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OK2AV8(at)aol.com
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 Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: Choice of planes to fly to prepare for Zodiac |
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Jennifer,
I agree with Bryan Martin but I offer another possibility.
I flew 10 hours and 100 landings in an Evector SportStar that was for rent locally. I was able to fly it to my home airport for the extensive pattern work (including simulated engine out in the pattern, landing on the adjacent grass field) and I feel it was a good choice. Roger at Zenith suggested getting time in something light with quicker responses than "Wichita Spam Cans". The Sportstar is Rotax powered with split flaps but it is very similar to the XL. Attached is a nose to nose comparison pic I took of the Sportstar and my XL before its first flight in November. My inspector is also an EAA flight advisor and he agreed the Sportstar is a good choice. I still went to Mexico and flew with Roger in the factory XL one last time before I flew. I don't know how I could have been more prepared. First flight was uneventful. The 601XL is a very nice flying plane and if you can confidently fly a Cessna 150/152, you'll have no problem - except getting the smile off your face! Good Luck!
Tim Garrett
N360TM
601XL + Jabiru 3300
10 hours - in flight testing...
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craig(at)craigandjean.com
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject: Choice of planes to fly to prepare for Zodiac |
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I can second the recommendation for the SportStar. I did half my training in one and soloed in one at St Charles Flying Service outside of St. Louis.
Training in SportStars is a little more available than in XLs: Washington state, California (north, middle and south), Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. See http://www.evektoramerica.com/wheretofly.html for details.
-- Craig
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fderfler(at)gmail.com
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| Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:47 am Post subject: Choice of planes to fly to prepare for Zodiac |
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Jennifer --
I own and fly a 601XL and I've been checked out in and frequently rented the next evolution of the Katana, the DA-20. I moved into the 601 from a Grumman Cheetah and there was practically no "transition." A Grumman, being heavier, gives a tiny bit smoother ride in gusty winds, but that's being picky. The difference in avionics was a bigger step than the difference in airframe -- by far!
A Grumman, like the 601, has great visibility. My Cheetah had almost exactly the same performance as my 601... although the 601 has both less payload and significantly less gas consumption. A Grumman Tiger (with 35 more HP than a Cheetah) will have a much better payload and a little better speed than most 601s (with a LOT more gas consumption). The stock Grumman AA1A Yankee ... the earliest version.. probably has poorer performance than any 601, but many Yankees were up-engined.
The Grumman has free castering nose wheel. Someone commented that they wished they had that in a 601. Personally, I like the nose wheel steering better than free castering, but your problems on taxi with the Katana seem unique. I'd bet on a low tire or a bent corroded axle. Look hard at the landing gear next time you fly the Diamond. Can you check the tire pressures?
I do miss the sliding canopy of the Grumman! It was so nice to be able to slide back that canopy!
Look around the field for a Grumman and try to get a ride. Grumman pilots are a friendly bunch.
Failing that, just fly all of the single engine rental airplanes you can get your hands on. The similarities will soon be more important than the differences.
--
Frank Derfler
See my views and reviews at www.derfler.biz
See my information for pilots at www.flyinflorida.com
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