Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 07:06 AM - recommended letter writing campaign (Jim Belcher)
2. 07:39 AM - Re: recommended letter writing campaign (Peter Chapman)
3. 08:18 AM - Recommended Letter-writing campaign, follow-up (Jim Belcher)
4. 08:57 AM - 601XL Repairs (jaybannist@cs.com)
5. 09:57 AM - Re: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs (Bill Pagan)
6. 11:48 AM - Re: Zenith-List: 601XL Repairs (Juan Vega)
Message 1
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| Subject: | 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
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| Subject: | Re: recommended letter writing campaign |
At 10:04 28-01-10, you wrote:
>
>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
Although I haven't seen the original, it looks like it is available
to non members in their Safety Articles section:
http://www.aopa.org/asf/asfarticles/2010/sp0210.html
Peter Chapman
Toronto, ON 601 HDS / 912 / C-GZDC
Message 3
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| Subject: | 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 4
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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 5
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| 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" <jaybannist@cs.c
om>=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 6
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| 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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