normand

what make you build this aircraft if you already co-own an pa-28 ??

Hi Norm - I had originally set my prop pitch at 11 degrees and got right under 5000 rpm max. My pitch now is right over 10 and I get about 5150 rpms. Rotax recommends a minimum of about 5200 rpms. Anything less your in the neighborhood of lugging the engine. I really need to reduce the angle to about 9 degrees. I don't really have any problems. My takeoffs are short (75 - 100 ft.), I get good fuel burn but cruise is about 78 @ 5000 rpms and I stay under 1550 EGT. However, I believe I should have a little more rpm.....Yes a 70" 3 blade Warp Drive. I don't recall ever having a 90 mph cruise.

Norm

If you talk to many CH701 flyers the older flat style CH701 gear works better on floats. Higher angle of incidence and lower centre of gravity...easier to refuel on floats. The flat style gear would be left on your existing floats (permenantly mounted). Give Bob Jones in Alaska a phone call he will confirm what I say is true...my buddy Carl Bertrand also conducted take-off tests side X side with another newer style float mounted CH701 and the 80 hp old style gear actually out performed the newer set up in a CH701 with Rotax 912S 100 hp. Bob Stuart has two of the older flat style main gear. One off his CH701 that he converted, and one off a wrecked CH701 (Subaru EA81...fuel starvation).

How do you plan on lifting the CH701 to install floats? Zenith does not want you "lifting" from the wing attachment, they want you "raiseing" from underneath. I have been trying to figure how to safely do that? I lift my CH601HD with an ATV jack. At 800lbs the CH750 is a different lift.

Hey Norm...

How are your floats coming along... are you getting anywhere close to being done? I've been pretty buzy for the last while and have not been keeping up with the news.

I've been making good progress with my float development which is a lot of work, I find to be very satisfying over all. The design is working out better then I expected... I had some misgivings about the amphib gear retract system at first... but things sort of worked out to a point where I have both the castering nose wheel and main wheels design basically done. The linear actuators that I will be using are the type that have the feedback feature, so I know when the wheels are up or downI'm finished drawing up all the patterns for the bulkheads... which is quite a repeatative undertaking. Next is cutting all of the bulkhead forming blocks.

I have not decided yet... on the spreader bar tubing and the strut tubing, or the connections.

I have designed and built a rudder system which I think turned out pretty good... I will using 2 of them.

Hope you had a good Canada day... and keep in touch
Ron

Hey Normand

Are you still building?

Hey Normnd

I have a few questions on the floats you have. Perhaps you can contact me. My email is infow@mts.net
Ron

Hi everybody,

I gormy 2nd inspection done (pre-cover part 2) and found that the previous builder didn't use the right material thickness for the rear spar and some skin between the rear spar and trailing edge (bottom of wing). So, undid all rivets for the rear spar, rear brackets and rear bottom skin. Redid the rear spar parts in 0.032 all the way and started to put the wing back together.

Two wings to do, just one started. So much fun!

When I bought this project it had already been started and the guy seemed knowledgeable enough (for than me anyway). BUT, I found so many wrong things I often wonder if bying a project was such a good idea???

You out there, be careful when you buy stuff. Inspect it correctly or have someone you trust is knowledgeable check it for you.

Safe flying !

Norm

Hi Normand, I'm over in New Zealand and have just brought a new 701 and am looking to put floats on. I'm finding the price of new ones a bit hard to swallow, but may have access to some older ones, with the retractable nose wheel. Are you putting older amphibs on? I saw a discussion where it seemed you were having some fitting problems, but my french is non existant so I'm hoping you could tell me some of the issues involved in fitting old floats onto new 701's
Any help/info would be much appreciated

Cheers
Ross

Salut Normand

Yes, I am selling my plane if I can, I think i took a bigger project than my health permit me to do, but if I do not sell it it will simply take longer to finish.

No I have never flew a CH 701 before but confident to jump in when ready. If you would like to discuss anything on this topic feel free to call me. Here is my phone 819 671-6578

Michel Proulx

Hi all,

So, my second wing is down for a complete check up. Didn't find much to replace/redo. Still more stringers to add and then precover inspection (part 2). Some electricity still to do but lightning work and
tachometer to plug. Interior cosmetics is next. Getting there !

My propeller came in !!! &0inches 3 bladed Warp drive. Beauty and I tried it for size. It works just fine with the spacer I added. 8.5 inches clearence. Just what the doctor ordered !

Life's too good !

Norm

hi norm

i had a question on the stringers isnt the false ribs enough or did u encounter some oil caning or hear of it or is it just insurance?

thanks Dave

Hi Norm sorry about the slow reply but working on a start-up airline so its gets crazy at times. Looks like you are ready to paint after a lot of hard work. Per your request I used a two part system {PPG} with a base and clear coat. This approach saves work, weight, no ridge lines and hopfully a long lasting paint job. I'll post additional pictures once she is back together. I look forward to seeing your paint pictures and hearing about your first flight. Mike

Hi Norm
I think my engine was 176lb.with an alt. off a John Deere small tractor.The Alt is 4 lb. I did not wt. the rad it is under the belly.I made small pulley for the end of the crank about the same as the water pump pulley. The water pump and the alt now turn at about same speed as the engine. I took the carb off of my engine and built a carb. My breather and carb are only 2'' deep. I get from 1000 to 4600rpm with a 72'' set at 11degrees.Karlo came from Montreal to see it run. I would have had a big hump on my cowling as my engine is high. I put My battery as far back as I could in the tail it is 12 lbs. The plane is heavy for a 701 it is 670 lbs. Norm I should have got back to you sooner but I still farm and at this time of the year if I don;t get the work done now I will have no work this fall. Norm I have a 2000' grass strip on the farm with nothing at each end no trees or lines for 1000s of feet If you would like to try it give me a call, also there is a fly in breakfast at Cobden on JUNE 14 and I hope to be there.It would
be a good cross country for your cherokere. As for the paper trail I had to register it as a home built as I built it from plans or I could have registered as a basic ultralight. I would have liked an advanced ultralight but could not. Keep working on the 701Norm.
Robert Stuart

Hi Norm
I am not flying yet but very close. I am doing the paper trail.It is good to here from you.
Robert Stuart

salut Normand!!
je suis du quebec et j'aurais quelques choses qui pourrais t'interesser.
mon email: mariopratte@cgocable.ca