This 1998 Zenith 601 HDS kit was donated a couple years ago to the chapter by a former chapter member who was the original purchaser. While the chapter considered completing the kit, we have decided to sell it and concentrate on our other projects.
Compared to the current Zenith kits, you will have to lay out all the rivet lines. All welded parts (such as the rudder pedals and fuel tanks) as well as the riveting of the main wing spars were done by the factory. Sheets are mostly cut to size, and the wing ribs are formed.
As received, the rudder had been completed and one outer wing panel was nearly complete. Markings on the rudder suggest it was built first, at one of the factory's rudder workshops for builders. Unfortunately, inspection of the wing panel indicated the workmanship was not suitable for sale, and it has been discarded, after removal of the fuel tank.
This kit is for the tailwheel version. It also includes both of the optional wing tanks. The later wing storage lockers are not part of this kit. Many of the aluminum panels in the kit were still in their original paper packaging and boxes, and no significant corrosion has been observed.
The factory still supports this model, and a phone call to them will confirm that all parts can still be made up on request, including the components for a tricycle gear and for the discarded wing panel. (The quote from the factory for the wing panel parts was about $1,700.) The factory also offers the firewall forward (FWF) kit for the Rotax 912, which was the engine preferred by the designer.
The buyer may want to replace the canopy plexiglass; its protective film is difficult to remove, and there is at least one scratch on it. Other builders have substituted the taller canopy bubble from the current 650 model, and while this adds headroom, it also creates more drag.
With the kit is all its paper documentation. These include the original 1990s plans (hand drawn) as well as the final revision of the plans (computer drawn). Besides the factory's photo build guide, there are copies of the factory newsletters with additional construction tips. Updates to the photo guides can be found on the factory web site. The factory purchase receipt is also included.
Other than the one wing panel, all parts received from the donor are included in the sale, but we have not made a complete inventory of what we received. A factory parts list for 601 HDS kits is available, and as parts are transferred to the purchaser, we will mark which parts are missing and replace them.
The asking price is $4,000. For reference, the current Zenith low wing kit (also without FWF) is $37,000.
Please contact the chapter by e-mail with further questions.
