Photograph:
A newly completed Zenair CH-650 ZK-LMG (c/n 65-8884) at Bridge Pa, New Zealand in January 2015 (Ian Sowman – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 82 kw (110 hp) Jabiru 3300 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.22 m (27 ft)
- Length: 6.09 m (20 ft)
- Wing area: 12.26 m² (132 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 75% power: 222 km/h (138 mph)
- Stalling speed with flaps: 71 km/h (44 mph)
- Stalling speed: no flaps: 82 km/h (51 mph)
- Rate of climb: 305 m/min (1,000 ft/min)
- Take-off roll: 152 m (500 ft)
- Landing roll: 152 m (500 ft)
- Endurance with standard fuel: 4.2 hours
- Fuel capacity: 91 litres (20 Imp gals)
- Range: 1,056 km (656 miles)
- Empty weight: 315 kg (695 lb)
- Loaded weight: 599 kg (1,320 lb)
History:
The Zenair CH-650, also known as the Zodiac CH-650, was a second generation light sport aircraft designed to meet US LSA regulations developed specifically for sport pilots and was made available to the market in 2013. At that time it was the latest aircraft from the Zodiac line of aircraft produced by Christopher Heintz, who commenced designing sport aircraft for the market in the early 1980s.
The CH-650 aircraft offered new and updated features including more modern styling and a larger cabin area. It also had improved ventilation, better visibility, increased roll-over protection, a swept-back rudder and new fibreglass fairings. A variety of engines could be installed, including the Australian-built Jabiru 3300, the Continental O-200, Rotax 912S and the UL Power UL-350 which provided 97 kw (130 hp).
The CH-650 was based on the CH-601 XL, which was introduced in 2001 and was specifically developed to meet the RAA Sport Pilot / Light Sport Aircraft category. The CH-650 LSA was powered by the 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200 engine.
The aircraft was offered to kit builders with complete kits, components kit, or plans only and a number have been sold around the world.
First example of the type registered under RAA Regulations in this region was CH-650B 19-9001 on 9 March 2012. First of the series registered in New Zealand was a CH-650UL which became ZK-LMG (c/n 65-8884) in mid-2014.
In early 2014 Zenair announced more than 10,000 examples of its various kit aircraft had been sold around the world.