March 2010 Blog Posts (17)

Start of a long road...

I bought my aluminium and steel from Performance Metals (NSW) around a year ago, March 2009. Very impressed with the service from Performance Metals - they delivered quickly, the sheets were very well packed, and the Chupa Chups hidden in the package were a pleasant surprise!


After picking up the package from the Hobart docks, I built a set of 5 racks topped with a worktop. The logistics of building racks to hold 12' x 4' sheets, and being able to access them, was…
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Added by Marty de la Motte on March 31, 2010 at 6:26am — No Comments

Aircraft Insurance

I just got the bill for my 701 insurance. I thought would be interesting to compare rates with other's.

I'm from Canada and my 701 is registered as a Advance Ultralight. My deductible is $1500. My Insurance consists of All Risk Flight & Ground, Hull Value $50,000. 3rd Party Liability Coverage $1,000,000. Passenger Coverage $300,000. My Annual Fee is $2400. This cover my wife also who is a student pilot and will be taking lesson on our 701…

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Added by Debra and Patrick Nesbitt on March 30, 2010 at 2:00pm — 5 Comments

Upgrade Complete N663F flys again

I finished the upgrade today and logged a .5 flying. I received the kit the middle of Feb so it took 6 weeks to get it together.

Plane flew fine. I need to look at the rudder rigging as it took more effort to keep the ball centered then before. Other then that, it flew like it did before the upgrade.

Floyd Wilkes

601XL N663F flying again!!

Added by Floyd Wilkes on March 29, 2010 at 6:45pm — 3 Comments

Corvair Engine Prints

These files are scans of the original Corvair Engine prints and converted to PDF format. The links go to google docs and are downloadable there.

Enjoy,



Description Filename

Gear Crankshaft Dated 7-22-58 6256600…

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Added by Ron Lendon on March 27, 2010 at 9:24pm — 2 Comments

Upgrade Complete, N554SG Flies!

Well my 601XL upgrade is now complete. The post-upgrade test flight occurred yesterday, March 23, and things went great. The sun was going down so I went up for three quick touch and go’s. The first thing I noticed was no oil can popping noises any more. I only got to 100 MPH so it will be interesting to see if they are gone at high speed also. In my short flight I did not notice any changes…

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Added by David Gallagher on March 24, 2010 at 6:53am — 11 Comments

601XL with O235 Lycoming

I am installing a Lyc. Promotional material indicates a empty weight a about 800 lbs. I believe the MOD will increase this by about 25 lbs. Some of you have completed the MOD. How do your weights compare? For Lyc users-Empty Weight? Regular or light weight starters and alternators? Prop type,pitch,dia? Cruse speed? Rate of fuel burn at a specific power setting. Where is your battery? What does it weigh. Did you have to add ballast and where? Anything else?

Added by Edward A. Hamilton on March 22, 2010 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

O-235 powered Zodiac ZL

I'm using a O235 Lyc and would like to hear from other builders.
Weight with or without paint? Lightweight starter/alternator? Type and location of battery? Fuel tanks? Prop-Make/Dia/Pitch? Cruise speed at what RPM? Any thing else that comes to mind. Ed Hamilton (609)971-8757(30 mi North of Atlantic Cith NJ)

Added by Edward A. Hamilton on March 15, 2010 at 10:13am — 2 Comments

Nylon Torque bearing

I decided to use 3/16" nylon as a bearing since I had some and I need to move forward for the inspection. Once the metal bearing is unbolted, the torque tube can be pulled forward and out of the airplane. The front stop and control stick were removed. I'm going to keep it lubed with white lithium grease or similar.



Steve Smith mentioned wear on the front bearing. My concern was placing the new nylon bearing in behind the stop ring and moving… Continue

Added by Jake Reyna on March 14, 2010 at 8:47am — 4 Comments

Back in the air in Aussie

Zenair Australia's Demo 601 XL is back in the air after being fitted with the upgrade kit



The first flight was just before last light on the 12/3/10. It flew just great I did not notice any great change, It was just great getting back into the air again.



Here are a few pics of the Red Nose Beast coming out of the hangar.…











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Added by Allan / Zenair Australia on March 12, 2010 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

Installing the upgrade...some tips, tricks and a few snafus

Ok, so I got the "upgrade" kit Monday. Already had started to drill things apart and had it ready so I could inventory and start locating and installing the kit. A few things I have to say first off, well packed, marked and nice quality of the metal and hardware. But, after studying the drawings a bit I was a little confused, to say the least, on what part went where. I went to school and got an ASS degree in CADD and have been an A&P for 20 yrs. I currently work at a FAA certified Repair… Continue

Added by Timothy R Mix on March 11, 2010 at 5:09pm — 6 Comments

"Don't Give Up Your Dreams"

I was pleasantly surprised to read about Tim Garrett in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last night:





Read the full story: St. Louis Post-Dispatch



Many of you have probably met Tim at one of Zenith's… Continue

Added by Sebastien Heintz on March 11, 2010 at 12:30pm — 2 Comments

CH750 Quick Build Kit

Shipped another QBK, today!

Bon Voyage!

Added by Russell Lepre' on March 9, 2010 at 10:54am — 2 Comments

701 Taildragger

I am building a 701 taildragger. I looked at the plans and they are nov very clear. any info or photos on the tailwheel installation would be helpful.

Added by Albert E Lewallen on March 8, 2010 at 1:38pm — 1 Comment

CH601 HDS Wing Tanks

Hi All,

I came across this photograph several years ago. It is in the wing of either a CH601HD or HDS. I am trying to locate the builder as I'm interested in doing something similar myself.

Does anyone recognise the photo ???

Added by John Livsey on March 7, 2010 at 2:20am — 4 Comments

Polish techneques

Greetings all,



Jake and I were talking the other day and came up with this question:



Has anyone out there used Scotch Brite pads to prepare the aircraft surface for polishing?



We were thinking of putting the Scotch Brite on a orbital sander pad and start working smoothing out



the grain, using red, brown, gray and finally white pads prior to using Nuvite.



I have the info published on matronics, Swift and Airstream and have started to polish with the… Continue

Added by Mack P. Kreizenbeck on March 2, 2010 at 3:10pm — 3 Comments

Two upgrades in 13 days at QSP

Would you pay this man to help you upgrade your airplane? We did and it worked out much better then the picture would suggest.



This blog is not a how-to. There have been plenty of well done how-to blogs. It’s just some pictures with a few words attached.



Three years ago my brother Alan and I (with lots of help) built a pair of 601s…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on March 2, 2010 at 12:30am — 16 Comments

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