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1. 09:07 PM - FAA Special Review Team final report.... Have questions... (SIDESLIP)
2. 09:11 PM - Re: FAA Special Review Team final report.... Have questions... (SIDESLIP)
3. 10:42 PM - Re: FAA Special Review Team final report.... Have questions... (Barry Benson)
Message 1
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| Subject: | FAA Special Review Team final report.... Have questions... |
So I read all 40 pages thoroughly, and much of it does make sense. It appears to
be a series of compounding issues that simply escalated an already borderline
wing design.
My question is this... Does anyone know if the COMPLETE Bravo mods were tested
for flutter, strength etc? The FAA reccomended that they (Zenith) run through
further testing for structure and flutter.
Here's where I stand....
I own a 601XL-B that climbs like a rocket, and cruises 100-110kts happily, and
the aircraft seems to perform great. HOWEVER, this IS my first Homebuilt, and
I didn't buy it. I am highly mechanically enclined, so I know mechanics and the
the basic engineering behind it all.
My searches turned up very little, both on the net, and on here. For example, my
V-Speeds are as follows...
Vso- 44kts
Vs - 51kts
Va- 85kts
Vno- 113kts
VNE - 140kts
VX - 58kts
VY - 60kts
I've found many MANY different versions of the numbers, and that concerns me. After
reading the FAA report, Va should be 80-82kts, Vno 103kts or lower. The VNE
seemed to be the most consistent at 140kts (16mph)
The rudder upper bolts seem to wear and get play In them, there is flap stops,
which I have never seen on a single zodiac yet, and haven't any idea what they
look like. There are just so many variables.....
Is there anything that anyone can say to help ease my mind? What does the general
concensus say about this airplane, both before and after the Bravo Mod? How
sloppy do the cables need to get to become a hazard? My bottom line is that I
am DEEPLY in love with flying the airplane, it's performance and slickness! It's
a sexy looking airplane, and I get stopped for photo ops everywhere I go.
It's amazing. The performance is unreal!
BUT, and a BIG BIG BUT here.....
How safe is this airplane? I have a G-Meter so I can monitor so that I'm not stressing
the airframe. I don't jerk the controls, I'm smooth with them. I don't
push the airplane or "hot dog" it. I just fly it like I would a 152. I can see
how one would get in trouble quick though, because it IS so much fun to fly!
But at the end of the day, can I feel safe? Will it truthfully try to kill me?
I've got three little ones that rely on me. Two 4 year old daughters and a 7 week
old baby boy.
I see tons of videos from Europe with guys flying these 601's XL's and HD's with
the same power plant as me, same set up, and they seem just fine. They have
a blast it seems!
Chad..... Fighting to put my mind to rest......
Or sell this and buy a 152! Lol. At least I know they don't break-up in flight.
Thanks in advance!
Chad
--------
C-GYXQ. 912ULS. 601XL-B
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=401365#401365
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: FAA Special Review Team final report.... Have questions... |
***Edit*** I didn't BUILD it. Friggen autocorrect!
--------
C-GYXQ. 912ULS. 601XL-B
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=401366#401366
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: FAA Special Review Team final report.... Have questions... |
Hi, I had the same concerns about the efficacy of the mods. However,
those concerns no longer exist as I have flown my plane, read the articles,
and contacted such people as Steve Flatum and Paul Hamilton. (See You Tube
videos under their names. Also see You Tube video interview with, I
believe, Michael Heintz.) I think a simple control tension gauge sold at
Aircraft Spruce and a ballistic parachute, which can be retrofitted to the
601XL, would go a long way in reassuring you that the plane is safe. I
have great confidence that the B mod has worked to correct any problem with
the wing structure; no 601XL, which has had the B mod completed, has been
involved in any incident relating to wing failure that I know of. After
all, the 601XL has been the most scrutinized light sport of all light
sports-- the FAA, outside engineers, testing in Germany, etc. My plane was
factory built at AMD and when I purchased it, i had the parachute
installed. I feel very safe and secure flying the airplane, but I know that
if any issue arises, that the parachute is available. Barry
On Sun, May 26, 2013 at 12:07 AM, SIDESLIP <Chad2007@rogers.com> wrote:
>
> So I read all 40 pages thoroughly, and much of it does make sense. It
> appears to be a series of compounding issues that simply escalated an
> already borderline wing design.
>
> My question is this... Does anyone know if the COMPLETE Bravo mods were
> tested for flutter, strength etc? The FAA reccomended that they (Zenith)
> run through further testing for structure and flutter.
>
> Here's where I stand....
>
> I own a 601XL-B that climbs like a rocket, and cruises 100-110kts happily,
> and the aircraft seems to perform great. HOWEVER, this IS my first
> Homebuilt, and I didn't buy it. I am highly mechanically enclined, so I
> know mechanics and the the basic engineering behind it all.
>
> My searches turned up very little, both on the net, and on here. For
> example, my V-Speeds are as follows...
>
> Vso- 44kts
> Vs - 51kts
> Va- 85kts
> Vno- 113kts
> VNE - 140kts
> VX - 58kts
> VY - 60kts
>
> I've found many MANY different versions of the numbers, and that concerns
> me. After reading the FAA report, Va should be 80-82kts, Vno 103kts or
> lower. The VNE seemed to be the most consistent at 140kts (16mph)
>
> The rudder upper bolts seem to wear and get play In them, there is flap
> stops, which I have never seen on a single zodiac yet, and haven't any idea
> what they look like. There are just so many variables.....
>
> Is there anything that anyone can say to help ease my mind? What does the
> general concensus say about this airplane, both before and after the Bravo
> Mod? How sloppy do the cables need to get to become a hazard? My bottom
> line is that I am DEEPLY in love with flying the airplane, it's performance
> and slickness! It's a sexy looking airplane, and I get stopped for photo
> ops everywhere I go. It's amazing. The performance is unreal!
>
> BUT, and a BIG BIG BUT here.....
>
> How safe is this airplane? I have a G-Meter so I can monitor so that I'm
> not stressing the airframe. I don't jerk the controls, I'm smooth with
> them. I don't push the airplane or "hot dog" it. I just fly it like I would
> a 152. I can see how one would get in trouble quick though, because it IS
> so much fun to fly!
>
> But at the end of the day, can I feel safe? Will it truthfully try to kill
> me? I've got three little ones that rely on me. Two 4 year old daughters
> and a 7 week old baby boy.
>
> I see tons of videos from Europe with guys flying these 601's XL's and
> HD's with the same power plant as me, same set up, and they seem just fine.
> They have a blast it seems!
>
> Chad..... Fighting to put my mind to rest......
> Or sell this and buy a 152! Lol. At least I know they don't break-up in
> flight.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Chad
>
> --------
> C-GYXQ. 912ULS. 601XL-B
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=401365#401365
>
>
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