AMD Zodiac
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| AMD Zodiac | |
|---|---|
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| Type | light-sport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Aircraft Manufacturing and Design |
| Designed by | Chris Heintz |
| Introduced | 2004 |
| Retired | N/A |
| Status | in production |
| Primary users | recreational pilots/sport pilots private pilots |
| Produced | Eastman, Georgia |
| Unit cost | $84,900-94,900 |
The Zodiac is a Canadian all-metal, two-seat, fixed tricycle gear airplane that first flew in 1984. The original CH 600 has evolved into a complete family of light aircraft including the 601 HD, 601 HDS and the 601 UL. The aircraft have been produced as kits and completed aircraft by Zenair in Canada and Zenith Aircraft Company in the USA.[1]
The latest models in the Zodiac family are the ready-to-fly AMD Zodiac XL and XLi produced by Aircraft Manufacturing and Design.[2]
The low-wing Zodiac does not have conventional doors instead it has a bubble canopy.
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[edit] History
The original Zodiac airplane was designed in the mid-eighties, by Chris Heintz. It started out as a kit plane, meaning that consumers can purchase the plane as components to assemble it themselves.[2]
The Zodiac has since been manufactured in Canada, Europe, and South America as a factory-assembled, ready-to-fly certified aircraft.[2]
Heintz drafted the regulations for light-sport aircraft in Canada around the time he designed the Zodiac. He also played an important role in drafting the current light-sport aircraft (LSA) rules for the United States.
Zenith Aircraft Company still produces kits and Quick-build kits for the Zodiac kit for the homebuilt-market.[3]
[edit] Variants
[edit] Zenair CH 600
The original version of the Zodiac, the CH 600, was designed by Chris Heintz and first flown in 1984. The aircraft was intended as a primary trainer.[1]
[edit] Zenair CH 601 HD
The CH 601 HD (for heavy duty) was the follow-on to the original CH 600 and incorporated many improvements to the design. The HD version had a gross weight of 1200 lbs and a standard empty weight of 530 lbs. Aircraft kits were marketed by Zenair of Midland, Ontario in Canada and by Zenith Aircraft of Mexico, Missouri.[4]
[edit] Zenair CH 601 HDS
The CH 601 HDS (for heavy duty speedwing) was a version of the HD with the wing span is reduced to 23 feet and a wing area of just 98 square feet. The wing also featured a tapered design with a 34 inch chord at the wing tip.[5]
[edit] Zenair CH 601 UL
The UL version of the CH 601 was specially designed for the Canadian Advanced Ultralight Aeroplane category that was introduced in 1991. Heintz was instrumental in the creation of the category as the author of the standards and used the CH 601 as a model for the category. The UL version had a reduced gross weight of 1058 lbs, the maximum allowed in the category. When the gross weight for the AULA category was increased to 1200 lbs in 2001 the CH 601 UL had its gross weight increased to the 1200 lb mark also. The UL version was supplied in 51% or 85% kit or completed form by Zenair in Canada and was designed for engines of 80-100 horsepower. The aircraft did not neatly fit any US categories and US buyers were advised to consider the HD instead.[4][6][7]
[edit] Zenith CH601 XL
The CH 601 XL was first flown in 1991 as an improved version of the HD developed for the amateur-built market and also for the American Light Sport Aircraft category. The XL features many incremental improvements over the HD, including a new wing design, wing fuel tanks to replace the fuselage tanks of the HD, new landing gear design and a new canopy.[4][3]
[edit] AMD Zodiac XL & XLi
The completed US Light Sport Aircraft compliant version of the XL is the AMD Zodiac produced by Aircraft Manufacturing and Design of Eastman, Georgia, USA. The aircraft is available in two versions, the XL, and the XLi. The XLi is IFR equipped for night flying and instrument flight conditions, while the XL is only equipped for VFR flying.[2]
[edit] Production
There are over 1000 Zodiac aircraft flying worldwide.[2]
[edit] Specifications (AMD Zodiac XL)
Data from AMD website[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 20 ft (6.1 m)
- Wingspan: 27 ft (8.23 m)
- Height: 78 in (1.98 m)
- Wing area: 132 ft² (12.5 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 65-018[8]
- Empty weight: 770 lb (350 kg)
- Loaded weight: 1320 lb (600 kg)
- Useful load: 550 lb (250 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Maximum speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Cruise speed: 111 knots (130 mph, 211 km/h)
- Stall speed: 37 knots (44 mph, 71 km/h)
- Range: 608 nm (715 mi, 1158 km)
- Service ceiling 12,000 ft (3692 m)
- Rate of climb: 1000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 10 lb/ft² (48 kg/m²)
Avionics Garmin
[edit] References
- ^ a b Zenith Aircraft Company (November 2006). ZODIAC CH 601 HD. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
- ^ a b c d e f Aircraft Manufacturing & Design (February 2008). Zodiac XLi. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ a b Zenith Aircraft Company (February 2008). ZODIAC XL. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
- ^ a b c Kitplanes Staff: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, page 76. Primedia Publications, December 1998.
- ^ Zenith Aircraft Company (May 2004). ZODIAC CH 601 HDS. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
- ^ Canadian Owners and Pilots Association: COPA Guide to Ultralights 10th Edition, October 2006, pages 9-10. Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
- ^ Zenith Aircraft Company (May 2002). ZODIAC CH 601 UL. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
- ^ Lednicer, David (October 2007). The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
[edit] External links
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