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ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER: Earlier this year at the Sun'n Fun Fly-in, Zenith Aircraft Company introduced a new light aircraft design. The all-metal two-seat CH 750 Cruzer is the latest design from aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz and while influenced by its well-known STOL predecessors (the STOL CH 701 "Sky Jeep", CH 750 and four-seat CH 801 sport utility aircraft), the CH 750 Cruzer is an all-new design.
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| "Our STOL CH 750 design has been a huge success in large part thanks to its easy cabin access, fantastic visibility, and for its room side-by-side comfort for two adults," says Sebastien Heintz, president of Zenith Aircraft Co. of Mexico, Missouri. "However, many sport pilots do not need off-airport capability or extreme STOL (short take-off and landing) performance. We've optimized the new design for cruise and typical on-airport operations, while retaining the popular cabin features of the STOL CH 750." |
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The Zenith CH 750 Cruzer features an all-new airfoil supported by a single stream-lined strut. Compared to the STOL CH 750, the empennage has also been redesigned for its new mission, with a symmetrical stabilizer and a shortened horizontal tail span. The vertical tail features a fin and rudder (replacing the traditional all-moving vertical tail design of the Chris Heintz STOL series). In keeping with its mission, the Cruzer is fitted with 5.00 x 5 aircraft wheels and new wheel fairings. The instrument panel of the new design is also wider and more conventional than the STOL CH 750 (that has a narrower instrument panel to improve forward-visibility in extreme nose-high attitudes associated with STOL flying).
"We've retained some of the most popular features of the STOL CH 750, while optimizing the new design for cross-country flying," says Heintz. |
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The Zenith CH 750 Cruzer introduced in Florida at Sun'n Fun was flown to the show by Heintz (1,000 miles from the factory in Missouri) and is equipped with the UL350iS 130-hp fuel-injected UL-Power engine and the latest Dynon SkyView glass panel display system.
As equipped, the aircraft weighs 780 lbs., providing a useful load of 540 lbs. at the 1,320 lbs. LSA gross weight limit. Cruise speed is 118 mph, rate of climb is 1,200 fpm, and stall speed is 39 mph. Meeting the definition of a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), the Cruzer can be flown by Sport Pilots. The new design utilizes the same firewall as the STOL CH 750 and the low-wing Zenith CH 650, meaning existing firewall-forward engine packages are readily available including the Continental O-200, Rotax 912 series, Jabiru, Viking (Honda), and others.
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The Zenith CH 750 Cruzer is featured on the cover of EAA Experimenter magazine (June 2013 issue, Vol. 2 No. 6), pages 14 - 19, cover story by Budd Davisson:
Compared to the STOL CH 750 with fixed wing leading-edge slats: "It's a much more efficient airplane for those who really don't care about having the absolute ultimate in off-airport performance."
Read the entire article | More press reviews.
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"The CH 750 boasts a remarkably spacious cabin - an astonishing 127cm [that's 50 inches] wide.
"This is not only impressive for an LSA - it is actually wider than many four-seat GA aircraft. The extraordinarily spacious sensation is enhanced by the considerable amount of glazing [windows] all around - even behind." (Pilot magazine review of the STOL CH 750)
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The aircraft has a semi-monocoque airframe, and is built primarily of 6061-T6 aluminum sheets, fastened together primarily using Avex blind rivets. The wing spars and lower cabin frame are supplied completely factory-riveted with conventional 'AD' bucked rivets. All the kit parts are supplied pre-cut, formed, and match drilled by CNC machine - ready to be Cleco'd together.
Complete airframe kits for the new design are offered by Zenith Aircraft Company. As with other all-metal Zenith kits, this newest model will be built using the latest modern manufacturing (CNC) technology to offer matched-hole assembly throughout. The new easy-to-build kit draws upon Zenith's decades of experience in the kit industry, requiring less than 400 hours to assemble the airframe from the kit (requiring only basic skills and simple hand tools). A quick-built kit option will also be available.
Component kits are scheduled for delivery starting next month. As with other Zenith designs, blueprints (drawings and illustrated photo assembly manuals) will also be available separately for scratch-builders.
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Kits from Zenith Aircraft Company represent exceptional value: We invite you to compare the value and quality of the Zenith kits to the competition for completeness, pre-manufactured parts and components, standard equipment, low build t ime, simplicity of construction and required skills and tools, as well as price!Over the past several years Zenith has been improving production technology with the extensive use of CNC equipment in kit production: This allows for a much higher level of parts completion in the kit while also maintaining low kit prices, improving delivery schedules, and also allows us to keep production of the kits in North America.
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As a matter of fact, Zenith Aircraft Company has made it easier than ever for you to own your own CH 750 light sport kit airplane. Here are some of the ways for you to get in the pilot's seat of your own Cruzer:
- Hands-On Factory Workshop (or Introductory Starter Kit)
- Component (section) Kits or the Complete Kit (pictured below)
- Drawings and Manuals (plans-only) for preview or scratch-building
- Professional Builder Assistance (to help you assemble the kit)
- Quick Build Kits to get you in the air sooner
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Gain Hands-on Experience at a Factory Workshop
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Next Factory Workshop:
(right before the "Fly-In to Summer" Open House)
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Start building your own Zenith CH 750 Cruzer this month for just $375 at the Zenith Aircraft factory!
We invite you to spend a couple of days at the Zenith Aircraft factory to learn about building your own airplane and to gain valuable hands-on experience and skills. This is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about building a Zenith kit airplane. You'll also get the chance to tour the kit factory and to go up for a demo flight in a factory demonstrator aircraft. Cost of the workshop is just $375 and includes the complete rudder tail section kit. Bring a guest at no additional cost. Come learn what it's like to build your own kit plane by starting on the rudder tail section: No prior experience or skills are needed to attend!
"Workshops are great morale boosters and an
excellent way to test the water... We highly
recommend them." - KITPLANES magazine
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This workshop is held over two days (all day Thursday and Friday morning), with participants assembling the complete rudder tail kit of the aircraft (which is the entire vertical tail section of the Chris Heintz designs) from stock rudder kit parts. Some of the skills learned in the construction of the rudder assembly include: reading the drawings and assembly manuals, measuring, drilling, de-burring, and blind riveting, as well as cutting and filing sheet metal parts. Once complete, the rudder tail section is ready to install on an actual airplane and each participant keeps the rudder that they have assembled themselves. The rudder kit that is built at the workshop is constructed the same way as the rest of the kit airplane, and thus provides an excellent introduction to simple all-metal light aircraft construction.
Workshop participants are also offered a demo flight. Spouses, family members, and friends are encouraged to attend and to take part in the rudder kit assembly (at no additional cost), making the workshop a fun getaway for a few days. |
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If you cannot travel to the factory to attend a workshop, Zenith also offers the comprehensive ' Rudder Starter Kit' that includes the complete rudder tail kit and detailed assembly instructions that can be shipped by UPS. The rudder takes about 10 hours to assemble (with basic tools), and provides the first-time builder with an excellent introduction to building an all-metal Zenair aircraft, while actually building a control section for the aircraft. More information on the ' Starter Kit' |
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You're Invited to our Builder Fly-In Gathering Next Month!
Join us for our sixth annual "Fly in to Summer" Open Hangar Day and Fly-In Gathering at the Zenith Aircraft kit factory in central Missouri. This will be a fun gathering of Zenith builders, flyers, and enthusiasts, and is an informal grass-roots fly-in gathering open to all aviation enthusiasts: Come visit the factory, see the new Zenith demo planes, and meet with fellow builders and pilots. In contrast to our annual fall Open Hangar Day (with scheduled workshops and forums), the June event is very informal and unstructured: Owners of completed Zenith Aircraft are encouraged to fly-in to show off their completed project to fellow builders (we will provide tie-down space and help facilitate ground transportation if possible). Let us know of any special needs or requirements. The Zenith Aircraft factory will be open from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm for self-guided factory tours, demonstrations, and more.
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The local EAA chapter will provide a "wiener roast" lunch and we'll also plan to have coffee available in the morning. Please bring tie-downs for your aircraft if flying in, and bring yourself a lawn chair if driving in. All pilots and aviation enthusiasts are invited to drive or fly in to attend the 'Fly In To Summer' Zenith Open Hangar Day and Builder Gathering at Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ) located in scenic mid-Missouri. Zenith Aircraft Company has been producing aircraft kits from its modern production facilities at the Mexico airport since 1992. For more information, please call Zenith Aircraft at (573) 581-9000 or the Mexico Airport at (573) 581-0162. Details on visiting the Zenith Aircraft.
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We look forward to showing our new high wing design, the Zenith CH 750 Cruzer light sport aircraft (pictured above). The new CRUZER is the "on-airport" version of the popular STOL CH 750 "off-airport" light sport utility kit plane, famous for it roomy cabin with comfortable side-by-side seating and easy cabin access from both sides. While influenced by its well-known STOL predecessors (the STOL CH 701, the STOL CH 750 and four-seat CH 801 sport utility aircraft), the CH 750 Cruzer is an all-new design optimized as an economical cross-country cruiser for typical (airport) operations.
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Of course, we are also looking forward to demonstrating our full line of light aircraft, including the STOL CH 750 light sport utility plane (above), and our awesome low-wing Zenith CH 650 cruiser with the UL Power engine installation:
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 A modern UL Power engine and firewall forward installation will also be on display inside the Zenith Aircraft factory.
UL Power produces a line of light aircraft engines featuring four or six cylinders (direct drive, air-cooled) with FADEC (full authority digital engine control).
These modern light aircraft engines present sought-after features, making UL Power a popular light aircraft engine choice for both the Zenith CH 650 cruiser and the high-wing CH 750 series light planes.
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Follow Up Report: From Point A to Zenith
The project was launched by EAA's communities' manager with full support from EAA senior staff: "This is a fantastic opportunity for EAA to show our love and appreciation for homebuilt airplanes. The response received from interested staffers has been phenomenal..." Since starting in September, assembly is now well underway with most of the airframe assembled and complete. EAA staffers are chronicling the entire Zenith STOL kit building project and their progress. View and subscribe to the EAA Zenith Project blog to receive notifications by email as they make progress on the kit building project, and leave them your comments (with your building suggestions and tips!) as well as words of encouragement: zenith750project.com
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Zenith.Aero Online Builder Community
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The Zenith.Aero website is a resource available exclusively to builders, flyers and owners of Zenith aircraft, and represents a community of 3,630 active member builders, owners and flyers, 19,109 photos about building and flying, 984 video clips, 2,700 discussions on building and flying, and 1349 blog posts.
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Zenair Floats for Light Aircraft
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Adding floats to your light aircraft opens up a whole new world of adventures and destinations. Zenair (Canada) offers a full line of all-metal floats for light aircraft, available in kit form in straight or amphibious (with wheels) versions. Zenair Floats are lightweight yet durable for great performance on water and in the air. The wheels used on the amphibious floats are extra large and tough, suitable for grass field operation.
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 "Like" our Facebook page to automatically receive news and updates from Zenith Aircraft Company. Updated daily.
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