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300 hours of building progress on a 601XL

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PatrickW

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:44 pm Post subject: 300 hours of building progress on a 601XL

I'm building a 601XL from component kits, buying one component after finishing the previous one.  I just noticed that I recently I passed the 300 hour mark on my tracking spreadsheet. 



Where has that time gone...?  Here is what I've accomplished in those 300 hours: 



Tail - Done (did the rudder at a Zenith workshop - highly recommended). 

Wings - Done.

Corvair Engine - Cam/crank/pistons/cylinders installed.  Done as far as possible with the parts I have on hand.

Fuselage - working on rear half.



I think I'm about average as far as my rate of progress as a first-time builder.  I started a little over a year ago, and went kinda slow during the summer as I ran out of work between the time I finished the wings and got the fuselage crate.   When I was between component kits I would work on the engine.



Knowing what I know now, what would I do different?



1)  Buy the Harbor Freight rivet gun right from the git-go.

2)  Order engine parts early.  Lead times here may well be the determining factor on the project completion time for faster builders.

3)  Start sooner.  



What have I done that "I'm glad I did"?



1)  Got my pilot's license first, then chose to build a plane.

2)  Flew various different airplanes before choosing the XL.

3)  Flew several different XL's.

4)  Converted my garage into a shop.  It's nice to be able to walk between the garage and the kitchen.

5)  Got involved with local EAA.  I found a chapter (25) that has a lot of members who are builders.

6)  Attend Corvair College and the Zenith Builders Dinner and other similar events to meet other people like me.



I think I've got a reasonably good chance to see this thing through to the finish and actually fly it...



Patrick 

XL/Corvair

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rroberts

Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Birmingham, AL USA

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:00 am Post subject: Re: 300 hours of building progress on a 601XL

Well put Patrick...keep on plugging away ans soon we'll be reading about you're 1st launch!

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_________________
Low & Slow
Rick
www.n701rr.com
www.ricksplace.info

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