Zenith zodiac 601xl kit

[Thruster87]

Just put my deposit down for a Zodiac 601xl. All things going to plan should arrive end of Feb or early March.Will need a Zenith 601xl section soon as there are a few more kits arriving next year for other keen builders. Cheers T87

 

 

[Guest Flyer40]

Congratulations. My offer still stands, at least until if and when I start my own kit.

 

Are you going with Jab power?

 

 

[ianrat]

I think the 601XL section is a good idea. Myself and two others have 3 kits arriving around the same time. (chewing my finger nails waiting) dollar hit $.93 today

 

Ianrat

 

 

[Thruster87]

Thank you for your offer Flyer40 as I'm sure it would benefit both.Looking at the engine options I'll go with the Jab 3300 but I won't have to decide for a couple of years so there may be better option then.The only options I ordered were the Aileron Trim kit,Wing lockers,Wheel Fairings ,the Aileron piano wire hinges and two machine heads for the pneumatic rivet gun [as I already had one] Total $17,411.00 USD including crating of $535.00.The freight costs to OZ all up about $2400.00 ish AUD Cheers T87

 

 

[Case]

Nice choice T87. Did you order it direct from the US ?.

 

 

[Thruster87]

No there is a OZ agent in Coolangatta Airport QLD, Australian Wings Academy who have been very helpfull and the price one pays is what is on the Zenith USA site.They have just completed building a 601xl demo, which will do the air shows in the near future [it went to the Cowra show].Cheers T87

 

 

[Thruster87]

With all the commotion of burnt valves etc on the 3300 might consider alternatives like the

 

TMX O-200 Fixed Pitch (100 HP)

 

23"x 31"x 28" 215 Lbs.

 

 

100% New Parts

 

 

 

 

 



$17,995.00 USD + freight+ GST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thruster87]

Just a thought. It would be cheaper to order the FWF kit with the Aircraft kit to save on shipping and port charges.The Zenith FWF for the Jab 3300 seems a better kit then the OZ one. Cost around $4000.00 USD including:Firewall Side Mount Hardware

 

$15.00

 

Engine Side Mount Hardware

 

$27.00

 

Engine Mount

 

$695.00

 

9" Spinner Assembly Kit

 

$185.00

 

Sensenich ZK Series Prop Bolts

 

$36.00

 

Sensenich Propeller

 

$845.00

 

Oil Cooler Kit - J Style Mount

 

$329.00

 

Oil Recovery System

 

$129.00

 

Fuel System Firewall Forward

 

$59.00

 

Carb Heat Filter Box Zenith

 

$299.00

 

Carb Heat Components less airbox

 

$120.00

 

Prop Extension 63mm

 

$196.00

 

Battery Box Assembly

 

$39.00

 

Zenith CH601 Cowl System

 

$695.00

 

Single Friction Lock Throttle System

 

$99.00

 

Choke Cable Components

 

$24.00

 

Component Total

 

$3,768.00

 

Complete Kit (all of above as a package)

 

$3,550.00

 

Dual Friction Throttle (optional)

 

$199.00

 

Cabin Heat System Zenith (optional)

 

$319.00

 

 

[Case]

The total would be US$4000 converted to A$ = ~ $4400 plus GST = ~A$4850 plus shipping. Do you have a price for the locally supplied parts. I see that Jabiru have a Zodiac FWF kit specified on their web site.

 

 

[Thruster87]

Jabiru FWF $3729 incl GST extras cabin heat $560.00 + dual throttles $250.00 Total $4539 incl.GST + freight? Zenith cowls fit better,engine mount fits better.NO fiberglass work needed on air scoops etc. Save about 200-300 hrs building/fitting/mucking around time if you get the Zenith USA kit

 

 

[Case]

Sounds like the way to go. What's the deal with deposits (eg %) and final payments etc. on the kit.

 

 

[Thruster87]

Working on it.Seems there may be hiccups with Zenith with tying things together so everything arrives at the same time. Cheers [for the complete airframe kit it is 10% min deposit then on dispatch from Zenith 90% 3 months later, freight payment is when it arrives in OZ.FWF kit pay when you order,thats' what needs to be sorted]

 

 

[Guest Flyer40]

Thruster, can you shed any light on your selection process, which other kits you considered and why you settled on the 601?

 

 

[Thruster87]

Selection criteria for Zodiac 601XL 1. I like metal [non-current LAME Engines/Airframes] 2. Price/Engine Choices 3. Cabin width 44†4. Useful payload /Range 5. Cruise speed above 110kts 6. LSA 600kg MTOW and new wing design 7. 1000+ flying 8. Looks /Design of structures 9. Removable wings[only if needed for transport] 10. The most important the wife let me buy it. These are most of the reasons and I haven’t come across anything negative yet but its’ still early days Cheers T87;)

 

 

[Case]

G’day Flyer,

 

I’m looking at the Zodiac for much the same reasons as T87. I started looking a couple of years ago and the Zodiac was one of the first I came across. I think I’ve looked at every kit on the web in the mean time and have come down to a choice of two. A Jabiru (170 or 230) or the Zodiac. My main reasons for the Zodiac are that it’s all metal and will be a reasonable challenge to build. (I also like doing 3000-5000 piece puzzles). For me it’s a pre/post retirement project. My criteria were :-

 

• Should have good performance.
   
   
  
• Price.
   
   
  
• Should look good.
   
   
  
• Should present some challenge to build. (I’d build an RV if it was light enough)
   
   
  
• Should have wide cabin.
   
   
  
• Fuel should be in the wings.
   
  

 

If anyone has any opinions on the Zodiac I'd really like to hear them before I go ahead and jump into the deep end.

 

 

[Towering Cu]

Congratulations Thruster.

 

I have been following this thread with particular interest. I must say this looks like a great little aircraft and I look forward to following yours and others build logs when you take delivery of your kits.

 

Just as an aside, did you consider Garry Morgan's Sierra 100 when you were looking at kits?

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

 

 

[ianrat]

thruster 87.

 

I was talking to Liezel at Sport Air today. She said that you ask about us. We have already built a CH 710 and will be starting on the (3) CH 601XL kits when they arrive early next year. If we can be of any assistance please feel free to contact us.

 

Towering Cu.

 

I looked at Garry Morgan's plane but decided on the CH 601XL for most of the same reasons that thruster 87 did. I do not like laying down to fly like in Garry's plane and the canopy was touching my head. not so in the CH 601XL plenty of head and shoulder room.

 

Ianrat

 

 

[Thruster87]

[Just as an aside, did you consider Garry Morgan's Sierra 100 when you were looking at kits?] Yes, but its' not a proven design yet, not to say it won't handle the long haul but? I prefer the more traditional build methods and vital safety testing that has been done by Zenith. Cheers T87 [ I asked Liezel if anyone else had bought one near me in case we could save on freight]

 

 

 

[Towering Cu]

G'day ianrat and Thruster87.

 

Thanks both for your forthright responses. Again, I look forward to following your progress when your kits arrive.

 

Cheers.

 

 

[Guest Flyer40]

The top of my shortlist at the moment is the Sportcruiser. I have read that it is an evolution of the Zodiac (the wing lockers are a clue). Did anyone consider this aircraft before choosing the Zodiac?

 

I've just heard from Air Noosa that they are importing RTF SportCruisers only, makes obtaining a kit a bit more challenging.

 

 

[Thruster87]

My understanding is that Zenith and the Czech Aircraft Works parted company.The Czech version goes for around $92,000.00 factory built. At the end of the day you just have to bite the bullet and get one as new designs are coming out all the time. Cheers T87

 

 

[Thruster87]

Latest Price for

 

 

 

 

 

 

The quote below is for a Lycoming Thunderbolt Signature Series O-235-EXP (N2C). The engine is equipped with a certified Precision Airmotive carburetor. The standard ignition system consists of your choice of (1) Slick impulse coupled or retard breaker magneto, (1) Slick standard magneto, sparkplug harness, and sparkplugs. The engine includes oil filter adapter, vacuum pump drive and mechanical tach drive. Engine accessories such as vacuum pump, starter, and alternator are not included. The pistons and connecting rods are match-weighted to within ½ gram. The engine will be comprised of 100% new parts and will be tested in our production test cells to the certified standard. The engine will be accompanied by a comprehensive 2 year/200 hour parts and labor warranty. Other options below.

 

Engine Model

 

 

 

O-235-N2C

 

 

 

USD $22,250.00

 

 

 

Oil System

 

 

 

Full-Flow Oil Filter Adapter

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Oil Screen and Housing Assembly

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Fuel Injection Systems

 

 

 

Airflow Performance Injection System

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Precision Silver Hawk Injection System

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Add Fuel Injection

 

 

 

Remove carb, add fuel injection.

 

 

 

2000.00

 

 

 

Note: There is no charge for choice of fuel injection brands listed; $2K upcharge applies only to carbureted engines modified to fuel injected status. [Ex. "O-320" modified to "IO-320."]

 

 

 

Ignition

 

 

 

Slick (1 L-Impulse 1 R-STD)

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Retard Mag (ea) Substitute for Impulse Mag

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

2nd Impulse Mag (ea) Substitute for plain mag

 

 

 

380.00

 

 

 

Slick High Voltage Start Module (use w/Retard mag)

 

 

 

400.00

 

 

 

Delete one side of ignition system**

 

 

 

-300.00

 

 

 

Delete entire ignition system**

 

 

 

-600.00

 

 

 

Engine Color

 

 

 

Thunderbolt Titanium

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Gloss Black

 

 

 

No Charge

 

 

 

Two-tone Titanium/Gloss Black (Customer Favorite!)

 

 

 

200.00

 

 

 

Custom Color (most colors)

 

 

 

200.00

 

 

 

Two-tone custom colors (most colors)

 

 

 

400.00

 

 

 

Chrome (4 cylinder)

 

 

 

Rocker Box Covers

 

 

 

325.00

 

 

 

Intake Pipes

 

 

 

255.00

 

 

 

Push Rod Tubes

 

 

 

535.00

 

 

 

"Full Dresser" Chrome Kit (All of the above)

 

 

 

975.00

 

 

 

Build Enhancements

 

 

 

Fine-wire Champion Sparkplugs (4 cyl)

 

 

 

300.00

 

 

 

Port and Flow / Vol. Cylinder Matching (4 cyl)***

 

 

 

600.00

 

 

 

9.7:1 Compression Pistons (125 hp)

 

 

 

250.00

 

 

 

Christen Inverted Oil System (Except Hoses)

 

 

 

1,000.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Case]

The O-235 has a bit of a weight problem though - 113Kg

 

O-200 - 77Kg

 

Jab3300 - 81Kg

 

 

[Thruster87]

Tha Jab 3300 is looking better all the time.Think I'll go with it. Cheers T87

 

 

[Guest Baphomet]

RANS S-19

 

Following this thread, has anybody had a close look at the new RANS S-19? reputable company, excellent performance reasonable price. Perhaps it wasn't available when you all ordered your 601's?

 

Ian