow this winter, I'm finall able to start knocking off some test time on my 601 XL. I flew the 11th hourof testing this arternoon. What a teriffic airplane ! I'm getting more at ease in it with every flight. The Corvair is running strong, and I'm seeing 1000'+ climb rates with my 190# and full tanks. I initially had to adjust the horiz. stab. angle down 2 deg. I'm still tweaking my cowling a bit to improve cooling at high climb rates. The flaps are a real asset on the XL,… Continue

Added by Lynn Dingfelder on March 31, 2009 at 10:14pm — 1 Comment

701 Scratch Builders Compare Ideas

I'm very close to first flight after 5 years of building. I wish Zenith would have had this site up and running 5 years ago. I have learned alot from other builders. But scratch building has its own world so I'm creating this blog for scratch builders (701), such as myself, to have an avenue to share ideas (and frustrations). The feeling of success in your building is well worth the frustrations that are mostly unavoidable. So just share what your going through right now and don't be afraid to… Continue

Added by Chris Aysen on March 31, 2009 at 11:29am — 8 Comments

http://pacificpilot.blogspot.com

a blog for pilots of light sport planes in the lower mainland of B.C. and surrounding area's

Added by smitfire ( Ron Smit ) on March 30, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Getting Close

Good Monday Morning, Got alot done over teh weekend and I am in good shape for tomorrows inspection.



Wings are built with just a little riveting to go.



Time to Start on the Stabilizer.

By 4 pm on Monday I have just about everything done, and I am off to be a Guest speaker for an RAA chapter. Wings are done and mostly riveted, fuel system… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on March 30, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Back to Wings

Back side of the wing, the rear spar is a two peice affair with a doubler channel, this makes assembly quite simple and fast. Best part is the trailing edge being a bent unit which makes the trailing edge very attractive.

Front skin cleco's right on.



Look close at this picture, the amount of time that will be saved in slat alignment from the… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on March 29, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

If I only had a brain.......

OK A little while since I posted some progress



I rolled it out to catch a little sun two weekends ago, and then this weekend I installed the panel

Check out the sophisticated avionics installation.



All right I really did add the brains to the old girl Here's the real pic.





No wires yet but the weather is just gettin nicer… Continue

Added by Larry Whitlow on March 29, 2009 at 5:48pm — No Comments

750 Slats and Flapperons

This pictrue was taken yesterday at 9:26pm and is a great starting point for today.

Here is all the slats and Flapperons, I have made the 701 and 801 slats and I will say that these are by far the easiest to build, no Jigs and they are designed to make assembly simple Hats off to the Boys at Zenith for comming up with this…

Added by Mark Townsend on March 28, 2009 at 9:30pm — No Comments

601 HDS Move radiator rearward or fit front undercarriage stop?

I am finishing a 601HDS that is fitted with a Subaru ea81 motor. The water cooling radiatior is fitted under the fuselage, close behind the front undercarriage. As there is no stop on the front undercarriage, it is possible for the wheel spat to impact with the underside of the radiator.



What is the best solution to this problem?



I have contemplated fitting a pair of steel cable stops to the front undercarriage to limit their travel and also to relocate the radiator… Continue

Added by Greg Wilson on March 28, 2009 at 6:25pm — 6 Comments

Another Fun Factory Workshop

We "graduated" another class of proud new aircraft rudder builders today:

Despite the apparent slowdown in the economy, this group was proof positive that there's still optimism out there and that folks still want to have fun building airplanes. The full workshop (12+ rudder tail assemblies of both STOL and Zodiac designs) included six husband / wife teams, plus four father / son teams, and was a lot of fun (even for the organizers). The… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on March 27, 2009 at 2:37pm — 2 Comments

JERONIMO!

I'M SCRATCH BUILDING AND I JUST BOUGHT MY ALUMINUM SHEET!

(that was my JERONIMO scream as I jump off the cliff.)

Added by Robert Haines on March 27, 2009 at 2:00pm — 5 Comments

Inspection Deadline Looms

Thursday March 26th I finally get started on the wings, at 2pm I have so far unpacked the crate and removed it from the Hanger. The wings will be built on rails and the spar is ready to start on. MAin problem is that my pre-cover inspection is on Tuesday ! Just 5 days away, where is the coffee!



End of Thursday, WOW I had expected the wings to go fast but… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on March 26, 2009 at 9:30pm — 2 Comments

"Don't Fly Real Fast"

An Australian builder sent the weblink to the following online article published by Recreational Aviation Australia: "Don't Fly Real Fast."

Using plain English and writing about "sport pilot" class airplanes and pilots, the writer explains the perils of overspeeding your light aircraft.

This article is just one in a series of online articles titled "Decreasing… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on March 25, 2009 at 11:38am — 3 Comments

Good day!

This was one of those days that gives you hope and keeps you coming back. After major trimming on the inboard flaperon it is reinstalled on the pivot pin and is perfect ( no rubbing on the fuselage).and then got the passenger side done followed by top glass, windscreen, both root skins trimmed to the top glass and on, as well as the seats in and riveted....... I felt like the energizer bunny today.... of course I had major help and support from my best friend in the world.... My wife. It makes… Continue

Added by Thomas Richardson on March 23, 2009 at 6:41pm — No Comments

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