Photograph:
New Zealand registered CH-100 Mono Z ZK-FSH (c/n AACA-609) at Rangiora, New Zealand (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
Canada
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) converted Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.71 m (22 ft)
- Length: 5.94 m (19 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 8.50 m² (91.5 sq ft)
- Max speed: 201 km/h (125 mph)
- Cruising speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Rate of climb: 250 m/min (820 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,658 m (12,000 ft)
- Range: 644 km (400 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 55 litres (12 imp gals)
- Empty weight: 286 kg (630 lb)
- Loaded weight: 435 kg (960 lb)
History:
The Zenair CH-100 series of light single-engine aircraft was designed by German born, Canadian domiciled, designer Christopher Heintz and was designed for amateur construction, being basically a smaller variant of the CH-200 two-seater. It was produced in a kit form and was known as the Mono-Z CH-100. It was a low-wing, cantilever monoplane of metal construction. The prototype flew for the first time on 8 May 1975 fitted with a 41 kw (55 hp) converted Volkswagen engine of 1600 cc. Plans and kits were sold to constructors around the world in small numbers. The wings could be removed for storage or transport on a trailer for placement in a shed or hangar.
Only a couple of examples of the kit were imported to this region, one becoming ZK-FSH (c/n AACA/609), constructed by Messrs N F Reid and J A Navelkerke in Christchurch, being completed and first registered on 16 February 1989. Records indicate this example was fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200 engine. It was retired on 7 May 1999 but in later years it was rebuilt as VH-DME and fitted with a turbocharged Honda engine together with the gearbox and turbocharger, the changes being made to use it as a low-cost glider tug. Yp preserve the stalling speed it was fitted with slats. It became ZK-DME, a CH-100UL, later becoming ZK-RTI (c/n AACA/609) in early 2019 based at Rangiora.