Zenith STOL CH 701



The Zenith STOL CH 701 and CH 750 are a family of light, two-place kit-built STOL aircraft designed by Canadian aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz through his Midland, Ontario, based company, Zenair. The CH 701 first flew in 1986 and the design is still in production. The CH 750 was first introduced in 2008. The CH 701 was later developed into the four-place Zenith STOL CH 801.

The kit is produced and distributed in the US by the Zenith Aircraft Company of Mexico, Missouri, and complete drawings, including blueprints and manuals, are also available for the design. In Europe, the CH 701 was manufactured under license by Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) from 1992 until 2006, when the license agreement was ended.

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 Rotax 582 two-stroke, the 80 hp Rotax 912UL, the 100 hp Rotax 912ULS and the 85 hp Jabiru 2200 four-stroke powerplants. The aircraft has also been equipped with the JLT Motors Ecoyota engine, as well as popular 4 cylinder Continental engines (A-65/C-85) which Zenith still offers an engine mount for.

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
 * Original version. 960lbs gross and 10 gal header tank. steel spring gear and Rotax 503.


 * STOL CH 701SP
 * Comes with two standard 10 u.s.gal wing tanks, solid aluminum spring gear. Smaller refinements to achieve 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 ULPower UL350is fuel injected engine, although other engines in the 100-160 hp range can be used.


 * STOL CH750 Super Duty
 * This model introduced greater carrying capacity and climb capabilities. It can be powered by engines with a range of 150 to 230 hp, with the prototype powered by a 205 hp Aero Sport Power IO-375 powerplant, which gave a cruise speed of 105 mph and a rate of climb of 1350 fpm (6.9 m/s). Gross weight is 1900 lb, with a typical empty weight of 1100 lb.


 * Nuncats Sky jeep
 * Electric-powered derivative of CH 750, that was first flown in January 2023.

Operators



 * 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.