Part Two: AMD CH601 XL Zodiac

by ANN Managing Editor Rob Finfrock

Over the past 10 months, I've had the opportunity to spend some seat time in three emerging players in the light sport aircraft segment. As a former Cessna 172 jockey, I must admit I wasn't expecting much when I first took to the skies on demo flights in three significantly smaller aircraft, lower-powered aircraft... but wow, was I wrong.

These reports are NOT flight tests -- I'll leave the heavy lifting around here to Jim -- but rather my impressions of these aircraft from the perspective of a student pilot, looking at LSA as an option to continue and expand my flight training... the same way other potential sport pilot entrants will likely approach the segment.

With that in mind...

Aircraft Manufacturing and Development (AMD) CH601 XL Zodiac

I flew the all-American Zodiac in Arlington, WA during the NWEAA Fly-In last July... as impressive a flight venue as you're likely to see.

Whereas the StingSport is all about smooth composite surfaces and advanced technology, the all-metal Zodiac is resolutely low-tech by comparison, an excellent example of designer Chris Heintz's philosophy to "keep it simple and keep it light." That, and another axiom -- "if it works, don't fix it" -- have served the design well on the homebuilt market, and also simplified the entry of the S-LSA certified model into the light sport segment. (The StingSport is also based on a homebuilt aircraft.)

Something of a rarity is the certified Zodiac's powerplant of choice: a FAR 33-certified Continental O-200, same as you'll find in Cessna 150. Unlike the Rotax 912s seen on several other entries, the trusty 100-horse Continental is a rather conventional, low-revving engine, that also carries the added advantage of service availability: nearly any mechanic you'd ever see will be able to work on it. For homebuilders, engine choices as diverse as a six cylinder, 110-hp Jabiru 3300, Lycoming O-235 (116-hp), or and Rotax 912S (100-hp) are also available.

Unlike several LSA competitors, the Zodiac I flew also sported a true, full-sized, classic-six steam gauge arrangement, front-and-center, with engine instruments to the right. Anyone transitioning from an older Cessna or Piper should feel right at home with this layout (although glass flight instrumentation is one of many options available.) Like the Sting, the Zodiac features electric trim control on the dual control sticks.

As far as flying impressions, I felt the Zodiac flew like a heavier plane...  due mostly to its somewhat more deliberate response in turns compared to the sprightly Sting. The Zodiac was quite eager to please, though... and to me, the slower control responses were quite comforting and familiar. In fact, it seemed to fly much like the trusty old Skyhawk does, albeit in a low-wing.

And that's not a bad tradeoff, especially for beginning pilots. While AMD hasn't made much of a dent in the training market (to date, just one facility -- Silver Sky Aviation of Phoenix, AZ -- uses a Zodiac for primary flight training, according to the company's website), the CH601 XL seems to be a natural for that segment, given its flight behavior and ease of service.

Top speed for the Zodiac is listed as 113 knots, with a no-flap stalling speed of 45 KIAS (use of flaps drops that figure to 38 knots.) AMD states the Zodiac can climb at an honest 1,000 feet-per-minute, a figure that bests several other LSAs by at least 100 FPM, and the plane can go close to 690-nm on one 30-gallon fuel load. The basic VFR airplane boasts a 550-lb useful load.

Compared to the StingSport, the Zodiac carries a significant pricing advantage: $79,900 for a stripped, VFR-only Zodiac XL; stepping up to the IFR-capable XLi model will run you about $15,000 more. Several available options can bump the price on either plane to over $100,000, however, bringing it relatively inline with competitive planes.

The word that comes to mind repeatedly when contemplating the Zodiac is "honest": honest construction, honest presentation, and honest flight characteristics. That may sound like damning with faint praise... but there are certainly worse things to call an airplane.

Coming Saturday... The Evektor SportStar

FMI: www.newplane.com