Zenith Zodiac CH 601

The Zenith Zodiac CH 601 is a light, two place aircraft designed by Canadian aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz through his Midland, Ontario based company, Zenair. The CH 601 was introduced in 1984.

Although the CH 601 is currently manufactured as a complete aircraft by Aircraft Manufacturing and Development Co., the majority have been built as amateur-built experimental aircraft. An aircraft kit is produced and distributed in the USA by the Zenith Aircraft Company.

Designed as an easy to build, affordable aircraft the CH 601 has many features, including an all flying rudder, hingeless ailerons, bubble canopy, and assembly using blind rivets.

In Canada the CH 601 can be built and flown as an advanced ultralight or amateur-built. The CH 601 can also be flown under ultralight rules in several other countries. Pilots in the United States may fly the CH 601 under FAA light-sport aircraft rules or as an experimental amateur-built.

Variants

Several variants of the Zodiac CH601 are available

* Zodiac CH601 HD: an updated model of the original Zodiac CH 600
* Zodiac CH601 HDS: a version of the HD with tapered and shortened wings for higher cruise speed
* Zodiac CH601 (UL): a lightened version, with a gross weight of 1058 lbs (481 kg), suitable for registration as an advanced ultralight
* Zodiac CH601 XL or simply the "Zodiac XL": the newest version, featuring a new wing design, landing gear and fuselage.

The tail sections are the only components common among all Zodiac CH601 models.

pecifications (XL)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=1
capacity=1 passenger
length main=20 ft 0 in
length alt=6.1 m
span main=27 ft 0 in
span alt=8.23 m
height main=6 ft 6 in
height alt=1.98 m
area main=132 ft²
area alt=12.3 m²
empty weight main=695 lb
empty weight alt=318 kg
useful load main=625 lb
useful load alt=282 kg
max takeoff weight main=1,320 lb
max takeoff weight alt=595 kg
more general=
* Zero-lift drag coefficient:
* Drag area:
* Aspect ratio:
* Lift-to-drag ratio:

engine (prop)=Jabiru 3300
type of prop=flat-6 engine
number of props=1
power main=110 hp
power alt=82 kW
power more=at 3,000 rpm

max speed main=138 mph
max speed alt=122 knots, 222 km/h
never exceed speed main=180 mph
never exceed speed alt=159 knots, 290 km/h
stall speed flaps extended main=44 mph
stall speed flaps extended alt=39 knots, 70 km/h
stall speed flaps retracted main=51 mph
stall speed flaps retracted alt=45 knots, 82 km/h
range main=662 mi
range alt=5830nm, 1,065 km
climb rate main=1200 ft/min
climb rate alt=6.1 m/s
max loading main=9.85 lb/ft²
max loading alt=48.0 kg/m²
max power/mass main=0.085 hp/lb
max power/mass alt=139 W/kg
more performance=

References

* [http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/index1.html Zodiac CH 601 Series - Zenith Aircraft Website]