Last Tuesday was my Final Inspection by the Transport Canada delegate. All went fine with no snags. Just waiting for the Certificate of Airworthiness now....

I’m back from OSH, but had a few seconds of severe turbulence that damaged the plane.  I was flying Zenith 650 about 32 miles south of Big Timber airport (approaching Springtime, MT) in moderate winds and very light turbulence.  Certainly very common in any type flying.  Nothing that bounced me out of the seat.  I was hand flying instead of auto-pilot as the…

???Please report your experience with the Prince propeller on a Zodiac 601XLB with the Jabiru 3300 Engine.  It would be nice to hear your Static, climb and cruise numbers.  Knowing how the CHT & EGT temps are affected would be helpful. Fuel burn and other engine info please.??? 

I been reading about the P-tip carbon fiber coning prop by Prince.  58x48 are the dimension that they recommend for my A/C.  My Current prop split on the tip and I am about to buy a new prop. 

Recently, We replaced the Bing Carby w/ a Rotec's 40 TBI to my Jabiru 3300.  Here the results: (After 25 hours running)  Still using same throttle system and air box system.   

1. Now can reach 2850 rpm in static run-up.

2. Shorter lift off distance.

3. Fuel burn @ cruise 5gph.

4. EGTs closer.  CHTs cooler.

5. Able to control mixture.

6. Very easy Starts.

7. Only use electric fuel pump for first start of day w/ primer once.

8. Climb…

Here are four video clips of the trip to the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Florida:

Part 1: Flying the STOL CH 750 and the Zenith CH 650 south.... The STOL CH 750 as seen from the Zenith CH 650.

Southern Missouri and western Tennessee. January 15, 2013.

Part 2: Arrival at Sebring Regional Airport, as seen from the Zenith…

The show last month was a great success as we celebrated a new beginning for Zenair in Europe. On display was the first new and much-anticipated factory-assembled and Italian-built light-weight CH 650Ei (European ultralight category)!

Designer Chris Heintz was present as well as production personnel from ICP - and regional distributors from nine different European countries!…

The May 2012 issue of Pilot magazine features the sleek Zenith CH…

Even though the 2012 Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo (January 19 -22, 2012) event ended over a week ago, I only just made it back home from the trip this past Friday (and I didn't spend the week on the beach).  Following is a brief summary of the trip as well as some commentary on the planes and cross-country flying:…

We finally had the chance to document some basic performance numbers of our new CH 650 with the UL Power UL350iS engine.  Yesterday was a beautiful autumn day so Zenith demo pilot Roger and I took the CH 650 up for a…

In a letter dated June 24, 2011, Terry Allen, manager of the FAA Production and Airworthiness Division, stated that the Evaluation Team determined that the kit will “allow an amateur builder to meet the major portion requirement of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Parts, § 21.191(g),” known as the…

Last month, Roger, my brother Mat and I visited Buzzy Devoll of Buzzair Flight Academy located Carson City, Navada.  Buzzy and his wife, Aumie, operate the full-service flight school with a nice new Zodiac CH 601 XL-B S-LSA trainer which is available for flight training, check-rides, and aircraft rental for flying in the scenic area around Lake Tahoe.…

As most of you know, American Light Sport Aircrafters have been holding a Tail Section Workshop which runs in conjunction with the Zenith Rudder Worksop each month here at our facility in Mexico, MO.

Each month I am asked if we have considered doing others so it became clear that there are literally hundreds of subjects concerning kit building that could be covered in…

Photo of damaged tail section ready for trailering.  Prop ate rudder & elevator to the hinges and bent stabilizer.  This damaged the upper longerons at the mount points to stabilizer.  Repair is estimated to take five weeks.   

Next photo of a/c w/ wings removed for trailering.  Look closely at tail to see that it is gone.…

A beautiful day to fly, and then...

01/29/2011

On RWY36 at KBRL, 30yards from taxiway A2, a Cummingham Model 1 biplane struck the rear of my 601XL-B during landing and roll out.  The PIC of the biplane came straight in one hour before dark on a ferry flight.  The biplane was w/o radio and lights.  After entering the pattern, calling my positions &…

• Here are the paint scheme submissions (photo gallery).

As we're completing our new CH 650 B demonstrator plane, we're…

Well I just wanted to keep everyone updated with all that has been happening here since we have announced that we are opening our new Builder Assist Center near the Zenith Factory in Mexico, MO.

As with building aircraft, there are a number of steps that must be…

This would be an ideal time of year to hear from the Zenith forums & bloggers about their tried and true ways to preheat their aircraft. Please posts your ideas and share how you get her warmed up for Winter flight.

On my 500 hour 601XL-B, I use an electric automotive oil pan heat pad (45 mins.) and I also use the electric small milkhouse heater (45 mins.) (the one posted on the Jabiru site). I put a flexible metal tube on the heater and…

Despite a very wet beginning, we had a great time once again at AirVenture and really enjoyed meeting both existing and new builders from around the world. Following is a summary of our week:



Heading to Oshkosh from our factory in Mexico, Missouri: The STOL CH 750 as seen from the STOL CH 801:…

After aprox. 70 hours and $600.00, we "Got-r-Done". Thanks to my friends and Brother Bo we are back in the air. We were short A5 rivets, too. Another Zodiac builder came up with rivets over the weekend to keep us popping w/o a break in the action. I bought the angle drill attachemnt this blog recommended and we installed new Sonex rubber bushings on the Jabiru engine mount. Got a local tow truck operator to haul for us this time.

As for the upgrade, our a/c had no signs of wear or…