Wikipedia

Zenair CH 50 Mini-Z

The Zenair CH 50 Mini-Z is a single-seat light aircraft[1] built by Chris Heintz in Canada in the late 1970s.[2] Heintz sold plans and kits of many of his designs through his company Zenair for amateur construction, but the CH 50 was never brought to market, and remained a prototype only.[3]

CH 50 Mini-Z
Role Sport aircraft
National origin Canada
Designer Chris Heintz
First flight 1979
Number built 1

Design and development

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The CH 50 is a low-wing, cantilever monoplane of conventional design, with an open cockpit for the pilot.[2] It has a conventional tail and fixed, tailwheel undercarriage.[2] Power is supplied by a piston engine in the nose, driving a tractor propeller.[2] Construction is of metal throughout, and the wings are removable.[2]

In a history of his designs, Heintz described the CH 50 as an offshoot of the development of the CH 100 Mono-Z.[4] Construction of the prototype began in February 1978,[2] and the aircraft first flew in 1979.[1][2] It received Canadian registration C-GTZI in June 1979 under Transport Canada's CAR 549 regulation for amateur-built aircraft.[5]

Heintz notes work on the CH 50 ending in 1981,[4] and Jane's All The World's Aircraft ceased listing the type after its 1984–85 edition.[6] In 2024, the prototype remains on the Canadian registry.[5]

Specifications

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Data from Taylor 1984, p.526–27

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Wingspan: 5.70 m (18 ft 8 in)
  • Height: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) (approximate)
  • Wing area: 6.20 m2 (66.7 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 140 kg (309 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 252 kg (556 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Cuyuna two-cylinder, two-stroke engine, 18 kW (24 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 148 km/h (92 mph, 80 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 138 km/h (86 mph, 75 kn)
  • Range: 354 km (220 mi, 191 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 2.75 m/s (541 ft/min)

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b Taylor 1993, p.906
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Taylor 1984, p.526
  3. ^ Fortier 2020
  4. ^ a b Heintz 2011, p.XVIII
  5. ^ a b "CCAR - Aircraft Details"
  6. ^ Lambert et al. 2011, p.763

Bibliography

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  • "CCAR - Aircraft Details". Transport Canada. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  • Fortier, Rénald (23 August 2020). "Born in a garage, but now all the world is a market for Zenair Limited: A look at the Cold War era designs of Christophe Jean Heintz, Part 1". Ingenium Channel. Ottowa: Ingenium. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  • Heintz, Chris (2011). Flying on your own Wings (third ed.). Victoria, Canada: Trafford.
  • Lambert, Mark; Munson, Kenneth; Taylor, Michael J.H., eds. (1991). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1991-92. Coulson, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group.
  • Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1984). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-85. London: Jane's Publishing.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1993). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
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