Zenith STOL CH 701

Design and development

Designed for off-runway operations, the all-metal CH 701 has many features that contribute to the aircraft's capabilities, such as a high-lift wing with full-span, non-movable leading edge slots, an all-flying rudder, large tires, flaperons and an inverted elevator. Heintz also designed a unique tricycle gear amphibious float system for the CH 701.

Standard engines used are the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke, the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL, the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS and the 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200 four-stroke powerplants.

The STOL CH 701 has the unique distinction of being what is probably the most copied light aircraft in production today. Several dozen unauthorized versions have been produced around the world.

Designed to the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association of Canada (LAMAC) design standard DS 10141, in its native country of Canada the CH 701 can be built and flown as a basic ultralight, advanced ultralight or amateur-built. The CH 701 can be flown under microlight or ultralight rules in several other countries also. American pilots may fly the CH 701 under Light-sport Aircraft rules or as an experimental amateur-built. The CH 750 is designed to comply with the US Light sport aircraft rules.

Operational history

By the fall of 2007, 750 CH 701s had been completed and were flying. In July 2014, representatives of the company gathered volunteers of the EAA Airventure airshow to build a CH-750 kit in a one-week timeframe.

Variants

STOL CH 701

Base model, introduced in 1986, with a gross weight of 1100 lbs (500 kg).

STOL CH 750

Introduced at AirVenture 2008, the STOL CH 750 has an enlarged cabin with wider doors and is optimized for US Light Sport Aircraft rules with a maximum takeoff weight of 1320 lbs (600 kg). Builders may also opt to register it for operation on water at 1430 lbs (650 kg) while remaining within the LSA limits, or as an experimental amateur-built aircraft up to 1440 lbs (655 kg.) The STOL CH 750 was also to be factory-built by AMD as a Special Light Sport Aircraft but as of 2014 is listed by the FAA as no longer produced as an SLSA.

CH 750 Cruzer

Introduced at Sun 'n Fun 2013, the CH-750 Cruzer uses a new wing without the leading-edge slats of the STOL CH 750, and a newly designed tail with a separate vertical fin and rudder, rather than the all-flying rudder of the STOL version. The model is optimized for cross-country speed rather than STOL capabilities, although the specified 350 ft (107 m) ground roll of the Cruzer qualifies as STOL by most definitions. It mounts wheel pants as standard (although these may be removed and larger wheels installed) and the prototype is powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) ULPower UL350is fuel injected engine, although other engines in the 100–160 hp (75–119 kW) range can be used.

Operators

 India

Indian Air Force - ordered 85 aircraft, with options for a further 48 for use by the National Cadet Corps with 25 in service by February 2001.

Specifications (CH 701)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94 and Zenith Aircraft

General characteristics

Crew: two

Length: 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)

Wingspan: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)

Height: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)

Wing area: 122.0 sq ft (11.33 m²)

Aspect ratio: 5.98:1

Empty weight: 580 lb (263 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)

Fuel capacity: 20 US Gal (76 L)

Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 four-cylinder liquid-cooled piston engine, 80 hp (60 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 85 mph (137 km/h; 74 kn) at sea level

Cruise speed: 80 mph (129 km/h; 70 kn)

Stall speed: 30 mph (48 km/h; 26 kn)

Never exceed speed: 110 mph (177 km/h; 96 kn)

Range: 372 mi (323 nmi; 599 km) with standard fuel

Endurance: 4.6 hours

Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)

g limits: +6/-3 (ultimate)

Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

Wing loading: 9.0 lb/sq ft (44 kg/m²)