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 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 Rotax 582 two-stroke, the Rotax 912UL, the Rotax 912ULS and the Jabiru 2200 four-stroke powerplants. The aircraft has also been equipped with the JLT Motors Ecoyota engine.
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 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
;STOL CH 701SP
;STOL CH 750
;CH 750 Cruzer
;STOL CH750 Super Duty

Operators