Brief Description: Visit to Ken Smith and his new 601XL
I first met Ken Smith at Quality Sport Planes in Cloverdale, CA during October of 2006 when we were both attending a 601XL/Corvair firewall forward event with William Wynne. Ken's Corvair-powered plane took to the air on November 29, 2007 and was piloted by Bill Clapp. Another part of my MLK holiday was to meet Ken at French Valley Airport to see his well-made airplane and to compare many notes on construction and configuration. Now that he has flown off his 10 hours, a paint job is just around the corner. At 5'6", he and I have polar opposite ideas on how to set up seats and rudder pedals, so I didn't even try to get in, but admired his interior work from a convenient perch on the left wing. Ken's a great guy with lots of practical ideas on how to get your plane in the air, and I'm glad to have another 601XL/Corvair pilot within easy flying distance.
Ken with N601KS
Stratomaster Enigma as the primary flight instrument
