First introduced in 1986, the STOL CH 701 aircraft was developed as an
"off-airport" short take-off and landing kit aircraft to fulfill the demanding
requirements of both sport pilots and first-time builders.
With the STOL CH 701, designer Chris Heintz combined the features and advantages of a
"real" airplane with the short-field capabilities of an "ultralight"
aircraft. The aircraft features fixed leading-edge slats for high lift, full-span
flaperons (both ailerons and flaps), an all-flying rudder, and durable all-metal
construction.
While the basic design has remained the same, many
significant improvements have been introduced over the years, including a
higher useful load, easier and quicker build kits, and more detailed drawings
and step-by-step assembly instructions.
Starter Kit: The rudder starter kit
allows you to gain hands-on experience while actually starting to
build your own aircraft... for just $375. You can also
assemble the Starter Kit at a hands-on
workshop held right in the factory at no additional cost.
Click
here to view a video clip of parts manufacturing with the CNC
router (3 min. / 5.75 mb).
Short-field performance is where the STOL CH 701
aircraft truly excels: It is airborne in less than 120 feet of unprepared grass, or 90
feet of hard surface, at gross weight. Rotation is possible by the time full throttle
setting is applied, and lift-off can begin at 25 mph (in ground effect, with no wind) -
all within less than four seconds from stand still. Of course, any headwind shortens the
time and distance required for take off.
"I've seen
airplanes that could be flown through a hangar, but I think a really good pilot could fly
a STOL CH 701 into a hangar, do a 180, and fly back out. The performance is truly that
spectacular."
- Sport Pilot magazine
The STOL CH 701 was not designed to be just
another ‘pretty’ light aircraft, but was engineered to offer outstanding short
take-off and landing performance, all-metal durability, and unparalleled ease of
construction. With form following function, the STOL CH701 looks like a 'Sky Jeep', as it
is often called by its owners.
Not many of the more than 500 STOL CH 701’s flying today can be
found at airports - most are operated from short off-airport grass fields. The
aircraft’s all-metal construction makes it suitable for continuous outdoor storage -
providing their owners with continuous cost savings (no hanger or tie-down fees).
Popular since 1986, there are hundreds of STOL CH 701
aircraft flying around the world!
Our Photo
Galleries and new Video Clips show some of the STOL CH 701 aircraft being flown
and operated around the world, many in backyard fields and in remote
rural areas...
Recreational
Flyer's June 2005 cover story: "STOL for the people:
Zenith's amazing CH 701"
"Chris Heintz designed the CH701 some twenty
years ago and it has proven itself all around the world. When the
only runway is a cleared patch in the jungle, and the alternative is
a week of hiking through snake-infected swamps, the 701 starts to
look pretty good. This is a plane that can use almost any
clearing as a runway, and its high angle of climb means that you won’t
hit the trees at the end of the strip. A football field is plenty
enough airstrip for a 701."
"Thanks to its thick, high-lift wing, full-span
flaperons and fixed, full-span leading-edge slats, the 701 needs little more
runway space than the typical backyard with clear access at the ends,"
wrote Kitplanes magazine in its January 2004
cover story. "Because of its stellar short-field capabilities, the STOL
701
stands out as one of the few kitplanes to serve in the sort of serious utility
roles usually reserved for larger airplanes such as the Helio Courier, Piper
Super Cub, Maule or Aviat Husky. That includes missionary and utility work
in third world countries as well as cattle herding, fence patrol and crop
dusting."
"The
Chris Heintz-designed STOL CH 701 is a workhorse. It has been
performing short takeoff and landing (STOL) duty for 20 years and
has developed a cult following. Its big brother, the
STOL CH 801, is a lot bigger,
with twice as many seats and room inside. So, with small
and large STOL machines, what else would Chris Heintz fans want? How
about a mid-sized S-LSA STOL
machine? They have one: the new
STOL CH 750."
Zenith Aircraft Company also manufactures the kit for
the STOL CH 801, a
much larger 4-seat utility version of the
STOL CH 701, designed for 150 - 200 hp engines, and the new STOL
CH 750 two-seat light sport utility kit plane.
For the latest Information on the CH 701 check out the Zenith Aircraft USA site Click here
For more information please contract Allan at Zenair Australia on 0417 121 111 or email zenairaustralia@gmail.com
The STOL CH 701 was not designed to be just
another ‘pretty’ light aircraft, but was engineered to offer outstanding short
take-off and landing performance, all-metal durability, and unparalleled ease of
construction. With form following function, the STOL CH701 looks like a 'Sky Jeep', as it
is often called by its owners.
