AMD Zodiac

Infobox Aircraft
name=AMD Zodiac


caption=
type=light-sport aircraft
manufacturer=Aircraft Manufacturing and Design
designer=Chris Heintz
first flight=
introduced=2004
retired=N/A
status=in production
primary user=recreational pilots/sport pilots
more users=private pilots
produced=Eastman, Georgia
number built=
unit cost=$84,900-94,900
variants with their own articles=

The Zodiac is a Canadian all-metal, two-seat, fixed tricycle gear airplane that first flew in 1984. The original CH 600 has evolved into a complete family of light aircraft including the 601 HD, 601 HDS and the 601 UL. The aircraft have been produced as kits and completed aircraft by Zenair in Canada and Zenith Aircraft Company in the USA. cite web|url = http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/601-hd.html|title = ZODIAC CH 601 HD|accessdate = 2008-03-01|last = Zenith Aircraft Company|authorlink = |year = 2006|month = November]

The latest models in the Zodiac family are the ready-to-fly AMD Zodiac XL and XLi produced by Aircraft Manufacturing and Design. cite web|url = http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/601_SLSA/601.html|title = Zodiac XLi|accessdate = 2008-02-23|last = Aircraft Manufacturing & Design|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = February]

The low-wing Zodiac does not have conventional doors instead it has a bubble canopy.

History

The original Zodiac airplane was designed in the mid-eighties, by Chris Heintz. It started out as a kit plane, meaning that consumers can purchase the plane as components to assemble it themselves.

The Zodiac has since been manufactured in Canada, Europe, and South America as a factory-assembled, ready-to-fly certified aircraft.

Heintz drafted the regulations for light-sport aircraft in Canada around the time he designed the Zodiac. He also played an important role in drafting the current light-sport aircraft (LSA) rules for the United States.

Zenith Aircraft Company still produces kits and Quick-build kits for the Zodiac kit for the homebuilt-market. cite web|url = http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/xl/index.html|title = ZODIAC XL|accessdate = 2008-03-01|last = Zenith Aircraft Company|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = February]

Variants

Zenair CH 600

The original version of the Zodiac, the CH 600, was designed by Chris Heintz and first flown in 1984. The aircraft was intended as a primary trainer.

Zenair CH 601 HD

The CH 601 HD (for heavy duty) was the follow-on to the original CH 600 and incorporated many improvements to the design. The HD version had a gross weight of 1200 lbs and a standard empty weight of 530 lbs. Aircraft kits were marketed by Zenair of Midland, Ontario in Canada and by Zenith Aircraft of Mexico, Missouri.Kitplanes Staff: "1999 Kit Aircraft Directory", page 76. Primedia Publications, December 1998. ]

Zenair CH 601 HDS

The CH 601 HDS (for heavy duty speedwing) was a version of the HD with the wing span is reduced to 23 feet and a wing area of just 98 square feet. The wing also featured a tapered design with a 34 inch chord at the wing tip. cite web|url = http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/601-hds.html|title = ZODIAC CH 601 HDS|accessdate = 2008-03-01|last = Zenith Aircraft Company|authorlink = |year = 2004|month = May]

Zenair CH 601 UL

The UL version of the CH 601 was specially designed for the Canadian Advanced Ultralight Aeroplane category that was introduced in 1991. Heintz was instrumental in the creation of the category as the author of the standards and used the CH 601 as a model for the category. The UL version had a reduced gross weight of 1058 lbs, the maximum allowed in the category. When the gross weight for the AULA category was increased to 1200 lbs in 2001 the CH 601 UL had its gross weight increased to the 1200 lb mark also. The UL version was supplied in 51% or 85% kit or completed form by Zenair in Canada and was designed for engines of 80-100 horsepower. The aircraft did not neatly fit any US categories and US buyers were advised to consider the HD instead.Canadian Owners and Pilots Association: "COPA Guide to Ultralights" 10th Edition, October 2006, pages 9-10. Canadian Owners and Pilots Association] cite web|url = http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/601-ul.html|title = ZODIAC CH 601 UL|accessdate = 2008-03-01|last = Zenith Aircraft Company|authorlink = |year = 2002|month = May]

Zenith CH601 XL

The CH 601 XL was first flown in 1991 as an improved version of the HD developed for the amateur-built market and also for the American Light Sport Aircraft category. The XL features many incremental improvements over the HD, including a new wing design, wing fuel tanks to replace the fuselage tanks of the HD, new landing gear design and a new canopy.

AMD Zodiac XL & XLi

The completed US Light Sport Aircraft compliant version of the XL is the AMD Zodiac produced by Aircraft Manufacturing and Design of Eastman, Georgia, USA. The aircraft is available in two versions, the XL, and the XLi. The XLi is IFR equipped for night flying and instrument flight conditions, while the XL is only equipped for VFR flying.

Production

There are over 1000 Zodiac aircraft flying worldwide.

pecifications (AMD Zodiac XL)

aircraft specifications
plane
prop

ref=AMD website
crew=1 pilot
capacity= 1 passenger
length main=20 ft
length alt=6.1 m
span main=27 ft
span alt=8.23 m
height main=78 in
height alt=1.98 m
area main= 132 ft²
area alt= 12.5 m²
airfoil= NACA 65-018 [ cite web|url = http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |accessdate = 2008-03-01|last = Lednicer |first = David|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = October]
empty weight main=770 lb
empty weight alt= 350 kg
loaded weight main=1320 lb
loaded weight alt= 600 kg
useful load main=550 lb
useful load alt= 250 kg
max takeoff weight main= lb
max takeoff weight alt= kg
more general=

engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main= lbf
thrust alt= kN
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main= lbf
afterburning thrust alt= kN
engine (prop)= Continental O-200
type of prop=
number of props=
power main= 100 hp
power alt= 75 kW
power original=
max speed main= knots
max speed alt= mph, km/h
cruise speed main= 111 knots
cruise speed alt= 130 mph, 211 km/h
never exceed speed main= knots
never exceed speed alt= mph, km/h
stall speed main= 37 knots
stall speed alt= 44 mph, 71 km/h
range main= 608 nm
range alt= 715 mi, 1158 km
ceiling main= 12,000 ft
ceiling alt= 3692 m
climb rate main= 1000 ft/min
climb rate alt= 5.1 m/s
loading main= 10 lb/ft²
loading alt= 48 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 13.2 lb/hp
power/mass alt= 0.125 W/kg
more performance=

armament=

avionics=Garmin

References

External links

* [http://www.newplane.com AMD]
* [http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/601_SLSA/601.html Zodiac]
* [http://www.zenithair.com Zenith Zodiac]