Zenith CH701

So I finally got brave enough to do it. I purchased some plans to build an airplane. I’ve wanted to build one since I was a kid. My dad was a pilot/mechanic and I spent many Saturday afternoons in the hanger and I guess his love of airplanes rubbed off on me. My goal is to treat this as a charity project with the intention of donating it to missionary work in the Central African Republic. I have a large group of friends and family to assist in the build. With their help I’m sure the project will be a success. Then, drawing from the experience of my friends at MMS Aviation, I shouldn’t have any problems getting the plane down to Africa. 

I decided to go with the Zenith CH701 for many reasons….

1)      It has a proven record for off airport missions use.

2)      It’s a STOL aircraft (Short Take Off and Landing)

3)      It’s relatively easy and quick to build. There aren’t a lot of expensive specialized tools to purchase.

4)      It can be built from plans only “scratch built” which means it will be cheaper to build. If for some reason I can’t fabricate a part Zenith offers all their parts for sale individually.

5)      Zenith offers a very large support network.

The roads in C.A.R. are horrible. Travelling via truck is long and hard which makes it very difficult for the people in the small villages throughout the country to get medicines, food and other supplies. An airplane can travel much further distances at a fraction of the time and cost of fuel associated with travelling by truck. Being a STOL aircraft the 701 can land and take off in about 100 feet which means not only can it air drop supplies it also can land in a lot of the villages. A doctor, dentist or any number of missionaries can get down into the villages and help these previously unreachable people.