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XL - success stories

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Tim Juhl

Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject: XL - success stories

Recent news has raised concerns again concerning the safety of the design of the XL.  It is proper to be concerned but what do we really know?  While we are waiting and wondering I'd like to hear from those of you that are flying your XL.  Perhaps you'd be willing to share with the rest of us how many hours you have on your plane and a brief comment regarding your overall satisfaction.



Tim Juhl

_________________
______________
CFII
Champ L16A flying
Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A
Almost done! It'll fly in spring!

pavel569

Joined: 21 Dec 2007
Posts: 77

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

The problem is - you'll never see an article in a newspaper about a "guy who fly his Zodiac XL for so many hours without any problem". People just want to see a debris on the ground that not a long ago use to be an airplane. It just a nature of ours, I guess. If there is a problem with either an airframe rigidity or material weakness, there would be hundreds of 601's in scrap metal junkyards and hundreds of gravestones with pilots names on them. There is a few, of course. But the reason can be over stressing the airframe by rough pilotage, lack of craftsmanship or compromising quality when building. If we fly the Zodiac as it is a Cherokee, not trying to get closer to critical loads, I think we will be fine. Big words for a guy who will (hopefully) get his private license next month, right? But I don't think that anyone who builds and/or fly wants to kill himself. Just be friend to your plane, don't twist her hands, don't bent her neck and she will be a good friend of yours too.

_________________
Pavel
CA
Zodiac 601XL
Stratus Subaru EA-81
Tail, flaps, ailerons, wings, fuselage, canopy done ...
"do not archive"

PatrickW

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

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:30 am Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

Do you guys ever feel like you have to defend the Zodiac when talking to builders of other airplanes?



Patrick

XL/Corvair

Trainnut01(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:35 am Post subject: XL - success stories

Patrick

  

 The short answer is yes. I do have to defend my choice if not the airplane  itself.

  

 However I have found that other flyers reactions are kind of relative.  My first home built was a RV7. After my doctor suggested that I might want to  start thinking LSA I sold the RV and started building my XL. Initially most of  my flying friends were from the RV community and these guys really don't have  much regard for anything from Zenith.

  

 Then my son bought an ultra light and soon had me involved with a whole  different crowd. That's when I discovered that while RV guys think the XL  is junk the ultra light guys think the XL is "cool".

  

 I'm not suggesting that we all need new friends but it worked for me.

  

 Carroll

 XL/Corvair

  

 do not archive.

  

  



It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.

  [quote][b]

Gig Giacona

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

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

Only the hinge-less ailerons. Though most of the "old guys" at my airport have come around to the design simplicity and and self tested ruggedness.



After he looked at my wings the first time a few years back he asked if I had a scrape peice of the same aluminum. I handed him a peice. I stopped by his hanger a few weeks later and he had the piece in the vice and was sitting talking with the other "old guys" and flexig it pretty close to the amount it would flex in the plane. (He had looked at my plans.)



One of the other "old guys" told me he had been doing that at least one hour a day since he got the metal from me. He stopped by my hanger about two weeks later and handed me the metal and said, "Yea that ought to work." 

 	  PatrickW wrote: 	
		  Do you guys ever feel like you have to defend the Zodiac when talking to builders of other airplanes?



Patrick

XL/Corvair

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

darrellhaas(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:22 am Post subject: XL - success stories

YES!  All of my EAA group are Van's builders and they really let you know it.

Darrell

601XL

do not archive



On 3/11/08, PatrickW <pwhoyt(at)yahoo.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



  Do you guys ever feel like you have to defend the Zodiac when talking to builders of other airplanes?



  Patrick

  XL/Corvair





  Read this topic online here:



  http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=168971#168971

Gig Giacona

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

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:30 am Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

That's where I'm better off. My fellow EAA members here that do build seem to all have Kitfoxes. I'll be the speed demon of the bunch.



 	  darrellhaas(at)gmail.com wrote: 	
		  YES!  All of my EAA group are Van's builders and they really let you know it.

Darrell

601XL

do not archive



On 3/11/08, PatrickW <pwhoyt> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



  Do you guys ever feel like you have to defend the Zodiac when talking to builders of other airplanes?



  Patrick

  XL/Corvair





  Read this topic online here:



  http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=168971#168971

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

John Bolding

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 281

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:14 am Post subject: XL - success stories

Isn't it strange!   When I built my RV3 about a hundred yrs ago it was like 

the Zenith group is now, bunch of guys building airplanes and having a good 

time,  nobody had their nose in the air.  Was at a fly-in (Texas) a month 

ago and a fellow with a fresh RV6 had his chest stuck way out and asked 

smugly if I ever thought about building an RV,  answer was   "Yep,  built 

the second RV to fly in Texas before you were born".  I'm a little abrasive 

sometimes.

Hopefully the Zenith crowd doesn't get that way.   Not all the RV guys are 

like that but there ARE a bunch of them.

LO&SLO    John

---

sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:32 am Post subject: XL - success stories

Hey guys!

   

  The only snobbishness I've encountered was from people who either didn't understand the design or prefer something different. It's like guitar players - you either like Fenders or Gibsons. Both are great guitars. I made the decision that was right for me - not somebody else, so I really don't care what they think.

   

  I did a lot of research before making my choice. I trust the design and the designer or I wouldn't be building it. My trust extends to knowing that if a problem surfaces, a proper and acceptable solution will be offered. Until then, I'm dancing with the one that brung me. Now get off the computer and go pull some rivets.

   

  Debo Cox

  Nags Head, NC

  www.mykitlog.com/debo

   

  do not archive

   

  

 

  [quote][b]

amyvega2005(at)earthlink.
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:21 am Post subject: XL - success stories

Here is my question to all on accidents,

the design has been around for a while. How many years has the number of planes been around, 1992? and how many accidents total, compared to Vans RV and their total accidents?  WHat I am getting at is the plane design is historically sound, the pilots are the issue or the builder. Its always hard to look in the mirror and point the fingure at what we see looking back.

Most of the guys that own an RV that I take flying in my 601 are frankly asking me whether I want a partner in my plane.  The 601xl is a great plane.  If you try to fly it like an RV, then you will have issues.



Juan



--

swater6

Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Minnesota-KMIC/KANE

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

Based on a quick FAA database query, there are 239 601 XL success stories in the USA today!!!  



There are 51 AMD XL's, 2 CAW XL's and 185 AB Experimental XL's.  And too many more HD's and HDS's to count.  



I'm working hard to add mine to the list!  



Scott

_________________
601 XL kit N596SW reserved
Tail, control surfaces and both wings complete. Now working on fuselage

www.scottwaters.com

tlski(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: XL - success stories

The EAA group in in my area is mostly RV's, our pres is part of a formation 

group of RV's, but they done look down on the rest of us. We have a 601xl, 

mine, 701 , 601HD and a 801 along with host of others. I chose the 601xl 

because of the time to build but also becuase I would like my wife to get 

her Sport License. The 601xl is a comforable and easy plane to fly, but like 

any aircraft you must respect it. Saving for wings Tom

---

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:11 am Post subject: XL - success stories

 	  Quote: 	
		   Do you guys ever feel like you have to defend the Zodiac when talking to

builders of other airplanes?
	




Nope, they say "Zenith? Never heard of it"



-- Craig



Do not archive

ggower_99(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject: XL - success stories

Yep,  much like the local BMW motorcycle  guys, wearing expensive leather suits 

   

  Saludos

  Gary Gower

  Driving a Black and Chrome Yamaha V Star (Harley look alike).  with a "fake  leather" jacket 

  Do not archive.



John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net> wrote:

  [quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: "John Bolding" 



Isn't it strange! When I built my RV3 about a hundred yrs ago it was like 

the Zenith group is now, bunch of guys building airplanes and having a good 

time, nobody had their nose in the air. Was at a fly-in (Texas) a month 

ago and a fellow with a fresh RV6 had his chest stuck way out and asked 

smugly if I ever thought about building an RV, answer was "Yep, built 

the second  RV to fly in Texas before you were born". I'm a little abrasive 

sometimes.

Hopefully the Zenith crowd doesn't get that way. Not all the RV guys are 

like that but there ARE a bunch of them.

LO&SLO John

---

cookwithgas

Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159

Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

Tim:



Time on Hobbs:  48.7 hours 



Overall Satisfaction - Absolutely loving it.   



The Corvair engine is running great and I get lots of comments on how good it sounds.  It is easy to fly I'm having a blast.  The weather has been a real challenge, but I've been having so much fun I hardly notice the frozen toes and fingers.  I'm really looking forward to some warmer weather.  



Scott Laughlin - N5SL - Omaha, Nebraska

KC7HFA

Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Location: Southern Oregon

Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:51 am Post subject: Re: XL - success stories

I'm finding that most everyone says it looks like a production plane. Several of the folks are considering building one or wish they could!  They can't believe the short field takeoffs or the 1200+ fpm climb and the stable platform.

_________________
Ron Asbill
N601ZX - CH-601 XL
Jabiru 3300
Completed and Flying!~ 150 Plus hours

rjscep(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:09 am Post subject: XL - success stories

 	  Quote: 	
		   As Joe Shiebinger's email, there may have been a 

 bird strike, so don't jump to any conclusions to

 whether there's any design flaws in the 601. I am 

 sure ZA has been around a long time and no design

 flaws have been reported in the past...Do not Arch.

--- Tim Juhl <juhl(at)avci.net> wrote:
	




 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <juhl(at)avci.net>

 

 Recent news has raised concerns again concerning the

 safety of the design of the XL.  It is proper to be

 concerned but what do we really know?  While we are

 waiting and wondering I'd like to hear from those of

 you that are flying your XL.  Perhaps you'd be

 willing to share with the rest of us how many hours

 you have on your plane and a brief comment regarding

 your overall satisfaction.

 

 Tim Juhl

 

 --------

 ______________

 CFII

 Champ L16A flying

 Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A

 Working on fuselage

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=168928#168928
	


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