Which Project would be best?

I have a question for the group. I am feeling the need to start
another homebuilt project. I have a Zenith CH-300 that I first flew in
1988, and it has been a fine ship.
My ideal project would be as follows:

Must meets the Light Sport Aircraft requirements:
Cruse speed is somewhere close to 108 knots.
Fabric cover
Wood ribs and spars:
High wing (for ease of entry)
Enclosed Cabin
Tail Dragger is ok, although I have no experience in one.
Engine is a Lyc 0-235, low compression for burning auto fuel
Useful load is close to 600 pounds.

I have looked long and hard at the Murphy Rebel as a project for a
LSA, but that bird is just a bit too heavy when using the O-235. If
someone could assure me that a Rebel could be put together using the
0-235 and keep the empty weight down to about 700 pounds or so, then I
might drift that way. (I want the O-235 because I believe I can build
one up for a lot less money that a Rotax 100 hp unit would cost.)

I have looked at the Zenith 701, but it is quite small on the inside,
(I am 6' 4", 220 lbs) and still uses the Rotax. It does have amazing
short field performance, but cruse is only about 80 knots or so.

There may be some kits out there that I should be considering, but I
am not afraid of taking on a project as above from plans.

Suggestions welcomed!!

Zenith CH-300 Driver.

Well Tim, I never thought I'd recommend it to someone, but the Kitfox
closely fits your bill. They are up and running again under new
management. The new owners are, by all accounts, as honest and good to
deal with as the old company was not. Disclaimer: I personally have no
dealings with the new company, but I have about three thousand reasons
to be bitter about the old, defunct company.

For cockpit space inside, I am 5'11" with tall sitting height. I had
enough headroom on the demo ride while I had the pedals pulled as close
to me as possible. The pedal setting is partly my preference, partly
anthropometrics (that means I sit tall but have short legs for my height).

It might be tough to build any two seater with an O-235 to 700 lbs, 750
and up is probably be more realistic (for a Kitfox). The usual advice
right? Keep it light- VFR panel, wood prop, medium fabric, don't get
Dr. Seuss sized main wheels, forget the severe duty police and taxi
alternator...

Your cruise requirement is attainable (in an O-235 Kitfox) I think.
Different builders' have tried different solutions to aerodynamic
fairings (wing struts for example). These always increase cruise speed,
some solutions increase weight a little, some increase weight a lot.

Oh, they use aluminum spars and wood ribs (you said wood/wood). I found
my spars surprisingly easy to prime on the inside and out. Messy, but easy.

This is like medical advice, ask for a second opinion!

(Tim Hickey) wrote in news:450a096b.150768578
@news.iowatelecom.net:

I have a question for the group. I am feeling the need to start
another homebuilt project. I have a Zenith CH-300 that I first flew in
1988, and it has been a fine ship.
My ideal project would be as follows:

Must meets the Light Sport Aircraft requirements:
Cruse speed is somewhere close to 108 knots.
Fabric cover
Wood ribs and spars:
High wing (for ease of entry)
Enclosed Cabin
Tail Dragger is ok, although I have no experience in one.
Engine is a Lyc 0-235, low compression for burning auto fuel
Useful load is close to 600 pounds.

I have looked long and hard at the Murphy Rebel as a project for a
LSA, but that bird is just a bit too heavy when using the O-235. If
someone could assure me that a Rebel could be put together using the
0-235 and keep the empty weight down to about 700 pounds or so, then I
might drift that way. (I want the O-235 because I believe I can build
one up for a lot less money that a Rotax 100 hp unit would cost.)

I have looked at the Zenith 701, but it is quite small on the inside,
(I am 6' 4", 220 lbs) and still uses the Rotax. It does have amazing
short field performance, but cruse is only about 80 knots or so.

There may be some kits out there that I should be considering, but I
am not afraid of taking on a project as above from plans.

Suggestions welcomed!!

Zenith CH-300 Driver

Wittman Buttercup...

www.luceair.com

--
-- ET :-)

"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams

G'day


Well I have a Rebel with a Rotax 100hp engine and couldn't be happier with
it. I thought of going with an O-235 but the extra weight of the engine and
propeller put me off the idea.

One of my friends had an O-235 in a Rebel and it went OK. but burned a lot
more gas for not much extra performance. His engine died at an inconvenient
time and he damaged the Rebel. He is now fitting a new O-320, but the costs
of a new engine (or even a rebuilt one) are beyond my budget.

My Rebel weighs in at 330 kilograms, cruises at 85/90k and burns less than
18 litres of standard petrol (gas). As long as I can shut the doors it will
fly with any amount of weight that I can put in it! Some of the other kit
planes are really limited to the MTOW, but that is not a problem with the
Rebel.


By the way I am 6'5", #300 and the Rebel accommodates me and a big friend
with ease.

regards

Ian Donaldson


..

I have looked long and hard at the Murphy Rebel as a project for a
LSA, but that bird is just a bit too heavy when using the O-235. If
someone could assure me that a Rebel could be put together using the
0-235 and keep the empty weight down to about 700 pounds or so, then I
might drift that way. (I want the O-235 because I believe I can build
one up for a lot less money that a Rotax 100 hp unit would cost.)

I have looked at the Zenith 701, but it is quite small on the inside,
(I am 6' 4", 220 lbs) and still uses the Rotax. It does have amazing
short field performance, but cruse is only about 80 knots or so.

Take a look at the Falconar Miranda, sounds like your project.

"Lou" wrote in message
ps.com...
Take a look at the Falconar Miranda, sounds like your project.


Deal with Falconar - Caveat Emptor.

Rich S.

"Rich S." wrote

Deal with Falconar - Caveat Emptor.

Rich:

What was the problem with Falcon air? I remember something, but I don't
remember what?

This getting old crap has got to stop.

Hopefully not for quite a few more years, though. The negative effects I
could do without, however! g
--
Jim (another birthday in two more days) in NC

I'm also curious, what was the problem with Falconar?

I haven't really researched the price or the included accessories, so I
can't be a strong advocate one way or the other--and I also really like the
O-235.

However, Continental has been positioning their O-200 as an LSA powerplant,
with 100 HP and a stated dry weight of 170 LB. That's enough lighter than
the O-235 to make a serious look almost mandatory; and like the O-235 it
permits you to idle at a low RPM, both on the ramp and on the approach.

Although trivial for the LSA category, both the O-200 and O-235 and
qualified for night and IFR when equiped with an appropriately approved
propeller. .

Peter

On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 21:01:29 -0400, "Peter Dohm"
wrote:

I looked at the Continental O-200 that the company had on display at
OSH this year. If I recall correctly, they were planning on a weight
of "Under 200 Pounds" when the engine was ready for sale. And that
was with all the accesories. I think that they planned to put it on
the market in mid 2007. HOWEVER, I think that the target selling price
was around $19,000.
I was hoping to be able to overhaul a Lyc 0-235 for somewhere around 8
or 9 thousand.
I have heard that a 100 hp Rotax will set you back 18 grand for a
running engine. Anybody bought one lately?

However, Continental has been positioning their O-200 as an LSA powerplant,
with 100 HP and a stated dry weight of 170 LB. That's enough lighter than
the O-235 to make a serious look almost mandatory; and like the O-235 it
permits you to idle at a low RPM, both on the ramp and on the approach.

Although trivial for the LSA category, both the O-200 and O-235 and
qualified for night and IFR when equiped with an appropriately approved
propeller. .

Peter





Zenith CH-300 Driver.