Zenith 701

[Ted]

Yea, I bet that thing is a blast to fly

Assuming it's this one:

http://www.zenithair.com/misc/turbine-power.html

It's probably fun, but performance is probably decent while not extravagant. <150 lb install weight is good, but 90 HP is so-so, and prop RPM of a bit over 3,000. Really it's not as good of an option as an O-200/235/300. You have higher RPM and less power. The 50 lb weight savings is worth something, though.

 

[denverpilot]

Really, the problem with the turbine 701 is the fuel burn. Reading the one built from a small (~90 HP) turbine, cruise fuel burn is ~12 GPH. Meanwhile, even an O-300 would have a (high power) cruise burn of probably ~6 GPH, depending on how I felt like running it, plus significantly more horsepower. The small turbine has cool factor but not much for practicality. Plus a lot of messing around to make it work, whereas I can just bolt up an O-whatever and have it work.

But. But. But. Turbine! lol.

 

[Ted]

But. But. But. Turbine! lol.

As much as I like turbines, I like pistons, too. Both have their place. If you're just tooling around counting cows and want low fuel burn, pistons are great.

 

[denverpilot]

As much as I like turbines, I like pistons, too. Both have their place. If you're just tooling around counting cows and want low fuel burn, pistons are great.

Radial!!!!

(I'm just messing with you, of course. Trying to help the evil devil sitting on one shoulder out so you'll ignore the halo'ed one on your other shoulder. Hahaha.)

 

[ktup-flyer]

Radial!!!!

(I'm just messing with you, of course. Trying to help the evil devil sitting on one shoulder out so you'll ignore the halo'ed one on your other shoulder. Hahaha.)

Yea, a Rotec R3600 would be sweet, but I can't imagine it's even close to being as economical as the other options.

 

[James331]

Assuming it's this one:

http://www.zenithair.com/misc/turbine-power.html

It's probably fun, but performance is probably decent while not extravagant. <150 lb install weight is good, but 90 HP is so-so, and prop RPM of a bit over 3,000. Really it's not as good of an option as an O-200/235/300. You have higher RPM and less power. The 50 lb weight savings is worth something, though.

But between the low failure rate, higher TBO, better DA performance, cheaper fuel, smooth running, and BETA, I'd say that would be well worth it.


Or if you can't wait, this would be a similar option, just with more seats and a tailwheel

http://www.airplanemart.com/aircraf...ne-TurboProp/1986-PZL-104-Turbine-conv/13074/

 

[Ted]

But between the low failure rate, higher TBO, better DA performance, cheaper fuel, smooth running, and BETA, I'd say that would be well worth it.

Depends on the mission. A Zenith is a plane I'll be flying low, not high. And outside of my personal 360 ft strip, probably won't be operating super short.

Jet A isn't cheaper than MoGas I buy at the QuikTrip.

O-300 sounds more fun to me.

 

[James331]

Depends on the mission. A Zenith is a plane I'll be flying low, not high. And outside of my personal 360 ft strip, probably won't be operating super short.

Jet A isn't cheaper than MoGas I buy at the QuikTrip.

O-300 sounds more fun to me.

But that lower failure rate and sure as heck beta would make a world of difference in a low level STOL plane.

There's a reason all the single otters you see are converted to turbines, and why the guys who can afford turbo beavers go turbine.

 

[Ted]

But that lower failure rate and sure as heck beta would make a world of difference in a low level STOL plane.

There's a reason all the single otters you see are converted to turbines, and why the guys who can afford turbo beavers go turbine.

Well, virtually everyone who can afford to go turbine does. Yes, they're better in lots of ways (especially reliability), but everything's a trade-off. I'll stick with piston.

 

[James331]

Well, virtually everyone who can afford to go turbine does. Yes, they're better in lots of ways (especially reliability), but everything's a trade-off. I'll stick with piston.

Indeed, but asking 80k, sell for like 70k, that's in the realm of most 182 folks.

And if anyone buys that thing, I'll ferry that one for cost but ya gotta give me a little extra time, since I'd have to do a little backcountry camping along the way

 

[Dave Rowe]

Fly it like you STOL it!! Would like to see 701 up close & personal...Never Flew in one either..The concept of landing on my property , upstate NY appeals to me.. Maybe one day soon..

 

[steingar]

Never could figure out why so many people wan to spend so much time building an airplane that looks like Cessna 140 hit hard with an ugly stick. Oh well, to each his own.

 

[UngaWunga]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Besides, the capabilities are surely there.

 

[Ted]

Never could figure out why so many people wan to spend so much time building an airplane that looks like Cessna 140 hit hard with an ugly stick. Oh well, to each his own.

I love Cessna 140s. They're fun to fly and have a great classic look and feel to them (since they are, well, great classics). But when you're talking about wanting to be able to take off and land on a strip that's a few hundred feet long, a Cessna 140 is the wrong airplane.

 

[yakdriver]

You really need to re think the O-200. Much to heavy. These end up on the forward CG even with the Rotax or UL that are much lighter. The UL is really a nice engine and puts out about 110 hp. The 135 hp rating is misleading as that is at 3600 rpm that you will never get using a prop. That is what they are running it at in the helicopter installation.

 

[Dave Rowe]

ok any feedback or comments on this bird appreciated! ZENITH CH-701 STOL • $25,000 • FOR SALE • Excellent Condition - Only 45 TT AF and 45 TT. Jabiru 3300 engine, Ivoprop 2 blade prop. Vacuum system, Electronic turn and bank, Garmin 296 GPS, Engine maintenance and AD's are current. Building log, Memory foam upholstery, Bubble doors, Elevator VG's. Microair radio & transponder.

 

[Dave Rowe]

Any feedback on that 3300 Jabiru Engine?

 

[jsstevens]

Any feedback on that 3300 Jabiru Engine?

I've heard (so you know how much weight to give this) that Jabiru has had quality issues come causing engine failures. I have NO personal experience and I can't cite a single source. I did like the looks of them when I saw them at the Sport Expo in Sebring.

 

[zaitcev]

I have NO personal experience and I can't cite a single source.

Horror stories aren't hard to find. Here's one of the more famous ones:
http://craigr.com/2011/11/09/forced-landing-in-the-jabiru/
"So we’ve owned two Jabiru engines: One that failed catastrophically after 60 hours, and one that failed catastrophically after 2.5 hours and again after 480 hours."

I can find an equivalent story of Rotax 912 eating a piston ring. So, these testimonies aren't as informative as it looks. Nonetheless, Jab engines aren't as common as they used to be on experimentals. People turned to ULpower a lot in recent years. Also, the 912 is just a great engine if you can abide by 100 hp.

 

[wanttaja]

Any feedback on that 3300 Jabiru Engine?

https://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/news-items/2016/light-aeroplane-failures/

Ron Wanttaja