STOL CH801 Short Take Off, 4 Seat version of CH701

[Qwbecz]

So wish that I could build one but I live in England and the LAA haven't and will not certify it! :-(

[fmagalhaes1521]

How short of a takeoff roll were you getting in the video? I like the design and the 801 appears to be a sturdy bird...one where I could take off and land anywhere like the Pilatus Porters in the movie "Air America".

[MADdrummer971]

It would be so nice to take it out on a nice weekend and go other places ....how far can u fly on one tank?

[devildrummerjack]

@MADdrummer971 A standard is only in the late 300's of miles.

[MADdrummer971]

@devildrummerjack Thats not bad.

[ethanissocool]

How do you get the engine and other components

[devildrummerjack]

@ethanissocool On the website. you get the kit engine and all the engine controls then you buy paint avionics and interior from elsewhere

[ethanissocool]

@devildrummerjack Thanks.

[TheStoneReport]

Amazing short takeoff!

[801pilot]

I cruise at 100mph on 10gph or 85mph on 8gph

[mrsmelzbad]

what engine did you use?

[devildrummerjack]

@801pilot Hi. I am looking at both the 801 and the Zodiac CH 640. Both are four seats but I was wondering if you could tell me how hard your dad found it getting the avionics paint and interior done as the one reason of why I prefer the 640 is because of the interior and avionics packs. thanks

[jyokid]

I know it's not designed for XC flying, but I'm curious...what's the cruise speed and the fuel burn on the 801?

[lakeseminole]

I've owned a searey and would love to have this to land on the beaches of florida with large tires!

[rockyPants4000]

Wow, sure it gets off the ground, the climb rate is unbelievably unsafe. The aircraft is capable to be sure, but this is a great demonstration of why it's a bad idea to fly in the mountains at 86 degrees.

But I get it that you're showing capabilities, not a training video! Neat aircraft!

[2redneck]

@rockyPants4000 Why is that climb rate unsafe? That is what the aircraft is designed to do. If you have a 100 foot pasture with a 30' high forest around it, this is the plane to get you in and out safely. It almost wont stall. The stalling look is from the STOL design. The flap on the leading edge of the wing make insane climbs perfectly stable.

[rockyPants4000]

@2redneck You are correct in that the aircraft can handle it. What I was speaking to was the high density altitude and the climb angle. If you're alone with less fuel/cargo, you're fine. But a loads of aircraft have crashed when someone loads it up with passengers/fuel/cargo, at high DA, and then goes "watch this cool climb rate"! Boom. Dead.

Just a precautionary warning toward operation, not a slam on the aircraft.

[rockyPants4000]

@rockyPants4000 Arizona and Idaho are generously sprinkled with the scattered remains of "high performance aircraft" that ignored temperature. My main point is to do all of this earlier/later in the day, when the air is much cooler. You're tempting fate doing much of this at 86 degrees and 8000 DA. That's all.

[2redneck]

@rockyPants4000 Ive seen them overloaded by quite a bit with no problems at high altitude with high temps. True, an inexperianced pilot could over-do it and wreck, but a little common sense and practice you find that these are a forgiving little plane that just loves to climb. Even if the motor stalled out at 10 feet up, with the nose up, you could easily land it smoothly.

[tomdcam]

Incredible aeroplane. Just out of curiosity why did you choose a STOL aircraft as opposed to faster aeroplane? I learnt to fly in a zenith ch-2000 and that thing was tough as nails.

[801pilot]

I didnt choose a STOL aircraft over a faster aircraft,,, it is in addition to my fast airplanes. I got a STOL because the other planes I own are very fast I didn't have a low and slow airplane. I must say when it comes to just flying for fun I enjoy the STOL more then just going fast.

[gur2ys4me]

@801pilot Good answer. Like you, I have my fast plane in a RV-4, now I want to see how slow I can go. Zenith STOL planes are an excellent choice. I think I'm going to have more fun in low and slow than fast and high too.

[slingram3185]

my dad and me built an 801 about 8 years ago,we put a rotary in it,we eventually sold it but they are amazing aircraft!

[lakeseminole]

Just unbelievable performance at that altitude and density. I'm floored. Could you imagine at sea level, here in Florida on a winter day? You'd be off the ground in probably 60 feet!

[801pilot]

Thanks, we still have not had it down at sea level but we are excited to try it. My husband is jealous with the take off distance... his plane takes almost 4000 feet to get off the ground but it is fast on the top end, 275 knots.

[youcantleaveDave]

gosh mom is hot

[aceflyer89]

I just got my Ultralight license and was thinking of buying an ultralight (used if possible) but at a very low price...just exactly where am I looking at?

Great take-off by the way!!

[jjtrucks]

can anyone give me some prices on some quickbuild kit planes?

[trevizo64]

well the plane that you see here will run you at $20,000 plus engine.

[youtoupee]

This looks suspiciously like the one from the Copperstate article in the latest issue of Sport Aviation. Sweet!

[crufflerdoug]

We are building one of these.  Love the video! Tell us about how it handles in the air!!

[801pilot]

It flys great! At slow speeds you can hardly believe how stable it is. Steep turns at low IAS is a non-event. We cruise at 116 mph TAS 80% power, and can fly in a level flight attitude as slow as 45MPH IAS. With the nose up and power on we can slow fly it safely well below 40mph IAS, power on stall is at 28mph IAS.

[801pilot]

UPDATE: I just finished flight testing after intalling fuel injection. I'm now 122mph TAS at 80%, and needless to say I'm very happy with the fuel injection.

[asianflyer2550]

great video. what engine do you have ?

[born2flyalaska]

Wow, a buddy and I are bouncing the idea back and forth about building an 801. Imagine what that bird can do in AK, especially between -30 and -45F!

[curtiskinoo]

Thank you for this wonderful video! I love it when you said... "..he's 4 wheeling it." Fantastic mates!

[charluzzu]

A real family project in every sense of the word. Do you have a website where you documented your construction? I'm strongly considering building one and have been doing research last 2 months, am in a mode of asking questions of builders and pilots.

[801pilot]

No, we never did build a website documenting it. I guess we where to busy building it ;) We are going to send some photos of progress into Zenith, maybe they will post some of them. It is an easy plane to build, if you are really considering building one, I say go for it.

[charluzzu]

Congratulations, a beautiful plane! How did you finish a scratch-build so quickly in only 8 months??

[801pilot]

We had a simple game plan. Tue,Wed,Thur from 6 to midnight, Saturday from 8am to midnight. NO exeptions NO excuses, nothing took priority on those days. Monday was family night and Friday was date night, that helped keep us from burning out. Also, everyone worked, even my 6 year old got good at sanding parts and deburing holes.

[flycory]

That's awesome!

[kazakhpilot]

Most excellent airplane, big brother of my Zenair 701.