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 Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 1:29 am Post subject: Welcome to the neighborhood! |
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Congratulations on the choice to build from scratch! I'm relatively new to Zenith aircraft and this forum as well. I started building a 601XL from scratch about four months ago. It should say something about the simplicity of the design, that I've completed the entire tail and 3/4 of the fuselage in those three months. And that was from sheets of aluminum! 
I may open a can of worms here, but the assembly instructions suck (It's called Grammar people!) and The prints are borderline at best. Maybe it's too many years in precision fabrication, but I was FAR less than impressed. That said: the airplane is fantastic! (Where else can you find a complete airframe for less than $2300 in materials?!) I've only been at the controls a few times, but I can hardly bring myself to get back in a 172. lol Rely on the prints and a few basics from the instructions and you'll do fine. I've found the answer to any question I have had on one of the many builders' web sites out there.
Access to the press brakes will be invaluable, but a word of warning. I've never met an HVAC mechanic that knew what a Bend Radius was. Make sure they use the correct tooling, or wrap the punch tip to reach the correct radius. (FYI: The first few skins they screw up would buy you a cheap 48" brake at $100 a sheet for aluminum.)
Again, welcome to the neighborhood, and don't let my negativity about the plans influence your decision. The 601 really is a great little plane.
jsimons2 <jsimons4(at)triad.rr.com> wrote:
Maybe I should introduce myself first. I've been lurking around here since January and have really learned a lot just by reading the forums every day. I'm a 52 (almost 53) year old electrical inspector who has had the flying bug since about 1970, but real life got in the way of doing anything about it. I started on this serious quest to get an aircraft and a ppl about 2 years ago (when it finally hit me that my kids were grown, gone and I didn't have to "pay" for them anymore). My brother in law is a commercial pilot working for LabCorp and has taken me up a few times, mostly to make sure my dream has not died.
I have considered the XL and still am. I just like the looks of the slightly cantilevered wings on the HDS. I want to build a plane that is comfortable, has plenty of speed for cross country and economical to operate (hence, considering the Corvair conversion). The wing baggage lockers was one of the main reasons for considering the HDS over the XL, however, speed and handleing is of more importance. I have yet to begin flight training but have been around aircraft a good part of my life (Navy, VietNam vet working on flight deck of an aircraft carrier in catapults and arresting gear). I have many construction skills from being an electrician for over 28 years, so trying to build an aircraft and reading blueprints doesn't scare me.
By the way, I won't need a sheet metal break to build my plane. I already have 3 heating and air shops offering me the use of their 8' commercial breaks just to see an aircraft built. Lol, lucky me.
I've learned a lot here and hope to learn even more as my building progresses. Thanks to all.
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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=36763#36763
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jsimons2
Joined: 26 May 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Burlington, NC
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 6:03 am Post subject: Re: Welcome to the neighborhood! |
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Hehe, I guess that I'm lucky on this point also. One of the HVAC mechanics who has offered the use of his break is very familiar with bend radius. One of his employees has a side job of making the body parts for a couple of short track race car drivers using his break. I would imagine that some of the same calculations and bending are involved. He was the only one of the 3 HVAC shops who seemed to have any knowledge of bend radius. Btw, thanks for the concern. As a foot note, I only learned about bend radius by lurking around here for the last few months. Keep up all the great educational information! 
Access to the press brakes will be invaluable, but a word of warning. I've never met an HVAC mechanic that knew what a Bend Radius was. Make sure they use the correct tooling, or wrap the punch tip to reach the correct radius.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=36763#36763[/quote]
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