Hi Jim,

This little bird of yours will work out great. When I decided on the build, I had never got onboard a 701. When it was signed off, I had never flown in one either. Altough I had 150 hours of C-150/152/172 and 200 hours of PA28-160 (Cherokee), I had still no clue of what to expect... Without knowingly trying, on a high speed taxi test, the 701 and me, we got airborne and it was such a non event that I couldn't believe it happened at all !

After 18,5 hours (still restricted !) I can say that this little bird is more fun than the money I invested in it !!!

It doesn't mind Xwinds, flies true, forgives (maybe too much!!!) not-so-perfect landings and is soooooo nice all around. I KNOW you'll love it, don't worry.

As for the engine package, if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't change anything.

So trouble free...It is TROUBLING....I got tired of expecting something to go wrong and I should of done that a long time ago... I stick the key in, crank it and go !

You'll see. Let us know.

Regards,

Norm 

Hi Jim,
The Subaru is working GREAT... I heard all kind of horror stories
About auto conversions ... Well they are only STORIES if
You ask me ....
It is TROUBLE FREE in fact that is the only
Part I NEVER think about...
It starts right up never fails.

I just love this engine WOULD NEVER
IT.

Hope you get the same results.
Reards,
Norm

Hi Jim,

I remember counting down the nights...

Enjoy !

Norm

Good luck with the first flight! If you get the chance, I would love to see what changes you made to my "base" POH.

Enjoy that first flight!

Hi Jim,

They do work and very light too... Check the special tray that you can buy optional... very nice and specifically made for the battery...No need to design that ! I love your work !

Cheers

Norm

Hi Jim, Great news !

I have an Odyssey battery..Very nice and reliable. Lots of power and light.

It is a PC680 (150$) and is 15.4lbs. I got one starting my Subaru, a friend has one starting his Rotax 912uls and my hangar buddy has one starting his Rotax 914. You can even order a special tray to help mount it in an airplane !

Anyway, I'll let you know how my Beanie mod turns out and I'll post pictures as soon as I start !

Cheers,

Normand 

 

Hi Jim,

I would like to get some info from your W&B if at all possible.

I also have a Subaru engined CH701 and if you look at my page you may see some interesting infos as well!

Regards,

Normand

Hi Jim, Normand here. I'll let you know how my 701 flies as soon as I get its paperwork in order.That should be a couple more weeks. Still, I'll do more taxi runs. So far, I've seen 30mph nosewheel up, 35mph light on mains and 37-40mph no more bumps ! Elevator control seems on the heavy side, ailerons are responsive even at very low speeds.

Keep you posted.

Norm

If I'm lucky and don't make any more mods about 12 months... the process seems to take forever but ithis acrath is a whole lot of fun as compared to building from a kit.  I will know every inch of this machine when I'm finished.

 

I'm building my engine at the same time also... it's a VW Type 4 2100cc with a 1.79 redrive(my own design).  It's ready to put together... I'm waiting on the final set of parts to come for my redrive.

 

I'm also building 4 wheel  Amphib floats when I find time or if I get bored I switch back and forth.

Won't be able to call it a 701 now with all of the mods!

Ron

Thanks Jim...

 

What my plan is to add 82mm to the width of my FWF, starting from the front of the rear fuselage.  I will have to modify around 24 parts.  I have also added 50mm to the height af my panel and firewall!  So my firewall will be 32" wide and 26" high. My panel is 36.65" by 10.47" high.  A huge benefit is the cabin now will be 44.24" wide plus if I add bubble doors another 4"!

 

One problem is I will have to make a new windshild annd main landing gear(82mm wider)... I don't expect that to presemt to much of a problem.  I guess as you have probably found out... if you are scatch building this sort of works to your advantage!  Other mods that I've planned are a longer wing(+2.5')(750 style)... no slats a wider stab/elev(full 8") an I have gotton rid of the upside down stabilizer and now have a more streamined symmetrical stabilizer and elevator!.  Also a Beany Mod will be added over the cabin area.  These are just some of the mods that I have done!

 

Ron 

Hey Jim...

Did you widen all of the FWF when you added 5" to the width. How wide is your firewall now?  I'm having a problem with that narrow stock firewall and looking at addine 82mm(3.25") to the width of the FWF!

Ron

Jim
Thanks for the response. I can see that when the time comes to put the airplane back on its legs I will want to have you make a gear set. zenith is so backed up with orders that I have been waiting 1 1/2 months for the parts to arrive and yet they still have not sent them. Its hurry up and wait.
Steven and Tara

Jim
Im glad to hear that I seam to be on the right path. Thanks for the information on what to look for and what changes need to take place with the wide cabin. My background is all aviation. I work for an airline in maintenance. I have worked for the same airline for over 26 years. I flew for a year as a comercial pilot for the same airline. I prefer staying home and playing mechanic. I am sick and tired of flying high and fast. I need to fly low and slow. Thats why we bought this plane. But when the plane arrived, the workmanship was bad. NOt a streight rivet on the plane. So I decided to overhaul it to more of a reasonably safe standard. Then Zenith came out with the 750 and I knew that I had to have the visability. So I am looking to the 750 as a goal to guide my restoration where I can. Cant wait to fly this thing.
Steven
p.s. what would you charge to build a new main gear spring for me?

Jim
we are restoring the fuselage with new skins and using new longerons from the ch750. I have dissasembled the fuse and essentially compleate frame up restoration. I am going to be starting with a new cabin floor panel that is going to copy the old with the exception that it is going to be wider at the "a" post and the "b" posts at the doorway. Same doorway, just wider across at the hips.
I would like to see your pics when you have them available
Steven and Tara

Jim I am adding 8 inches across my 701 cabin. any suggestions and or pics?
thanks Steven

Jim,

After flying this STOL CH 701 for a while, to fly a Cessna Skyhawk seems like going back to the Dark Age ! To keep my PPL current, I have to fly some heavier plane (than 701) every once in a while. I am arranging to fly a J-3 with VG's and forget the Cessnas. In my last flight, the J-3 VG gave me a firm control right to touchdown. Another way out may be to un-register my ultralight 701, and re- register it as an experimental airplane, with higher annual fee and requires an A&P mechanic to sign each and every maintenance job.

Champ

Hi Jim,
Yes I'm building from scratch, at times it seems like a never ending project( like when I make a mistake like big smileys in the elevator skin:^( ) but overall I'm having a ball and learning a lot.

Hi Jim,

The extreme nose high attitude with high power was done on purpose. A kind of show off. I'd rather hear the good report of VG's on wings with slats but nothing heard so far.

Champ

Hi Jim,
My 701 wings are being made with no slats and a longer wing. This combo seems to not effect CG balance. But if you make the nose ribs longer would this not cause a problem?
Also I like the seat back glove box and the airfoil cabin top. Thinking about it, gives you a chance to use sight gauges for fuel level....guess I'm cheap!

Kevin