Zodiac XL Sport Plane - Easy To Fly Fun
By James Grahame
Zenith Aircraft Company has produced a range of amazingly tough and affordable aluminum planes for over 20 years. Aeronautical Engineer Chris Heinz, who worked on the Concorde, designs them.
The star of their line-up is the Zodiac XL. It's a two-seat sport plane that's cheap to build and fly. It's also a great machine for beginners and low-time pilots. My favorite feature is the huge bubble canopy (available tinted or clear). The Zodiac has a maximum cruise speed of 222km/h (138 mph) and a range of 925 km (575 miles).
Thanks to recent changes in the USA, some versions of the Zodiac qualify as Light Sport Aircraft and can be flown with an easy-to-obtain sport pilot certificate. The kit takes a minimum of 400 hours to assemble and costs $ 23,975.00 (engine not included). If you're not the do-it-yourself type, a ready-to-fly version is costs $75,900.
Zenith Zodiac XL (Zenith Aircraft Company)