---------------------------------------------------------- Zenith-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 01/28/10: 6 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 07:06 AM - recommended letter writing campaign (Jim Belcher) 2. 08:18 AM - Recommended Letter-writing campaign, follow-up (Jim Belcher) 3. 08:57 AM - 601XL Repairs (jaybannist@cs.com) 4. 09:57 AM - Re: 601XL Repairs (Bill Pagan) 5. 11:48 AM - Re: 601XL Repairs (Juan Vega) 6. 06:05 PM - Re: 601XL Repairs (Terry Phillips) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 07:06:57 AM PST US From: Jim Belcher Subject: Zenith-List: recommended letter writing campaign Those of you who are AOPA members should have received, or be receiving, the February issue of AOPA Pilot. On page 34, there is a scathing report on the XL, which is filled with misinformation. One example of the level of investigative journalism present is the statement that the XL is an E-LSA. The article is long on opinion, and short on facts. I'm not much on letter writing campaigns, but in this case, I don't think Zenith needs any more bad press. This thing hurts their credibility, our credibility, and LSAs in general. As soon as I finish this email, I intend to write them an email, explaining the errors in this article, and request a retraction. I recommend that each of you read the article, and send AOPA your personal feelings and reactions to this bit of reporting. -- ======================================= Jim B. Belcher BS,MS Physics A&P/IA General Radio Telephone Certificate Instrument Rated Pilot Retired Aerospace Technical Manager 601XL Builder ======================================= ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:18:14 AM PST US From: Jim Belcher Subject: Zenith-List: Recommended Letter-writing campaign, follow-up Here is the email I sent AOPA. I encourage everyone to express their concerns to them, whether they specifically agree with me or not. =============================================== I was both surprised and disappointed when I read the article on the Zenith 601XL. Filled with misinformation, the story makes a bad situation worse. First, Zenith does not offer an E-LSA version of the 601XL. It offers a factory- built LSA version, or a kit for an experimental, amateur-built version (EAB). An EAB is not an E-LSA; there are significant differences. Second, although the 601XL has had more than its share of accidents, I am not aware of any knowledgeable witnesses to any of them. The witnesses have been well-meaning people of the same caliber that think an engine stall and a wing stall are the same thing. That has been one of the problems: aircraft which fail in flight, yet without a single common thread that defines the exact problem, and no reliable witnesses. Your article implies that flutter is at fault. That should be discernible with ground vibration testing (GVT). Yet when Zenith had GVT done by an independent authority, a properly rigged aircraft showed no resonance. Flutter seems pretty unlikely. A second GVT was conducted by the LAA in England. Examination of the methodology of that test raises significant questions about the validity of the test. However, the only resonance it indicated was the aircraft swaying from side to side on its gear. Despite the fact that it did not indicate flutter as the problem, it was used as the justification to require UK 601XLs to install aileron balances. Zenith's demonstrator aircraft has well over 1,000 hours on it, but has shown no problems. Numerous privately built aircraft have also amassed significant hours without difficulty. The individual in the hangar next to me, who has a Czech factory built version, put over 300 hours on the aircraft last year without problems. Since aircraft built by individuals, Zenith's facility in Georgia, and one aircraft built under license in eastern Europe have all experienced breakups, it may be the problem is how the aircraft is flown. A search on YouTube has shown 601XLs performing acrobatic maneuvers, suggesting some may have overstressed their aircraft. Despite the lack of a definite cause, Zenith has, in good faith, released a modification kit that essentially fixes everything that might be wrong. Whether or not this targets whatever the actual problem may be is open to question, because that remains unknown. I normally depend on AOPA to at least get the facts straight. Please, do a better investigation, get the facts, and THEN publish a revision to the article. AOPA is supposed to be promoting general aviation, not publishing negative articles that are short on facts. -- ======================================= Jim B. Belcher BS,MS Physics A&P/IA General Radio Telephone Certificate Instrument Rated Pilot Retired Aerospace Technical Manager 601XL Builder ======================================= ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 08:57:42 AM PST US Subject: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs From: jaybannist@cs.com As most of you know, my airplane ("Lil Bruiser") was damaged in an off-air port landing. The insurance company has agreed to cover the damages. Bas ically it will entail replacing the firewall, nose gear, forward cabin flo or, forward side skins, cowling and replacing the wing spars and center se ction. That sounds simple, but it requires a LOT of other peripheral and detail work. I know that I am a competent builder, but I don't feel quali fied to dothe sort of repair work that will be required to restore my airp lane toflying condition. Therefore, I need to find a repair facility that is qualified and willing to do the repairs, anywhere in the country; a sh op that you would trust with your airplane. And I will need at least two estimates of the cost for the insurance company. I would be glad to pay for an estimate, but so far I have not been able to find one in the Dalla s area. (Jerrich, the local Zenith builder assist shop, seems to have gon e out of business) Does anyone have any suggestions ? Jay Bannister ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 09:57:35 AM PST US From: Bill Pagan Subject: Re: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs I dealt with Hanger 6 in Ohio back in 2000.- They did OK by me.=0A=0Ahttp ://www.hangar6inc.com/index.htm- =0A-Bill Pagan =0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A__ ______________________________=0AFrom: "jaybannist@cs.com" =0ATo: zenith-list@matronics.com; zenith601-list@matronics.com=0ASent: T hu, January 28, 2010 11:55:21 AM=0ASubject: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs=0A =0AAs most of you know, my airplane ("Lil Bruiser") was damaged in an off-a irport landing.- The insurance company has agreed to cover the damages. - Basically it will entail replacing the firewall, nose gear, forward cab in floor, forward side skins, cowling and replacing the wing spars and cent er section.- That sounds simple, but it requires a LOT of other periphera l and detail work.-I know that I am a competent builder, but I don't feel qualified to do the sort of repair work that will be required to restore m y airplane to flying condition.- Therefore,I need to find a repair facili ty that is qualified and willing to do the repairs, anywhere in the country ;a shop that you would trust with your airplane.-- And I will need at l east two estimates of the cost for the insurance company.- I would be gla d to pay for an estimate, but so far I have not been able to find one in th e Dallas area.- (Jerrich, the local Zenith builder assist shop, seems to have gone out of business)- Does anyone have any suggestions ? =0A=0AJay Bann ========================0A=0A =0A ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 11:48:47 AM PST US From: Juan Vega Subject: Re: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs Russ at flightcrafters in Zephyrhills, is second to none, and fairly priced. the work they do is superb. His number is 813-690-1916. Airport Ident is KZPH. Juan Vega -----Original Message----- >From: jaybannist@cs.com >Sent: Jan 28, 2010 11:55 AM >To: zenith-list@matronics.com, zenith601-list@matronics.com >Subject: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs > > >As most of you know, my airplane ("Lil Bruiser") was damaged in an off-airport landing. The insurance company has agreed to cover the damages. Basically it will entail replacing the firewall, nose gear, forward cabin floor, forward side skins, cowling and replacing the wing spars and center section. That sounds simple, but it requires a LOT of other peripheral and detail work. I know that I am a competent builder, but I don't feel qualified to dothe sort of repair work that will be required to restore my airplane toflying condition. Therefore, I need to find a repair facility that is qualified and willing to do the repairs, anywhere in the country; a shop that you would trust with your airplane. And I will need at least two estimates of the cost for the insurance company. I would be glad to pay for an estimate, but so far I have not been able to find one in the Dallas area. (Jerrich, the local Zenith builder assist shop, seems to have gone out of business) Does anyone have any suggestions ? > >Jay Bannister > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 06:05:34 PM PST US From: Terry Phillips Subject: Re: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs I suggest that you contact Jeff Garrett, afterfxllc@aol.com . He is a frequent contributor to this list. As near as I can tell, he runs a builder assist shop. He has offered to do the upgrade for a very reasonable price. jeff is probably as skilled at (re) building 601XL's as anyone. Terry At 11:55 AM 1/28/2010 -0500, you wrote: >As most of you know, my airplane ("Lil Bruiser") was damaged in an >off-airport landing. The insurance company has agreed to cover the >damages. Basically it will entail replacing the firewall, nose gear, >forward cabin floor, forward side skins, cowling and replacing the wing >spars and center section. That sounds simple, but it requires a LOT of >other peripheral and detail work. I know that I am a competent builder, >but I don't feel qualified to do the sort of repair work that will be >required to restore my airplane to flying condition. Therefore, I need to >find a repair facility that is qualified and willing to do the repairs, >anywhere in the country; a shop that you would trust with your >airplane. And I will need at least two estimates of the cost for the >insurance company. I would be glad to pay for an estimate, but so far I >have not been able to find one in the Dallas area. (Jerrich, the local >Zenith builder assist shop, seems to have gone out of business) Does >anyone have any suggestions ? > >Jay Bannister >do not archive Terry Phillips ZBAGer ttp44~at~rkymtn.net Corvallis MT ZU-601XL/Jab 3300 s .. l .. o .. o .. w build kit - Tail & flaps are done; Balancing the ailerons and working on the wings http://www.mykitlog.com/N47TP/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message zenith-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Zenith-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/zenith-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/zenith-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.