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Happy Flying 601XL

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japhillipsga(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:13 am Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Dear Fellow Builders and Flyers, I am sure tired, bored and bothered by all the discord concerning our planes and our feelings and such. So to make those that can care I'll relay this story. I have been so busy with work, family and commitments over the last few months my flying time has been sharply curtailed. But last evening a fellow from up north of Atlanta thinking about building an XL wanted to drive down (about 2 hours one way) just to set in my plane. So at at 5:00 there he was at the hanger and I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to show off "Babe Doll." He had not built a plane and as a rather large fellow was concerned about how he would fit inside. After about an hour my new friend departed. I was tired and hunger, but it had started to cool down and no wind at all as the sun was slipping so I pre-flighted and pulled her out. The Jab purred to life happily and tugged on me to go even before the oil temps got up. Down 30 we went and lifting off gave   a cooling blast of air. Up to 4K she drove at only about 1000 fpm. Density attitude being the griping hand she was fighting. I sailed around for a while looking at the pine forests getting darker and a few house lights flicker. Tapped the cht to confirm # 4 had dropped under 300 degrees and just enjoy the evening air. Hardy anybody was on the air and I felt so proud of the XL and what she was allowing me to do with her. I zipped back to the field and dead sticked back in just as it was turning dark. As I flaired the field lights came up and the instant I touched I knew I just had to have a couple more landings. I just was not ready to end the pleasure the 601XL was providing. I pushed power, the AOA LRI said she would fly and I released forward pressure on the stick and up we zoomed. I made a couple more Touch and Go's and each touch was a whisper. It was such a lingering rush. As I taxied back to the hanger in the dark, hearing the Jab protest and seeing the reflecting ligh  t   of the strobes I was reassured I had built a good plane, that flyi ng is the best thing you can do with your clothes on and all was right with the world. Folks, build your planes and enjoy them. Best wishes from Bill of Georgia 

 

 

 

 --

carlossa52(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:42 am Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Bill, thanks a lot for this posting... we need more like this !

Carlos

CH601-HD, plans

tail feathers and right wing done, assembling left wing.



do not archive



2008/6/9  <japhillipsga(at)aol.com (japhillipsga(at)aol.com)>:

 [quote]... I just was not ready to end the pleasure the 601XL was providing. I pushed power, the AOA LRI said she would fly and I released forward pressure on the stick and up we zoomed. I made a couple more Touch and Go's and each touch was a whisper. It was such a lingering rush. As I taxied back to the hanger in the dark, hearing the Jab protest and seeing the reflecting ligh  t   of the strobes I was reassured I had built a good plane, that flyi ng is the best thing you can do with your clothes on and all was right with the world. Folks, build your planes and enjoy them. Best wishes from Bill of Georgia 

 [b]

psm(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Thanks, Bill



A truly inspiring story.



Paul

XL fuselage

do not archive



At 12:10 PM 6/9/2008, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Dear Fellow Builders and Flyers, I am sure tired, bored and bothered 

by all the discord concerning our planes and our feelings and such. 

So to make those that can care I'll relay this story. I have been so 

busy with work, family and commitments over the last few months my 

flying time has been sharply curtailed. But last evening a fellow 

from up north of Atlanta thinking about building an XL wanted to 

drive down (about 2 hours one way) just to set in my plane. So at at 

5:00 there he was at the hanger and I certainly enjoyed the 

opportunity to show off "Babe Doll." He had not built a plane and as 

a rather large fellow was concerned about how he would fit inside. 

After about an hour my new friend departed. I was tired and hunger, 

but it had started to cool down and no wind at all as the sun was 

slipping so I pre-flighted and pulled her out. The Jab purred to 

life happily and tugged on me to go even before the oil temps got 

up. Down 30 we went and lifting off gave a cooling blast of air. Up 

to 4K she drove at only about 1000 fpm. Density attitude being the 

griping hand she was fighting. I sailed around for a while looking 

at the pine forests getting darker and a few house lights flicker. 

Tapped the cht to confirm # 4 had dropped under 300 degrees and just 

enjoy the evening air. Hardy anybody was on the air and I felt so 

proud of the XL and what she was allowing me to do with her. I 

zipped back to the field and dead sticked back in just as it was 

turning dark. As I flaired the field lights came up and the instant 

I touched I knew I just had to have a couple more landings. I just 

was not ready to end the pleasure the 601XL was providing. I pushed 

power, the AOA LRI said she would fly and I released forward 

pressure on the stick and up we zoomed. I made a couple more Touch 

and Go's and each touch was a whisper. It was such a lingering rush. 

As I taxied back to the hanger in the dark, hearing the Jab protest 

and seeing the reflecting ligh t of the strobes I was reassured I 

had built a good plane, that flyi ng is the best thing you can do 

with your clothes on and all was right with the world. Folks, build 

your planes and enjoy them. Best wishes from Bill of Georgia

cookwithgas

Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: Happy Flying 601XL

Scott Laughlin checking in here.  Bill, I was just thinking similar thoughts when I opened up your email.   I just had a similar experience. This morning the weather looked favorable for a change so I skipped work and met a flight instructor at my hangar and fired up the Corvair/601XL.  It just flew so well and for two hours I did 15 landings and take-offs.  It was a sunny day with a 4kt crosswind and it was pure joy.  I used full flaps on every landing.  I'm really bonding with my 601XL.  It is all becoming second nature to me to fly and land this thing.  I'm expecting to solo the next time we get some good weather here in Nebraska - hopefully later in the week.  I filled her up with some $4.90 a gallon blue gas and tucked her away in anticipation of some more flight time this week.



That will bring me one more dream-come-true for my first solo to be in the airplane I built in my garage.  For the builders still working on an XL, keep building and dreaming because the airplane is a real joy to fly.  



Thanks Bill for sharing your experience - it's great to hear some good news on this list.  



Scott Laughlin

Omaha, Nebraska

601XL/Corvair

Finished & Flying, 63.5 hours

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Scott - are you going to be at Oshkosh? Are you going to fly your XL to

Oshkosh?



-- Craig



--

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: Happy Flying 601XL

I really hate you guys that have completed your build. I look so forward to finishing a day of work and being able to head out to the airport for a few laps around the pattern in the plane I built. 



Keep up the flying and feel free to fill my e-mail box with stories like these anytime the mood strikes.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

amyvega2005(at)earthlink.
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

All;

I recently took a great flight i 'd thought to share. Last saterday was a great day to fly, however daddy duties gobbled most of the day.  After dinner the air became calm with 10 mile vis.  With only 30 minutes of sun, i decided to go any way.  Arriving at th airport I did the usual preflight,  check all bolts, check oil, vis check on gas quantity.  Right tank had a good 10 gallons in it so hopping in i switched to that tank.  It was 10 minutes to sunset so on came the strobes and nav lights.  I also have a 2 foot long neck light that i put red tinnt glass on for in flight cabin lighting.   Turning the engine to start , and she cranked up to her usual 800 rpm purrr.  Canopy shut, I did run up, checked the Jabiru mags for their 20 rpm drop, and was cleared for take off. 

I turned the  Transponder to active, fuel [pump on, and accerlated at 2850 rpm to 51 mph, and hit Vy 65. Up we climbed Rivet and I, at 74 mph at 1100 ft per mintue into the still Florida air. shutting the fuel pump off, i  cleared to switch frequency and  monitored the Tampa Control TCA . headed out towards the gulf of mexico to watch the sun set.  Leveling off, I hit the dimmer on the Dynons, and th cabin was filled with a nice comfortable glow.  At 5500 ft I trimmed for 125 mph and set the plane for 5 gal/hr burn at lean of peak EGT, settling in as the sun set.   Watching that sun go down in the best seat in the house!  stayed up in the still air at 5500 ft out over the gulf for 1 hr after sunset. and called in the tower for landing." 427JV you are 8 miles west inbound for runway 7, cleared to land, winds 120 at 1. Yes, 1. altimeter 30.08."  I repeated everything back and trimmed for 95 and set the rpm at 2100.  PLane decended at 550 per minute, and set for night landing, trim, throttle set, flap at below 80 mph, trim for speed, and lower to 1600 rpm. Landing light on and theere popped the runway.  Greased her in holding the nose off until 20 mph, then she settled the nose.  and put her away for the night.  I went home and slept like a baby.  



Juan



--

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Group.



I ve been out flying also.  After a day of building I ve run into a six pack 

of Miller Genuine Draft...

Geeze I m about 8 thousand feets in the air right bout now.   I ll be 

landing in the morning but til then wish me luck>     Roger over and 

ouit....

Man my Jabiru is runnning good..   This is the best I must say....

I m soo happy,  I have a XL that is beautiful and I cant wait til my 40 

huors are flown off so I can take other persons and people up.......



Nite, nite....

---

LHusky(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Well, although my XL is not done yet, I want to share yesterdays flight  with my wife.  We took a Cessna 172 over the Cascade Mountains yesterday  for the first time.  I have only had my ticket a week, but the weather was  clear, calm and beautiful.  We flew 90 miles to the Willamette  Valley.  I flew 8500 feet there and 9500 feet back.  That is the  highest I have ever been and the view was spectacular!  My wife took some  great pictures and I just enjoyed the heck out of the day.  We stopped and  visited family, ate dinner and then headed back.  I was really pumped up  about working on the plane.  Having my ticket now is a major step towards  my dream.  I am hoping to have my plane done by the end of the year.   We have 300 VFR days here and I am hoping to be done with testing and ready  to go places by next spring.  We will see though.  

I will be  putting composite gear on this weekend and should have a rolling fuselage by the  end of the weekend.  Canopy will be next and then on to the engine.  I  am planning to go down to Dragonfly Aviation and getting some dual time in an XL  trainer when I get close to being done.  If your still working on your  ticket, KEEP  GOING!!  It is so worth the time and money!  I am  having a blast!!  I now have 79.1 hours and building.  

  

 Take care, 

  

 Larry Husky 

 Madras, Oregon



Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008.

sdthatcher

Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 91
Location: Port Saint Lucie

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:51 am Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Hi Bill, Scott, Juan, & Larry



Great stories. From the Gulf of Mexico and Georgia to Nebraska and the 

Northwest, it gives us all a chance to feel the excitement of faraway places 

in the 601XL (mostly). Just a few more hours in the pattern and I'll be off 

to early morning and late afternoon flights.  I'm feeling more and more 

comfortable flying the 601XL.



BTW, have any of you noticed when landing that you lose sight of the runway 

when doing a full stall landing?  I switch my sight to the left and as far 

forward as I can during the landing and so far have greased every one of the 

landings. The plane lands so easily it has been a non-event, so far. I 

haven't tried to drive the aircraft to the runway yet as I'm pretty old 

school about landings but it would sure be nice to see the runway during the 

landing 



Scott Thatcher, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

601XL with Corvair, Registered as E-LSA

N601EL, http://placestofly.com, EAA203

_________________
Scott Thatcher, Port Saint Lucie, FL
601XL with Corvair, Registered as E-LSA
N601EL, EAA203 140 hours and not flying currently.

japhillipsga(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:27 am Post subject: Happy Flying 601XL

Scott, I had to make me a booster pad to get my head up, but you are correct that depending on how nose high you are at flair the strip will disappear. Then I shift to left for judgement. I have once in the past made a too high nose up and scraped the rear tie loop. I'm real glad there is no video of that landing. Ha. best regards, Bill 

 

 

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