Today's Message Index:
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1. 04:38 AM - CH 640 First Flight (Adams Stephen - Doctors Hosp Augusta)
2. 05:26 AM - Re: CH 640 First Flight (Paul Mulwitz)
3. 06:22 AM - Re: CH 640 First Flight (n801bh@netzero.com)
4. 06:34 AM - Re: Best Way To Store Kit (JAPhillipsGA@aol.com)
5. 07:06 AM - Large Corvair Auction (Don Mountain)
6. 07:08 AM - Re: CH 640 First Flight (Adams Stephen - Doctors Hosp Augusta)
7. 09:23 AM - Re: Re: CH 640 First Flight (Paul Mulwitz)
8. 04:05 PM - Builders Dinner (Zodie Rocket)
Message 1
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| Subject: | CH 640 First Flight |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: "Adams Stephen - Doctors Hosp Augusta" <Stephen.Adams@HCAhealthcare.com>
Last week I had the airworthiness inspection for my CH640. It was pretty much a
non-event. The DAR only had one suggestion. He recommended putting a short piece
of tubing over the safety wire on the oil filter where it contacts the filter.
He said he has seen the safety wire wear a hole in the filter. That was an
easy fix.
Then last weekend my 640 finally flew! The test pilot has over 1000 hours
in a CH640 and said mine flew better than the factory prototype and required
no changes in rigging. Stall with full flaps was 42 KIAS. It was a very hot
day and there were no problems with cooling. I know a lot of you on the list have
flown your aircraft and know the feeling of the first flight, it's indescribable.
After reading too many first flight horror stories, my stomach was in
knots. There were only 2 problems discovered after the flight. When he landed
he said that the cowl vibrated a bit at certain attitudes. When we looked at the
cowl, we found that the prop had rubbed against the pilot side lower front
cowl and knocked a small piece of cowling out. No damage to the prop other that
some paint being rubbed off. There seemed to be adequate clearance (15mm as
specified in the drawings), but when flying, I think the pressure caused the lower
cowl to bend downward. When it is bent downward, the front lip of the cowl
bends forward, explaining the prop hitting it. The lower cowl is actually quite
thin and bends very easily. I patched the damaged area and beefed up both
the upper and lower cowl with some strips of fiberglass to stiffen it up a bit.
I also extended the front baffles toward the middle on both sides to minimize
the flow of air into the lower cowl area, and hopefully decrease the pressure
there. Before it was fairly easy to pull down on the lower cowl and get the
front to contact the prop (learned after the fact). Now it will still deform down
a bit, but the front does not move forward at all. The other problem was a
fuel leak from the right tank. When I checked it out there was fuel leaking from
around one of the screws on the fuel level sender. In the 640, the sender
is on the inboard side of the tank. I swapped out the screws provided with the
sender for AN3 bolts to make it easier to torque them down, and applied Seal
Lube to the threads and gasket. I filled the tank and there are no leaks after
3 days. I!
plan to
take my first flight as soon as the weather here clears.
One more comment. I was trying to find a test pilot to do my first flight
and was having some trouble finding anyone with experience in the 640. At the
suggestion of another builder I called the AMD factory in Eastman. They sent
a test pilot, the factory DAR, and a factory A+P mechanic. They are all very
familiar with the 640 and with how everything is done in the Alarus. They did
a very detailed inspection (actually more detailed than the DAR), a weight and
balance using their certified scales (my weight and balance done with digital
bathroom scales was about 35 lbs light), and then test flew the aircraft. It
wasn't cheap, but it gives me a lot of confidence in my plane knowing that it
has been thoroughly inspected and flown by people with a lot of knowledge and
experience specific to my plane. The AMD DAR cannot sign off your experimental
airworthiness inspection. They have done similar inspections and test flights
in other Zenith aircraft in this area. Just throwing that out for anyone who
might be interested. Happy flying!
Steve Adams
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: CH 640 First Flight |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: Paul Mulwitz <p.mulwitz@worldnet.att.net>
>Then last weekend my 640 finally flew! The test pilot has over 1000
>hours in a CH640 and said mine flew better than the factory
>prototype and required no changes in rigging.
Congratulations! It must feel great!
OK, I'll bite. How much did it cost to get the AMD experts to test
your plane?
Paul
XL barely started
do not archive
---------------------------------------------
Paul Mulwitz
32013 NE Dial Road
Camas, WA 98607
---------------------------------------------
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: CH 640 First Flight |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: "n801bh@netzero.com" <n801bh@netzero.com>
Last week I had the airworthiness inspection for my CH640. It was pretty much a
non-event. The DAR only had one suggestion. He recommended putting a short piece
of tubing over the safety wire .
Congrats to you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do not archive
Ben Haas
N801BH
www.haaspowerair.com
Last week I had the airworthiness inspection for my CH640. It was pretty much a
non-event. The DAR only had one suggestion. He recommended putting a short piece
of tubing over the safety wire .
Congrats to you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do not archive
BenHaas
N801BH
www.haaspowerair.com
Message 4
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| Subject: | Re: Best Way To Store Kit |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: JAPhillipsGA@aol.com
Dave, can't help you much on how to store to facilitate movement other than
to advise you to hang as much stuff up you can to keep it safe. On the other
hand, be aware that mice can be a problem. The gum labels that ZAC uses to mark
every part must taste pretty good because mice ate about half my labels off
while they set on the shelves. I have a lazy tom cat that lives in the shop and
I didn't even know I had mice. (Neither did he apparently) So I took the time
with a marker to write the part number with ink on every part that I could
still recognize. Good luck, Bill of Georgia
Message 5
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| Subject: | Large Corvair Auction |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: Don Mountain <mountain4don@yahoo.com>
For those of you that may be interested in acquiring a
Corvair car or engine for your plane, there is a large
Corvair collection up for auction in Nebraska on
Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 am. The web site is:
http://www.kuceraauctions.net/
Its listed as the Massey Estate Auction, in Holbrook,
Nebraska, 34 miles east of McCook, Nebraska on Highway
6-34, or 6 miles west of Arapahoe Nebraska on 6-34.
It is listed as 70 collectible Corvair cars, vans,
pickups, and parts. The web page took awhile to load
on my computer due to the pictures and map on there.
If I knew which engines to look for I might even see
if I could get one cheap.
Don
601XL, tail done, finishing up wings
__________________________________
Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour:
http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html
Message 6
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| Subject: | Re: CH 640 First Flight |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: "Adams Stephen - Doctors Hosp Augusta" <Stephen.Adams@HCAhealthcare.com>
It cost me $500, the same rate most DAR's in this area charge for an inspection.
For the money I got a lot of knowledge and experience in the construction, maintenence,
and flying of the 640. I also used a technical advisor, who was very
good. However, in some cases the tech advisors seem to raise more questions
than give answers because they are not necessarily familiar with the design.
A little added insurance IMHO.
Steve Adams
Message 7
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| Subject: | Re: CH 640 First Flight |
--> Zenith-List message posted by: Paul Mulwitz <p.mulwitz@worldnet.att.net>
Thanks Steve,
It sounds like you paid for the inspection and the first flight test
pilot did the job as a volunteer.
I wasn't aware DARs charged that much, but there are a lot of things
I am not aware of.
Again, Congratulations!
Paul
XL barely started
do not archive
>It cost me $500, the same rate most DAR's in this area charge for an
>inspection. For the money I got a lot of knowledge and experience in
>the construction, maintenence, and flying of the 640. I also used a
>technical advisor, who was very good. However, in some cases the
>tech advisors seem to raise more questions than give answers because
>they are not necessarily familiar with the design. A little added
>insurance IMHO.
---------------------------------------------
Paul Mulwitz
32013 NE Dial Road
Camas, WA 98607
---------------------------------------------
Message 8
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--> Zenith-List message posted by: "Zodie Rocket" <zodierocket@hsfx.ca>
We just got back from Oshkosh and over the course of the week I will
upload all the pictures and stories from that event. It has been a very
busy week for David and I and we would like to thank you all for your
kind words of encouragement over the last week. One question I would
like a response from though is how everyone enjoyed the Builders dinner,
yes I know Art Mitchell went a little long in his speech but hopefully
all of you can mark that down to a passion of his beliefs. With a record
breaking attendance of 126 people at the dinner can we have a few
responses so that everyone who was unable to attend can share in the
event?
Mark Townsend Alma, Ontario
Zodiac 601XL , Osprey 2 serial # 751
President: Kitchener/Waterloo RAA Chapter
www.ch601.org / www.ch701.com / www.Osprey2.com
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