Beginners homebuild project- which one

[Massimo]

Interesting thread guys,

Grostek whats your opinion on the STOL 701, besides the fact that its not as fast as the 601? :D

[grostek]

Hi Massimo,

Great STOL aerie for getting into and out of short strips, judging by some movies on U Tube.

Seems to be easy to build like the 601 and best of all designed by a professional engineer.

I believe Zenith have sold more than 600 kits of this model.

Dont know any more about it. Willing to learn.

Anybody else have any more on this?

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[grostek]

Hi Massimo.

Found this about the 701.

No great speed but check out the stall speed 26mph great for those emergency landings in the boon docks and then being able to walk away from the wreck, with a bit of luck.



"Hey buddy... wanna land on a postage stamp? If so, we definitely have the bird for you. Zenair has been in the business of designing and building aircraft for some twenty years (something of a record in this business), and it shows in the success of their airplanes. One of the most successful of these designs is the STOL CH 701, a high-wing monoplane with a special airfoil utilizing leading-edge slats and trailing edge "junker" type flaps. This trigear has excellent shock-absorbing ability and big 16-inch wheels for rough-field operations. If you’d really like to see what goes into one of these creatures, Zenair sometimes builds one in just seven days during the Sun’n Fun fly-in in Lakeland during April.
"With gross weight with a Rotax 582, the 701 is off the ground in just 90 feet (really... I’ve done it myself), climbs at 1,000 fpm, cruises at 75 mph and hits a top speed of 85 mph. With wing tanks, the range is 450 miles, and it has a service ceiling (get out the oxy tank) of over 16,000 feet. Oh yeah, the bird stalls at a blistering (snicker...) pace of 26 mph.
"While the [Rotax] 582 version of the CH 701 flies very well, you really need to check out the Rotax 912 variant... that thing can really sky out! The 912 bird is off the deck in well under 100 feet, cruises at 85 mph and climbs over 1200 fpm. With very responsive controls, super STOL capabilities, rugged construction and a great landing gear, the CH 701 is just the bird for the guy who has to fly out of the roughest boonies. There is no better STOL bird available in the "Affordable Flyer" category today."
US Aviator magazine, "Affordable Flyers"

Gunter Rostek

[Morph]

If it's the STOL performance of the CH701 that you like look at the Savannah as well

[RudiGreyling]

Hi There,

sorry getting into this thread a bit late....

Read somewhere EAA stats estimating 1 in 100 people that buy plans finish to fly, 1 in 10 people that buy starters kit finish it to fly.

My 2c if you really want to build to fly, lower your odds, go kit, something in the region of 500 hours to complete for your first project.

Good luck,
Rudi

[grostek]

Hi all,

It seems that the 701 is well copied by manufacturers around the globe.
Zenith says this may have safety implictions as the copies may not be up to the same specs as the original.

Read what Zenith have to say about the copies,

http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/7-photo-copies.html

I am not posting this here to start a copyright fight, but rather to make people aware that safety of copies may have been affected.

Read and make up your own mind.


Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek

[Massimo]

Yes both the Savannah and the 701 are almost identical but the 701 looks better for me.

In terms of performance and STOL they are the same. But there is something about the 701 that i prefer......

[smallfly]

This does look like a very simple build project,

and if it is true that only 1/100 is ever completed,

then there should be a vast number of half built projects

lying around somewhere.

Now........if one could secure one of these for a song...........

[grostek]

Hi,

RudiGreyling is right, very few scratchbuild airies see the light of day, but this was not always so.

I have friends here in SA who build scratchbuild airies.

One springs to mind , he build a Big 150Hp 4 sea Jodel approx 2000hrs in 19 months from receiving plans to first flight.

Another "Boet" who build up his Druine Turbi?? from a box of assorted parts.

Many scratch build KR,s as well.

The trend seems to be the kit route and as a result valuble experience in the build process is never seen or aquired by modern Ac builders.

Make no mistake even a kit is many hours of work.

Horses for courses and finances I suppose.

Kind regards

Gunter Rostek

[grostek]

Hi All,

Have been scratching around on the net for affordable plans only aircraft.

This site has some very useful info for building with wood, they also sell plans.
http://www.lightminiatureaircraft.com/index.htm

This is the site of probably the oldest wood kit manufacturer in theUSA and all the aircraft plans are available.
http://www.fisherflying.com/


This is a site about South African Koalas build from Fisher plans.
http://www.koala4.netfirms.com/

Roger Mann is a great proponent of wood airplanes that can be build with timber from his local lumber yard. He has many models and his plans are very affordable.
http://www.ragwing.net/

This little aircraft is available as a kit only, but check the price of the kit, may surprise you.
http://www.loehle.com/SportParasolKit.htm

Posting this because the original post from swiftprop asked about a plans only poject that did not need to be a 2 seater.

When I build my VP1 I found an old table on an auction it was the old government issue type I bought it because it was made from very fine grain Oregon Pine. Cost R70. This gave me enough wood for all my Bulkheads.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[swiftprop]

Hi Gunter
Thanks again for all the additional info. Do you still have your VP1? If so any photos that you could possibly post here? What are/did you use it for?
Best wishes
Andre

[Morph]

Another "Boet" who build up his Druine Turbi?? from a box of assorted parts.

That other "Boet" is Boet on this forum. He still flies it, and it's 22 years old already I believe

[grostek]

Hi swiftprop,

I sold my VP when I moved to Dubai.

Construction was complete last inspection was needed

The new owner siezed engine on extended ground run and had a new one build and fitted it he then sold it and I have lost track of it but like all VP it will surface again.

My aim was to have used it for pleasure flying and the odd x-country to fly-inns.

No I do not have any pics of it.

My next project will get the full "Morph" treatment and all steps of construction will be posted here.

Will be a while though still have a business here in Dubai and the old pension fund is still not quite full enough.

In the mean time I keep in touch with home through this forum mainly and visit every once a year or so.

Kind regards,


Gunter Rostek

[grostek]

Hi,

Here is a single seater build from Alu Angle and rivited together.

Strong light and can be build as finances allow. Uses VW 1600 or Rotax 503

The designer has decided to publish yhe plans for free here

http://www.matronics.com/photoshare/cav ... index.html

There is a forum on Yahoo here

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasparasol/

[swiftprop]

:D Hi Gunter
This really looks interesting and worth investigating. Will download the details and study them. Does any one have any more info on these plans built Parason planes?
Thanks
Andre