Dear friends and fellow builders,

The summer flying is over, the lawn mowing is done, the garden veggies are in the freezer and the leaves are raked and hauled away. Winter is setting in once more in Pennsylvania so its time to tuck my 701 safely away.

Its been two years since my first flight and this little aircraft has taken me twenty seven thousand miles to places I would not have considered driving. Most important were the people I met along the way. Last year at the MID EAST FLY IN was Jeff, Robert, Larry, and Jeff from New York, fellow Zenith owners.

Then on to Missouri, to better know Zenith employees also to the high altitudes of Utah New Mexico, and Arizona.

Flying into high altitude landing strips, high winds, and hostile terrain gave me confidence as to what this plane could handle. Flying three-hour legs three times a day proved the cabin was comfortable enough to do a fifty-five hour nineteen-day trip.

This year due to weather we missed the MID EAST FLY IN instead we got to meet John of OHIO BUSH PLANES toured his private strip then on to Hartzell Propeller and a factory tour arranged by Larry.

We then went on to Zenith open house, and then to the famous grass strip at Lee Bottom where we got to meet Rich and Ginger the owners, then crossed West Virginia back to Pennsylvania.


This trip was twenty-five hours, just half of last years’, however the many fly-ins attended more than made up for flying time.

Unlike flying general aviation where most trips are flown at five to seven thousand feet, talking to controllers all day, going direct from point A to point B, rental cars, motels, and so on. Sport flying opens a whole new world. Most flying is to small grass strips and flying at three thousand feet or lower keeps you away from the faster traffic, and offers the best scenery. Being retired and not having a tight schedule and making provisions to carry camping gear and food leads to a carefree and enjoyable trip.

I find fly-ins are more than the “one hundred dollar hamburger”. In addition to supporting other EAA chapters the sight of a field full of aircraft attracts many non-flyers, who would not have stopped to look around. In addition to sitting under the wing to watch the skill of other pilots landing and departing, many of the non-flyers are entire families with children. Children as well as interested adults are invited to sit in my plane, put on the headset and be photographed. This breaks the ice with the parents and many will ask questions about flying. To my amazement more girls than boys take the offer. I think more women than men pilots are our future.

I write this in the hope that all you who are still building stay at it, for in the near future you too will have a plane that will take you wherever you decide to go.

Well its time to get the BobCat ready to move snow, continue with projects in my wood work shop,

continue restoring the old farmhouse, all the while dreaming of places my 701 will hake me in the future . . . .

I thank you for your friendship and wish all a HAPPY AND JOYOUS CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

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Comment by Jonathan Porter on December 22, 2010 at 12:34pm

Afishia Pa (which means 'May the new year greet you' in a local language here in West Africa... lovely photos and story... thank you

 

Comment by Jim Belcher on December 21, 2010 at 9:52am
Merry Christmas from far west Texas!
Comment by Bill Carter on December 20, 2010 at 8:41pm

What a great inspiring story!

I hope you will stop to visit us at American Light Sport Aircrafters if/when you come to the Zenith Factory next year.

We will be opening the doors to our builder assist center near to the factory here in Mexico, MO in January 2011 and would love to have you stop by. Be sure to bring a picture of your plane so we can post it on our wall.

I have to say your 701 looks great, and you are doing a tremendous job on the house too!

Best of luck,

Bill Carter

American Light Sport Aircrafters

Comment by Larry Zetterlind on December 19, 2010 at 7:51pm

Great Post Temos, Hope to see you again next year!

Comment by Lee Engel on December 13, 2010 at 5:43pm

I like any kit Zenith puts out and my wife loves your dining room !.   Lee

Comment by Bob McDonald on December 9, 2010 at 3:43pm
Great post, thanks for sharing.
Don't put your CH701 away in the winter...put it on skis !
Comment by Sebastien Heintz on December 9, 2010 at 12:39pm
Temos: We look forward to having you visit us again next year...
Happy Holidays!
Sebastien
Comment by Zenith.Aero on December 9, 2010 at 11:00am
Great post!
Comment by Doug Dugger on December 9, 2010 at 10:17am
Thanks for sharing. Your use of the Zenith 701 is just what we all would like to be doing. Fantastic trips and great places to visit if you ever make it to northern Calif please stop at Qsp and visit for awhile after all we are in the Calif wine country, Have a great winter. Cloverdale Calif O60 qspinfo@gmail.com

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