Zenith CH 650

The Zenith CH 650 is a low-wing, two-seat, all-metal kit aircraft sold by Zenith Aircraft Company of Mexico, Missouri, and designed by Chris Heintz for builders who want to fly under the United States Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rules. The company calls the CH 650B its second generation light sport aircraft and the newest model in the Zodiac line that Heintz first introduced in 1984. It is based on the Zodiac CH 601 XL, introduced in 2001, and replaces the Zodiac XL with a stronger airframe, a swept-back tail, a larger canopy with more headroom, wing flaps and a thinner, lower-drag airfoil. Construction is modular, with each section built separately on the workbench, so most builders can work in a single-car garage. With a Jabiru 3300 engine the company lists a 27 foot wingspan, a 695 pound empty weight and a 1,320 pound gross weight.