rdewees(at)mindspring.com
Guest
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 Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:28 am Post subject: Zodiac 601 HDS and Corvair engines and taildraggers |
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Dave and others,
I now have over 130 hours on my 601HDS taildragger and Jabiru 3300
motor. The only plane I am an expert on is my own (at least that's what
the FAA said when they give me a nifty plastic Repairman's Certificate
card). IMHO a lot of "common" information on HDS performance is not
common at all. My HDS TD is a joy to fly and took very little
training. My largest block of tailwheel time came from a UL Cub clone
that was tame as a kitten. I took my BFR in a Taylorcraft pryor to
soloing the HDS and had no problems at all. Visibility is no issue at
all since the tail doesn't sit much lower than the tri-gear model. I
can't say for sure if it lands shorter or handles rough fields better
than tri gear but I fly out of a field that is both short and rough. I
can say it looks sexy and draws a crowd even in the midst of nice tri
gear ZAC models.
I didn't chose to insure till I had flown off the Phase I hours and
insurance wasn't rated higher because of TW configuration, but because
of turf strip i'm based in.
Re performance-- while I have heard that the cruse and top speeds of
XL and HDS are inflated I find them to be conservative. I know of at
least one local Jab powered XL that is probably capable of 150 plus mph
WOT. Mine is slower than that but not a lot. I cruse at 125-128 mph
and burn about 4.3 gph. No complaints at all there. Re "twitchiness"
-- this is a little hard to explain. Yes, when you yank on a HDS it
will TURN, but if you don't it won't do it by itself. I think of
twitchy as flying a Sonex and being able to turn by moving your head
from side to side. I don't think any 600- 800 pound plane is going to
handle tufbulence as well as a Mooney or a heavier plane but it's for
day vfr flight, generally and the twitchiness "problem" is the
delightful light handling that makes it feel different from a C152.
I've never been a yank and bank pilot but the ease of doing a 50 degree
turn makes you feel like Walter Mitty (if you want to).
Re the difference between the XL and the HDS. Could't comment of the
choice at the time I got my HDS project because there wasn't an XL. I
do think the airfoil is better on the XL as well as a number of problem
issues that weren't address with earlier HD/HDS models. I think the XL
is a refinement of the HD series with it's good and bad points. It
weighs more but has more wing area and I like the clean spring gear
option. OTOH I like the puggish military look to the HDS taildrgger with
it's bent wings. I can't comment on the flap issue but if I had them I
would use them, but don't so I can't. My HDS slips just fine and allows
descents into long or short fields.
Re Corvair powered HDS planes- there is at least one that I am aware
of built by Greg Jannakos. He is in the early stages of flight testing
with it and you would have to ask him what his experience is with it.
I am sure there will be something like an XL Plus or some newer,
slicker model than the current group of ZAC offerings. Nothing is
perfect for everyone so don't sit back and gloat on your choice.
Finish up whatever you have and fly it. It's a great family of planes
with strong and weaker points but it will get you in the air and smiling.
Ron DeWees
601HDS N601TD
Dave Thompson wrote:
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Jerome,
I asked the same question of "Taildragger or tricycle" to William Wynne. All
his aircraft are taildraggers. He said something like this: Typically,
unless you have a large amount of time in taildraggers, Insurance will be
considerably more. Most people are "tricycle trained". If you build
tricycle, more of your friends can fly it, insurance will be cheaper and it
should be easer to sell, if that time comes.
That's my two cents worth! I'm planning to build a tricycle 601XL. 128 total
hours logged; 5 in a cub, the rest in Cessna 150's and 172's, 25 years ago.
By the way, at the risk of sounding picky, the 601HD has been upgraded and
now it is the 601XL., Not that anything is wrong with the HD, the XL is the
latest model.
Dave Thompson
dave.thompson(at)verizon.net
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