This Zenith STOL CH 701 won the Bronze class in the STOL Drag World Championship at the High Sierra Fly-In this past Saturday, expertly piloted by Jon Hakala.
25 year old Jon Hakala is a relatively new pilot with about 100 hours experience flying his Zenith "Sky Jeep." He modestly explained how this was his first competitive event and that he hardly expected to qualify for the event with his Rotax-powered stock STOL CH 701 (with heavier Alaskan Bushwheel tires). He made the 5.5 hour trip to the Dead Cow dry lake bed (north of Reno in the high desert) in his Zenith from his home in northwest Oregon. Watch the video.
More STOL wins!
There was another STOL competition on Saturday that was also won in a Zenith STOL. Jon Humberd expertly demonstrated a very short take-off and landing in his "Super 701" Zenith STOL on a very gusty day in Calhoun, Georgia, winning the STOL competition with a measured 41-foot take-off and a 40-foot landing (in winds gusting up to a reported 32 knots!). Check out the video!
Jon Humberd was also busy flying the previous Saturday, where he set the fastest time on the circuit at "Plane Fun Days" (in Brasstown, NC), a timed event with several grass strips requiring multiple "off airport" short take-offs and landings. Follow Jon and his "Super 701" on Facebook and subscribe to his YouTube channel to get notified of new videos as soon as they're posted.
Jon will be returning to Florida for Sun 'n Fun's Holiday Flying Festival on December 3rd and 4th, where he will compete once again in the STOL Competition in Lakeland in his "Super 701". The Holiday Flying Festival is the same place where Zenith will be hosting its popular hands-on kit aircraft building workshop on December 2nd and 3rd!
Texas-style "Unofficial Zenith Fly-In"
Also this past Saturday was the popular "Unofficial Zenith Fly-In" held in Boerne, Texas (outside of San Antonio) where a group of Zenith builders and flyers had a fantastic time gathering with their planes. Following the event, organizer Bill Fahey declared "It fulfilled the goal I had in mind for it: to bring the Texas Zenith community together and get to know one another. This will become an annual event."
Thank you Bill and Johni for hosting the event!
Early next year, Zenith Aircraft will be in Boerne, Texas, to host a hands-on workshop class in February. The workshop will be held February 18 & 19, 2022, at Boerne Stage Airfield (5C1). Zenith Aircraft's Sebastien Heintz and Roger Dubbert plan to participate. Zenith builders, pilots and enthusiasts are invited to attend.
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