---------------------------------------------------------- Zenith640-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 07/25/08: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:50 AM - Re: 640 Builders Check-In () 2. 11:22 AM - Re: Re: 640 Builders Check-In (Craig Smith) 3. 12:03 PM - Re: Re: 640 Builders Check-In (Doug Geese) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:50:45 AM PST US From: Subject: Zenith640-List: Re: 640 Builders Check-In I feel compelled to defend both the CH640 and Zenair on this thread. As far as support from Zenair, I have had nothing but positive experiences. Tim Ward seems to be the guy in charge when it comes to questions, parts, etc and is a great guy to talk to. When I was building my ailerons, I had one come out twisted. I called to inquire about a replacement skin and since I was ordering my fuse kit anyway, a replacement was included in the crate at NO charge. They inadvertently sent two left hand longerons and no right hand. This was quickly solved. I built my own engine mount since my engine is not a dynofocal mount. I called to ask detailed questions concerning distance and angles of engine placement and spoke to Chris himself. I can think of many more situations like these so again, support couldn't have been better. This airplane is directed towards a niche market, and except for the article in Sport Aviation hasn't been advertised to any extent. I think the design speaks for itself. Where else are you going to get a 180HP, 4 place, 145mpg, 1000# useful load plane for under $50k? It is truly a family traveller. Granted the back seat isn't as big as say an RV-10 but neither is the cost (not even in the same ballpark). In my case, the back seat is more than roomy enough for my two kids to travel in comfort. When the kids are grown and gone, the back seat will be great as baggage area to take extended trips with my wife. As I'm putting the finishing touches on mine in preparation for the first flight (hopefully this fall), I'm amazed at what a solid, full featured plane this has become. This won't be my everyday flier, but when the GPS says 1000 miles to go, I wouldn't want to be in anything else. If anyone is ever in the northern Indiana area, feel free to stop by our community airport and check mine out. Doug Geese CH640 95% done, 25% remaining www.tropria.com ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 11:22:47 AM PST US From: Craig Smith Subject: Re: Zenith640-List: Re: 640 Builders Check-In Doug, I'm happy that you had a positive experience. Why you feel a need to defend anyone is not necessary. Steve and I have just stated our experiences, nothing more. We both said we liked the aircraft. It's pretty clear that you are one of the early adopters, and perhaps early in the program there was more enthusiasm from the manufcturer. Such is not the case currently. The 640 has been allowed to founder, plain and simple. They didn't even have one to show at Sun-N-Fun, nor was there any promotional literature. I have had very mixed results from the company and it's representatives. Some e-mails drift off into oblivion, some get answered. Sometimes I have to make a follow up phone call. But after perserverance on my part I have gotten some answers for critical issues, such as my double fuel mod. Indeed Tim is the best point contact for support, but sometimes things must get shifted around on his desk, as I have had to follow up on a few things. I agree with you that the features for price are unbeatable, that is why I chose this model. I too will be building my own engine mount, for a Rotamax 180. As Chris is retired from the business, I'm hopeful it won't a problem when I'm crossing that bridge. Again, I have great admiration for the design, designer, and quality of materials so far. But for us new builders, it seems the focus of the company is elsewhere. It's exciting to hear that you are near completion. Please keep us apprised of your progress, and I would love the oppurtunity to come to see your 640. As a veteran builder, what were your "gotcha's" in building the 640, or what advise would you have for those with projects still in infancy? Craig in Michigan dgeese@verizon.net wrote: I feel compelled to defend both the CH640 and Zenair on this thread. As far as support from Zenair, I have had nothing but positive experiences. Tim Ward seems to be the guy in charge when it comes to questions, parts, etc and is a great guy to talk to. ........ I built my own engine mount since my engine is not a dynofocal mount. I called to ask detailed questions concerning distance and angles of engine placement and spoke to Chris himself. I can think of many more situations like these so again, support couldn't have been better. This airplane is directed towards a niche market, and except for the article in Sport Aviation hasn't been advertised to any extent. I think the design speaks for itself. Where else are you going to get a 180HP, 4 place, 145mpg, 1000# useful load plane for under $50k? ..................... As I'm putting the finishing touches on mine in preparation for the first flight (hopefully this fall), I'm amazed at what a solid, full featured plane this has become. This won't be my everyday flier, but when the GPS says 1000 miles to go, I wouldn't want to be in anything else. If anyone is ever in the northern Indiana area, feel free to stop by our community airport and check mine out. Doug Geese CH640 95% done, 25% remaining www.tropria.com ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 12:03:12 PM PST US Subject: RE: Zenith640-List: Re: 640 Builders Check-In From: "Doug Geese" I don't remember any major difficulties in building the airframe, but of course I've been working on it since spring of 2002 and I'm sure I forgotten little things in that amount of time. I do remember the fuel tanks being a little tight in the wing bays and so I used 1/16" cork instead of the kit supplied 1/8". I built the entire airframe from Zenair supplied slow build kits and went on my own for the instrument panel and firewall forward (except for cowling). It seems that lately I have spent a lot of time working between the back of the firewall and the rear of the engine. Since I'm an "instant gratification" type person, this has been tedious. Nothing looks different from day to day. The canopy was riveted in last Sunday so things can start to happen at a quicker pace now. I guess that I would simply suggest to just stick to the plans while building. I also follow the 601 list on Matronics and see a lot of armchair engineers over there changing all sorts of stuff. Good, bad, who knows? Now that we have our own list as I come up with thoughts about the construction I'll post them here. Doug ________________________________ From: owner-zenith640-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith640-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Craig Smith Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 2:23 PM Subject: Re: Zenith640-List: Re: 640 Builders Check-In Doug, I'm happy that you had a positive experience. Why you feel a need to defend anyone is not necessary. Steve and I have just stated our experiences, nothing more. We both said we liked the aircraft. It's pretty clear that you are one of the early adopters, and perhaps early in the program there was more enthusiasm from the manufcturer. Such is not the case currently. The 640 has been allowed to founder, plain and simple. They didn't even have one to show at Sun-N-Fun, nor was there any promotional literature. I have had very mixed results from the company and it's representatives. Some e-mails drift off into oblivion, some get answered. Sometimes I have to make a follow up phone call. But after perserverance on my part I have gotten some answers for critical issues, such as my double fuel mod. Indeed Tim is the best point contact for support, but sometimes things must get shifted around on his desk, as I have had to follow up on a few things. I agree with you that the features for price are unbeatable, that is why I chose this model. I too will be building my own engine mount, for a Rotamax 180. As Chris is retired from the business, I'm hopeful it won't a problem when I'm crossing that bridge. Again, I have great admiration for the design, designer, and quality of materials so far. But for us new builders, it seems the focus of the company is elsewhere. It's exciting to hear that you are near completion. Please keep us apprised of your progress, and I would love the oppurtunity to come to see your 640. As a veteran builder, what were your "gotcha's" in building the 640, or what advise would you have for those with projects still in infancy? Craig in Michigan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message zenith640-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Zenith640-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/zenith640-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/zenith640-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.