The is a two-seat, fixed
Tricycle Gear general aviation airplane. It is a
Light-sport Aircraft , making it slightly larger than an
Ultralight aircraft, but smaller than some general aviation aircraft, such as the
Cessna 172 , or its sister aircraft, the
Alarus . It is around the size of a
Cessna 150 . The Zodiac technically does not have a door; instead, the windshield moves up and forward, allowing passengers to exit (see
{Link without Title} ). There is one large window, rather than several smaller ones.
The original Zodiac airplane was designed in the mid-eighties, by Chris Heintz. It is a kit plane, meaning that consumers can purchase the plane in pieces and then assemble it themselves. It has since been manufacturered in
Canada ,
Europe , and
South America as ready-to-fly. Ironically enough, Heintz drafted the regulations for light-sport aircraft in Canada around the time he designed the Zodiac. For that reason, he took a large part in drafting the current light-sport aircraft rules for the U.S. The Zenith Company still produces the Zodiac kit for the homebuilt-market, although it is available as ready-to-fly by other companies.
Currently there are two models available for the zodiac, the XL, and the XLi. The difference between the two is that the XLi is
IFR equipped through night and low visibility conditions, while the XL is only equipped for
VFR flying.
The Zodiac is available in many different colors as purchasers are often able to choose their own paint and graphics. Both aircraft models, however, generally have the same size and equipment, with the cockpit controls being the exception.
The Zodiac is usually used by pilots who have a sport or recreational pilot certificate. Its size makes it ideal for use as such, additionally, there is no medical certificate required to fly the zodiac. The unique features and low operating costs on the zodiac allows operators to save money. A major drawback, however, is that it is not the size of other general aviation aircraft such as the Cessna 172 or 182, therefore, it is unlikely to be an ideal aircraft for operations such as cross-country trips or extended travel.
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http://wwwnewplanecom/amd/amd/601_SLSA/601html
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2
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2
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20 ft
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61 m
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27 ft
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823 m
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78 in
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198 m
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ft&2
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m&2
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800 lb
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kg
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1320 lb
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kg
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520 lb
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kg
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lb
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kg
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lbf
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kN
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lbf
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kN
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hp
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kW
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knots
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mph, km/h
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knots
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mph, km/h
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knots
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mph, km/h
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knots
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mph, km/h
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nm
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mi, km
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ft
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m
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ft/min
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m/s
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lb/ft&2
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kg/m&2
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hp/lb
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W/kg
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Garmin
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