Tri-Z CH 300
Zenair CH 300 flown by "Red" Morris in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Role Homebuilt light aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Zenair
Designer Chris Heintz
First flight 9 July 1977
Variants AMD Alarus

The Zenair Tri-Z CH 300 is a three-seat Canadian homebuilt light aircraft. A single-engined low-winged monoplane, the CH 300 first flew in 1977, with several hundred kits sold.

Development and design

CH 300 on floats
CH 300 TD "taildragger" variant

The CH 300 is an enlarged three-seat derivative of the Zenair Zenith CH 200, designed by Chris Heintz in the mid 1970s as the Tri-Zénith.[1] Like the CH 200, it is a low-winged monoplane of all-metal construction with a fixed nosewheel undercarriage, but is larger and more powerful, and is fitted with a rear bench seat capable of accommodating a third adult or two children, and is fitted with a forward sliding canopy. It is designed to be powered by an engine giving between 125 and 180 hp (93 and 134 kW).[2][3]

The first example made its maiden flight on 9 July 1977, with over 400 sets of plans sold by 1982.[2] One CH 300, modified with extra fuel tanks and piloted by Robin "Red" Morris, made a non-stop trans-Canada flight between Vancouver International Airport and Halifax International Airport on 1–2 July 1978, covering the 2,759 mile (4,440 km) in 22 hours, 44 mins, setting three FAI Class C-1c point-to-point speed records.[2][3][4]

Plans for the CH 300 remained on sale in 1999.[5] The Zenair CH 300 formed the basis for the factory built Zenair CH-2000, which first flew in 1993.[5][6]

Variants

CH 300
Basic model with tricycle landing gear
CH 300 TD
"Taildragger" model with conventional landing gear

Aircraft on display

Specifications (150 hp O-320 engine)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 2 passengers
  • Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.85 m)
  • Wingspan: 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
  • Wing area: 129.2 sq ft (12.00 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.48:1
  • Empty weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,850 lb (839 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 air-cooled flat-four, 150 hp (110 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 143 mph (230 km/h, 124 kn) (75% power)
  • Stall speed: 53 mph (85 km/h, 46 kn) (flaps down)
  • Range: 530 mi (850 km, 460 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

See also

Related development

Notes

  1. ↑ Taylor 1976, p.458.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Taylor 1982, p.495.
  3. 1 2 Zenair, Zenair pamphlet, circa 1986.
  4. ↑ "List of records established by the 'Zenair Tri-Z'". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  5. 1 2 Taylor 1999, p.535.
  6. ↑ Taylor 1999, p.401.
  7. ↑ Canada Aviation and Space Museum (n.d.). "Zenair CH-300 Tri-Z". Retrieved 9 June 2012.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zenair CH 300.
  • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.
  • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.


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