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Comment by Zenith.Aero on December 4, 2012 at 10:44am

Henry's STOL CH 750 is a featured homebuilt completion in the December 2012 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine:

"I am pleased report the completion of my Zenith STOL CH 750 light-sport aircraft. In June 2010 I picked up a kit from the Zenith factory in Mexico, Missouri. I also picked up my Jabiru 3300 firewall-forward package and began building at Lincoln County Airport (Y14) in Tea, South Dakota, home of EAA Chapter 289. Thanks to the able help of Gayle Wilts and Doc Walker, the airplane was finished in less than a year. The FAA issued the airworthiness certificate on April 20, 2011. The aircraft performed well within factory specifications, and only minor adjustments were required. Since completing Phase 1 test flights the plane was professionally painted, and I have logged more than 80 hours. My thanks go out to all my friends who helped with the build and to my wife, Carol. Without her support the project could not have succeeded."

Comment by Peter Autenried on September 16, 2012 at 9:53pm

Henry is my inspiration . . . .. he built this plane in record time and the workmanship is superb!  Here the narrative published in the EAA Chapter 289 Newsletter:

Henry Luebke of Canton SD is happy to announce the completion of his Zenith STOL CH 750 light sport aircraft.  Henry is no novice to aviation.  He soloed in 1962 in an Aeronca Champ under the watchful eyes of SD Aviation Hall of Famer Clifford P. Adkins.  He owned several airplanes over the years including Champs, J-3, Taylorcrafts, Stinson, Pacer and Cessna 170B.  He enjoys flying low and slow around the patch, and likes flying in and out of his private grass strip located just south west of Newton Hills State   Park.  As much as he likes his Taylorcraft, he felt he needed one with a larger cockpit, one that was easier to get in and out of, and one that had an electric starter. He also wanted to keep flying in the Sport Pilot category.  Henry looked at different planes including home built kits and felt the STOL CH-750 would be a good choice for his type of flying.  So, in June of 2010 he picked up the kit from the Zenith factory in Mexico, MO and building began in September at Gail Wilts Hangar at Lincoln County Airport (Y14) in Tea, SD, home of EAA chapter 289.

 

Although Henry has been an aviator for most of his life, this was his first home built airplane.  Thanks to his determination and the able assistance of Gayle Wilts and Doc Walker, the airplane was finished in April 2011.  The FAA issued the airworthiness certificate April 20, 2011 and Bryan Ferwerda test flew N750LW shortly after.  The aircraft performed well within factory specifications and only minor adjustments were required. After completing Phase I flight tests, his first passenger was retired flight instructor Russel Zangger, from whom Henry obtained his private license in 1966. Henry has logged over 70 hours in the CH 750 so far and over the past winter the airplane received a professional paint job by Dan Byker of Byker Aviation at Hawarden, IA.

Henry is very pleased with the performance of his airplane.  The 120 HP six-cylinder Jabiru 3300 engine swinging a 64” two-blade ground adjustable Sensenich propeller provides plenty of power to get him airborne in under 200 feet of ground roll and allows him to climb out at a comfortable rate of climb  from his farm strip.  At 80 mph cruise, the fuel consumption is about 5.5 gal per hour providing him with a 4 hour range from the standard two 12 gal fuel tanks.  For landings, Henry plays it safe; he likes his approaches with no flaps at 60-55 mph resulting in a landing roll of 400 ft or so.  The Zenith handles cross-wind better than the Taylorcraft, and he noticed that a “power on” stall is almost impossible.  The airplane just “mushes” forward with no drop of the nose at all. For avionics, Henry equipped his airplane with a Dynon D180 glass panel, a Microair Transeiver and an Ameri-King ELT.  If you would like to see this plane from up close and you have an airplane that does not mind 1300 ft grass feel free to stop in at Henrys strip to say Hello.  If he is not home, he will probably be out catching walleyes on the Missouri River.

Comment by Fred Stratman on September 15, 2012 at 8:21pm

Looks like Dan did a great paint job.

Comment by Bob McDonald on September 13, 2012 at 6:21am

Awesome job... congrats.

Comment by Ken Ryan on September 12, 2012 at 11:49am

Beautiful!

Comment by Jim Derickson on September 12, 2012 at 9:01am

Another 750 ready to leave the nest! Congratulations!

Comment by Zenith.Aero on September 12, 2012 at 7:57am

Nice!