Hi Paul...I had virtually zero issues from the first test flight in my CH601HD. It has the Rotax 912S with slipper clutch and warp drive prop. It seems to be a bullet-proof engine. My Zodiac HD is not the most stable in flight either. The huge wing and the Zodiac's light weight mean that I do get bounced around quite a bit, especially on warm days when thermals are in play. I did try the Vortex generators but I didn't see that much of a change in stall speeds or handling. Regardless, my CH601HD flies pretty straight. It does drop fast on final ....kinda like a brick if I flair to early.... I'm planning to install an auto-pilot and vertical hold system this year so that I can enjoy the scenery a little more,...Also building a CH701 Sky Jeep ...just for the fun of it...
Your feelings about flying your Zodiac XL are exactly the same as mine. I have done 35 hours in my aircraft and I have been too scared to take passengers up in it. I am waiting on the up grade kit. But even after I have installed all the kit I will be very reluctant to start flying the Zodiac XL until I know that there has been some independent scientific testing done on the airframe.
Bearing in mind that I am not an engineer, Is it possible to put a full size Zodiac XL in a wind tunnel and test it to destruction ?
Kind regards,
Rick Morris.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the FAA report. There certainly needs to be more independent scientific testing of the upgrade kit. I would also be very happy to contribute money to help carry out the tests. My completed Zodiac XL has been sitting in my hangar for nearly three years now and I am too scared to fly it until I know why the wings have been falling off.
Kind regards,
Rick Morris.
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Hi Paul...I had virtually zero issues from the first test flight in my CH601HD. It has the Rotax 912S with slipper clutch and warp drive prop. It seems to be a bullet-proof engine. My Zodiac HD is not the most stable in flight either. The huge wing and the Zodiac's light weight mean that I do get bounced around quite a bit, especially on warm days when thermals are in play. I did try the Vortex generators but I didn't see that much of a change in stall speeds or handling. Regardless, my CH601HD flies pretty straight. It does drop fast on final ....kinda like a brick if I flair to early.... I'm planning to install an auto-pilot and vertical hold system this year so that I can enjoy the scenery a little more,...Also building a CH701 Sky Jeep ...just for the fun of it...
I have a CH601HD...It's a tank...
Your feelings about flying your Zodiac XL are exactly the same as mine. I have done 35 hours in my aircraft and I have been too scared to take passengers up in it. I am waiting on the up grade kit. But even after I have installed all the kit I will be very reluctant to start flying the Zodiac XL until I know that there has been some independent scientific testing done on the airframe.
Bearing in mind that I am not an engineer, Is it possible to put a full size Zodiac XL in a wind tunnel and test it to destruction ?
Kind regards,
Rick Morris.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the FAA report. There certainly needs to be more independent scientific testing of the upgrade kit. I would also be very happy to contribute money to help carry out the tests. My completed Zodiac XL has been sitting in my hangar for nearly three years now and I am too scared to fly it until I know why the wings have been falling off.
Kind regards,
Rick Morris.
It looks like you are getting close to finishing your 601.
Tommy
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