Thanks for posting this, Ed. When I returned to aviation a few years
ago after a long absence, I started training in a 3-week-new Zodiac
(Zenair CH601XL). That one was factory-built, not kit-built; it felt
solid and flew quite smoothly. At the time, that plane was the only
LSA-legal trainer available for instruction within the 5 nearest
airports to me here in SoCal.
Shortly after I started training, a lesson got postponed because the
NTSB wanted to look over a factory-built one and compare some parts
to those on a home-built Zodiac that had crashed.
It was one of many postponements, most due to the plane being either
out at airshows for marketing display, or down for small shakedown-
cruise squawks. Frustration at those interruptions to my training
triggered buying my Ercoupe. And, ironically, it was because the
Ercoupe-owner's pilot buddy wanted to try out a Zodiac that my
instructor was able to set up a flight-swap: Jon & I flew to San
Diego in the Zodiac, and let the Ercoupe-owner's buddy try it, and
then I tried the Ercoupe out -- and of course found it an easy & fun
little plane. Upon landing, I learned that that Ercoupe was going to
be put up for sale...and I could get it before it hit the
market...and the rest is history... :)
Linda
N3437H ("Sky Sprite")
L.A.
8. Zenair CH601XL further flight prohibited?
Posted by: "Ed Burkhead" [email protected] edburkhead
Date: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:44 pm ((PDT))
Bad news for some fellow flyers:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmk1-
mc7FUhunEDmZ2ub3g7d0Z
ewD97IHGU80
NTSB: Light sport plane can break apart in flight
By JOAN LOWY
WASHINGTON (AP) - Safety officials urged the Federal Aviation
Administration on Tuesday to ground a type of light sport plane they
said has broken apart in flight six times, killing 10 people since 2006.
The National Transportation Safety Board requested the agency prohibit
further flight by the Zodiac CH-601XL, a single-engine, two-seat plane
made from kits sold by Zenith Aircraft Co. of Mexico, Mo.
