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Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

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bootless(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:45 pm Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Hello everyone,



In a follow-up to my initial request for feedback on buying used Zenith 

aircraft, I'd like to get into the brass tacks.



If you were to look at a used Zenith (any model - whichever you're most 

familiar with), what would be the top few items that would be a 

show-stopper for you in the first part of the pre-buy process? Any top 

items that would reel you in for a much closer look?



And again, if you have been either the buyer or seller of a completed 

Zenith aircraft, or a partially completed kit, I would love to hear from 

you. Thanks very much!



best,

Cory Emberson

Contributing Editor

Kitplanes Magazine

 	  Quote:

d.goddard(at)ns.sympatico
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

It's not quite what you asked for, but I did intend to buy a Zenith and the 

deal fell through. For me the show stopper was transportation. The plane is 

about 900 miles away. I would not fly an unfamilar aircraft on such a 

journey, and the owner could not manage it. Truck rental was far more 

expensive than even my worse nightmare, and none of the transporting 

companies were interested. Even Ferry pilots were not interested in flying 

homebuilts. I had arranged to get time to go look at it but without a way to 

get it here, there seemed little point. I've since found a plane, not a 

Zenith. I certainly had not anticipated that something seemingly so simple 

would be a show stopper.



As far a structural weak spots in earky Zeniths, examine the sheet metal 

where the motor mount pass through the firewall carefully on both sides, 

there is sometimes a little bending. While you are at the firewall have a 

look at the nose gear for evidence of hard landings.



---

admin(at)arachnidrobotics
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:49 am Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Morning Cory,

    Buying a used homebuilt?  I suppose everyone has a list of 'must-haves' and 'don't wants', but there is one item that should be paramount on everyone's list.  Is the airplane a high-quality machine?  That it, did the builder put in the time and effort to build a safe, well put together aircraft, or did they rush through the job as SO many seem to.  

    I have seen some homebuilt aircraft out there that I wouldn't let my mother-in-law fly!  It has always amazed me how many people exhibit shoddy workmanship in a machine that's going to carry them into the air.  Kind of makes you wonder if they had selling in mind all through the build process.  

    Just my two cents. 

Cory Emberson <bootless(at)earthlink.net> wrote:[quote] -->

jsimons2

Joined: 26 May 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Burlington, NC

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Tell me about the rush job!! On a recent trip to a fly-in to hopefully view the aircraft I was considering building, the workmanship on one of the 2 I was considering helped me make my final decision. The aircraft in question had rough trimed finish edges that actually turned up from the structure. Rivet lines were, in my opinion, less than 2 rivet spaces from the edge of the sheet they held. The entire airframe had gaps and holes where I didn't think any should be. This, along with the fact that the cockpit appeared to be too small for any type of comfort with a passenger, is why I finally decided on the Zodiac 601 HDS. I deffinately would not have let my mother in law fly in that plane, much less myself.



Jerome Simons

ordering plans in 2 weeks

building soon after receiveing

naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:22 pm Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Jerome-

    Welcome to our home! You can have one bowl of porridge, but don't ask 

for more- Fagin's watching.

    Kind of interesting when, after lots of research like I'm sure you put 

in, you decide on a "Retro" design like the HDS.

    One thing- you can count on tons of help from the rest of the kids in 

the workhouse!

                                                                             

                                                                Bill



 I finally decided on the Zodiac 601 HDS.



 	  Quote: 	
		  

 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=39865#39865

jsimons2

Joined: 26 May 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Burlington, NC

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Bill-

    Please sir, may I have more?

Yes, I have put a lot of research into it. However, I also adhere to the k.i.s.s. contengient. To me, the fuel pumps and such are just another problem waiting to happen with the XL. At this time I am planning on useing a WW Corvair conversion, again simple, direct drive, less to go wrong. I have calculated the weight of both the XL and the HDS and would only gain a mere 30 pounds extra capacity at gross with the XL.

Besides, there is also the camp that feels that the HDS just looks sexy.

So I bid adieu with another quote.



"I find your lack of faith disturbing."

"Pray that I don't alter the deal further."



Jerome

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:18 am Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Amen to that....Gives ud hi quality workmanship builders a  bad name...Hmm...Might have to modify my ad a little on  Barnstormers.

  

 Frank

 601 HDS

  

 Do not archive



   From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Tom and Bren  Henderson

Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 9:48 AM

To:  zenith-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Kitplanes Request  - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

 

Morning Cory,

    Buying a used homebuilt?  I  suppose everyone has a list of 'must-haves' and 'don't wants', but there is one  item that should be paramount on everyone's list.  Is the airplane a  high-quality machine?  That it, did the builder put in the time and effort  to build a safe, well put together aircraft, or did they rush through the job as  SO many seem to.  

    I have seen some homebuilt  aircraft out there that I wouldn't let my mother-in-law fly!  It has always  amazed me how many people exhibit shoddy workmanship in a machine that's going  to carry them into the air.  Kind of makes you wonder if they had selling  in mind all through the build process.  

    Just my two  cents. 

Cory Emberson <bootless(at)earthlink.net>  wrote:  	  Quote: 	
		  -->

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:18 am Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

 	  Quote: 	
		  From the seller of a built airplane (HDS in my case) this is part of the

problem. I have seen many 601s that have pretty poor build qulity. Mine
	


is much better than most but unless you actually get people to come and

look and fly the airplane then its proven difficult to sell.



Not sure why. I had two buyers pull out without seeing th airplane now

interest seems to have gotten very slow.



Oh well.



Frank

601HDS still for sale...  



--

naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:18 am Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

---

challgren(at)mac.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject: Kitplanes Request - Buying Used Zenith A/C - Part 2

Cory:



We sold our 601 HDS in about a two weeks after the ad in Trade-A- 

Plane appeared.  Of the ten plus serious queries received most  

pertained to the Sport Plane status.  Most seem not to be aware that  

we were the manufacturer, not Zenair, and therefore it was in our  

purview to declare its status.



Stan

On Jun 9, 2006, at 9:45 PM, Cory Emberson wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <bootless(at)earthlink.net>



 Hello everyone,



 In a follow-up to my initial request for feedback on buying used  

 Zenith aircraft, I'd like to get into the brass tacks.



 If you were to look at a used Zenith (any model - whichever you're  

 most familiar with), what would be the top few items that would be  

 a show-stopper for you in the first part of the pre-buy process?  

 Any top items that would reel you in for a much closer look?



 And again, if you have been either the buyer or seller of a  

 completed Zenith aircraft, or a partially completed kit, I would  

 love to hear from you. Thanks very much!



 best,

 Cory Emberson

 Contributing Editor

 Kitplanes Magazine

>



 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

 wiki.matronics.com

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