Today's Message Index:
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1. 07:19 AM - AOPA membership (Jim Belcher)
2. 12:05 PM - Decals (Bob McArdle)
3. 12:14 PM - Re: Decals (Jim Belcher)
4. 03:40 PM - Report from OSH on 601xl update issues. (Paul Mulwitz)
5. 09:04 PM - Re: Report from OSH on 601xl update issues. (chris Sinfield)
Message 1
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Some months ago, AOPA Pilot ran an article on the XL that, IMHO, was very
uncomplimentary, and seemed to be generally misinformed. At least one of the
principals at Zenith responded to the article, as did I. We were both treated
very discourteously, and AOPA's initial negative position was reinforced.
This resulted in several emails on these lists suggesting that perhaps we
should consider not renewing our memberships in AOPA. Others suggested that
this would be throwing out the baby with the bath water, and may have felt
AOPA was doing an acceptable job.
While I've heard no further comments from AOPA on the XL, I have noticed that
AOPA appears to be taking a firmer stand with the government on several issues
that will negatively impact pilots, something they, again IMHO, had not been
doing. I wonder if this not may be the result of the new leadership at AOPA.
I was particularly disturbed about the XL article, not just because I'm
building an XL, but because AOPA's charter is to promote general aviation. The
same article could have been written in a more constructive manner, and
possibly helped the situation.
For these reasons, when my membership came up for renewal this month, I wrote
AOPA a letter, telling them that I considered this a probationary renewal. I
presented the things just outlined, stating that I was willing to give the new
leadership a chance, but that if things did not change, it would be my last
year of membership.
If you are unhappy with their performance in recent years, this may be a way
of calling it to their attention, and giving them an opportunity to fix it. I
hate to cancel my membership after many years, but neither will I accept the
level of performance they have demonstrated in recent years.
--
=======================================
Jim B. Belcher
BS,MS Physics
A&P/IA
General Radio Telephone Certificate
Instrument Rated Pilot
Retired Aerospace Technical Manager
Semi-proficient Househusband
=======================================
Message 2
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Has anyone used decal stripes or designs on their xl over base paint?
Any problems going over rivets? Where is the best place to purchase
these?
Message 3
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On Tuesday 27 July 2010 14:03:53 you wrote:
> Has anyone used decal stripes or designs on their xl over base paint? Any
> problems going over rivets? Where is the best place to purchase these?
There was a fairly lengthy discussion on this on zenith.zero about a year and
a half ago. See:
http://www.zenith.aero/forum/topics/vinyl-vs-
paint?commentId=2606393%3AComment%3A24574
As I recall, everybody wanted to used decals, but nobody could agree about
where to get them, dangers involved, or application over rivets. The reference
is probably worth reading for the thought processes.
--
=======================================
Jim B. Belcher
BS,MS Physics
A&P/IA
General Radio Telephone Certificate
Instrument Rated Pilot
Retired Aerospace Technical Manager
Semi-proficient Househusband
=======================================
Message 4
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| Subject: | Report from OSH on 601xl update issues. |
I attended the zenair forum presentation yesterday with Matthieu Heintz on
the microphone and had a great conversation today with one of the high level
FAA guys who has been involved with this issue for a long time (I also spoke
with this same guy last year at Sun n Fun, and he actually remembered me as
soon as he saw me . . . ).
Nothng much has changed with Matthieu - it is all about tap dancing with
him. I left the presentation early and didn't bother getting into it with
him again. I feel we are lucky to have the update package for the XL and
really can't expect much more from that direction.
The FAA guy did a lot to make me feel more confident in the engineering
behind the update package. He told me the FAA engineers (the same guys who
review designs for part 23 airplane engineering) went over the XL very
carefully. They spent thousands of man-hours on this effort. It included
the design before the update and a review of the design after inclusion of
the update package that was engineered by Zenair. At least this guy thinks
the updated design is sound.
I expressed concern that we never really learned the cause for the structure
failures. He told me I was wrong about that and that the problem was well
documented In the 80 page report they made public last year. His comment
was that the wing was designed for only 1200 pounds (for the European
ultralight market) gross weight but the operating weight was 1320. For him
(and maybe for me now) this explained not only the design issue behind the
failures but is also consistent with the location of the actual failures on
the wing spars. He was unsure if the wing failure caused flutter or the
flutter caused the wing failures, but he feels the update properly
addresses this issue since it strengthens the wings and balances the
ailerons.
I am currently in the middle of installing the update package on my xl and
plan to enter phase I testing in a month or two. After this conversation I
am now more confident that I will actually put the plane into normal
service at completion of phase I testing.
Paul
Posted from OSH
Message 5
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| Subject: | Re: Report from OSH on 601xl update issues. |
thanks for the post..
for us that have not been to Oshkosh
any other interesting zenith updates
Oshkosh new things or deals you found?
Chris..
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=306525#306525
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