My EAA Chapter was kinda working on an Acro Sport II but it was like watching grass grow. So I raised the question, "Say, when this is done in 2 or 3 or 4,000 more hours, who is still going to be alive and of those, who can fly it?" Silence. Well, I offered to sell the project and get us a CH 701. My offer was accepted, subsequently I sold the Acro Sport, and last Friday a 12 x 4 x 3 foot box showed up from Zenith.

Man, it was like X-mas! We had that box open and the parts inventoried in under two hours. Saturday, some of the guys started assembling the rudder.

This project has already put a whole new life back in the Chapter. First, the 701 is all metal, is assembled with pop rivets, and has a 450 hour build time. That alone means anyone, with modest skills, can work on it and progress is quickly visible.

Second, it is LSA compliant, a STOL aircraft, has a nose wheel, and can land and takeoff almost anywhere. That means virtually everybody in the Chapter can fly it.

The plane, in my opinion, is ugly, in a cool sort of way. But we aim to get it done this winter and fly it in the spring. I am already lining up a Rotax 912S and instruments.

Looking forward to having fun this winter!

Rod,

Be sure to keep us, or me anyway, in the loop on progress of the build. Post a few pictures when you can.

They maybe kind of a flying box? But man from the things I've seen on You Tube, they are great performers.

I would like to check out Savannah Toms plane one of these days, in person to see it perform for real. Maybe whine enough and buy him a steak to get a ride?

See ya, Bub

We started working on a CH801, the 4 seater from the same company. Had to put the project on hold while I work on my flight training, but didn't have any trouble putting the rudder together, and the folks at Zenith are top notch, from all I could see.
One of these days I can get back to it... but I see a smaller airplane in the near future first.

You'll have a blast flying the 701. They are a great little plane.

Bub, you don't need to feed me. I'd be happy to give you a lift. All I need is for the dad blamed fog to get out of here early enough in the morning for me to make a one day trip out of it. I've been wanting to scout camping and exploring areas each side of hwy 20, so I'll be out there sooner or later.

tom

Savannah-Tom wrote:You'll have a blast flying the 701. They are a great little plane.

Bub, you don't need to feed me. I'd be happy to give you a lift. All I need is for the dad blamed fog to get out of here early enough in the morning for me to make a one day trip out of it. I've been wanting to scout camping and exploring areas each side of hwy 20, so I'll be out there sooner or later.

tom

Oh no! Tom, I cook a mighty fine Rib eye. Couldn't come all the way over here and not eat.

That's one thing I don't miss about the valley, and that's the fog. Over here I bet we get 300 days a year or mabe more VFR weather. When it is instrument weather I'm ground bound anyway. Even though I am rated and so is the plane. When it's IFR here it's usually freezing from the surface up. So Ice is on the menu, and that's not on my diet.

See ya, Bub

A couple guys ask me for pictures. Here is a link to the web site I manage. A separate page has been set up on the chapter project.

http://www.eaa839.com/chapter_project/chapter_project.htm

We meet on Wednesday nights. Last night we had 10 - 12 guys trying to all work on the 701. We cleared out chairs in the hangar, brought out another 4 x 8 work table, and started on the elevator while the rudder skeleton was being built. I can see we are going to have to start on other parts of the project just to let everybody have something to do. At this rate there isn't going to be enough work to get us through the winter!

Jr.CubBuilder wrote:That sounds like something our local chapter could use.

A friend in the hangar behind me finally came to his senses and is selling his 701. 450 hours? That's hilarious. Not in a million years will you finish in 450 hours. His is on Barnstormers right now, priced to sell if anyone's interested. The ad says 80% complete. And as the saying goes only 60% more to do.

Bonanza Man wrote:

Jr.CubBuilder wrote:That sounds like something our local chapter could use.

A friend in the hangar behind me finally came to his senses and is selling his 701. 450 hours? That's hilarious. Not in a million years will you finish in 450 hours. His is on Barnstormers right now, priced to sell if anyone's interested. The ad says 80% complete. And as the saying goes only 60% more to do.

The original kits could be built in 700-1000 hr. Zenith now has a quick build kit that is supposed to go together in about 400-500. The Savannah kit I built took 275 hours.

tom

I have had my Zenith 801 flying for a couple of years now and it is a BLAST !!!! to fly. The airline captains flying 57's 320 scare busses and other big liners usually comment to the tower as I taxi by. The challange most often goes like this. Hey, orange plane, does that thing have full span slats?? yup I say. And it has full span flaperons too. They almost always ask how much runway do I need for a takeoff roll? I will answer " about the length of your fusalage". The next comment is they say is, hey ol buddy here in Jackson Hole Wy we are 6500 msl, density altitude will eat your lunch. With that I will do some close pattern work till I see them taxiing away from the terminal. I will land and merge infront of them as they line up for the active. As they are pointed north on the taxiway I will take the active and position myself so i am in line with the front of their plane, stand on the brakes and power up the beast. I can almost always rotate before I get abeam with their tail. The tower just eats this up and has to answer their next question,, What is it???? and what engine is in it?? is the typical question coming from the liner... Tower guys say,,,, It's a homebuilt with a V-8 NASCAR engine in it....

Only in America !!!!!!


I love my toy......

I've always thought the CH701/801 were the coolest designs. It's probably the only tricycle gear plane I would opt for (beyond the Caravan or Grizzy.)

Maybe someday...

Stol wrote:I have had my Zenith 801 flying for a couple of years now and it is a BLAST !!!! to fly. The airline captains flying 57's 320 scare busses and other big liners usually comment to the tower as I taxi by. The challange most often goes like this. Hey, orange plane, does that thing have full span slats?? yup I say. And it has full span flaperons too. They almost always ask how much runway do I need for a takeoff roll? I will answer " about the length of your fusalage". The next comment is they say is, hey ol buddy here in Jackson Hole Wy we are 6500 msl, density altitude will eat your lunch. With that I will do some close pattern work till I see them taxiing away from the terminal. I will land and merge infront of them as they line up for the active. As they are pointed north on the taxiway I will take the active and position myself so i am in line with the front of their plane, stand on the brakes and power up the beast. I can almost always rotate before I get abeam with their tail. The tower just eats this up and has to answer their next question,, What is it???? and what engine is in it?? is the typical question coming from the liner... Tower guys say,,,, It's a homebuilt with a V-8 NASCAR engine in it....

Only in America !!!!!!


I love my toy......

Hey... you say you got the V8?

I was considering an LS2 for my 801, but didn't know anyone who'd done it.

Just head to my website...... www.haaspowerair.com and read how I did it and look at the pics to see how its done. The plane is stout enough to hold it,, well, so far I have been tryin to get to Johnson Creek or other backcountry flyins to meet Zane and all the other guys and gals but so far life gets in the way. Livin in the mountians and being a contractor eats up every daylight hour during the summer months so I can get projects closed in for winter. I am gettin too old to work outside when it's -35. I hope to slow down a bit this year and do several back country strips this summer.

Safe flyin guys

more 701 stuff:

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... =35&pos=20

Stol, those V8 pictures in the 801 look sweet! Don't think we are going to shove one of those in the 701 though! Maybe half of one?

Here's a neat video of the 701 going through it's paces. The Savannah can do any of this, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbBb_IuT1_o

Savannah-Tom wrote:Here's a neat video of the 701 going through it's paces. The Savannah can do any of this, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbBb_IuT1_o

I reckon it should... looks like it was nearly popped outta the same mold.

Here is the rudder all ready to be riverted.



And here is the elevator just getting started.



Things are moving right along!

Skystrider wrote:Stol, those V8 pictures in the 801 look sweet! Don't think we are going to shove one of those in the 701 though! Maybe half of one?

is a half V8 anything like a half VW?

Phil :p

Things keep moving along. More pics!



The elevator is ready to be skinned.



Here it is clecoed with the done rudder behind it.



The stab is being deburred before we start skinning it.



The wing skelton is getting started.

We are presently working on three sub sections at the same time! And, everybody is having fun!

That is a very cool project. How does the ownership work out? Who pays for what? Thanks for the updates!