The Super-Duty STOL CH 801-SD
MANUFACTURING HISTORY of STOL CH 801 Kits Since 2004
With the advent of the then-new Light Sport Aircraft category in the US in 2004, Zenith Aircraft Co. (ZAC) quickly saw an opportunity for becoming the #1 US manufacturer of airframe kits for this new category of aircraft (LSA). To that end, the company set-aside all other projects and focused on fine-tuning its existing LSA-compliant designs (the CH601/650 series) and on creating new ones (the CH750 STOL/Cruzer series). At the time, and as a consequence of this new emphasis on LSA designs, ZAC transferred kit production for the classic four-seat STOL CH 801 (not an LSA) to Zenair in Canada... Since then, Zenair has continued to offer standard (undrilled) kits for the CH 801 (and even introduced the latest “CH 801-SD” variant in 2017). At the same time, ZAC handily reached its objective of becoming the undisputed industry leader for kit-built LSA – and also successfully launched the “stretched” (Super-Duty) version of the popular 2-seat CH 750 model!
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Now twenty years later, and thanks to new impending opportunities created by the FAA's proposed MOSAIC rules for light aircraft, Zenith Aircraft is once again looking at expanding the development of its larger aircraft models (i.e. Super-Duty/SD), including the feasibility of re-introducing kits for the four-seat CH 801. Upgrading these traditional kits to the latest norms of modern matched-hole, pre-drilled levels will take time and space, but this is precisely the kind of activity that was anticipated when ZAC launched the current 10,000 square-foot expansion to its Missouri-based facility.
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As part of the two companies' strategic consolidation plans, Zenair plans to ship all existing tooling and jigs needed to manufacture airframe kits for the STOL CH 801 (HD and SD) to ZAC in early 2024. At that point, production and availability of new airframe kits for the CH 801 will be interrupted until Zenith Aircraft announces that “new and improved” STOL CH 801 airframe kits are once again available. Current owners of a CH 801 (Classic, HD or 'Super Duty' models) looking for technical support and/or parts to repair and/or maintain their aircraft can continue to call Zenair Ltd. or Zenith Aircraft to discuss their specific needs.
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For the latest-available design information on the STOL CH 801-SD: NEW SD Design Features
For those that have already started a STOL CH 801 kit project, or those already flying one of these remarkable 4-seat aircraft, Zenair and Zenith Aircraft are committed to providing parts and sub-kits necessary to complete the project and/or to maintain & repair existing aircraft.
To order parts for your CH 801 aircraft, contact Zenair with the part-numbers and the part quantities you need. Note: You will need to be registered as the owner of your aircraft for technical-support and to order parts; your aircraft serial-number will be needed to register.
See Here for additional "How to Order" information.
For those that have already started a STOL CH 801 kit project, or those already flying one of these remarkable 4-seat aircraft, Zenair and Zenith Aircraft are committed to providing parts and sub-kits necessary to complete the project and/or to maintain & repair existing aircraft.
To order parts for your CH 801 aircraft, contact Zenair with the part-numbers and the part quantities you need. Note: You will need to be registered as the owner of your aircraft for technical-support and to order parts; your aircraft serial-number will be needed to register.
See Here for additional "How to Order" information.