For pilots looking for an aircraft capable of operating from short grass strips while still carrying people, equipment and substantial baggage, the Zenith STOL CH 750 Super Duty stands out as one of the more unusual aircraft in the modern light-aircraft market.

Designed by Zenith Aircraft Company around the STOL — Short Takeoff and Landing — mission, the CH 750 Super Duty combines a large high-wing airframe, fixed tricycle landing gear, a spacious cabin and a powerful engine configuration.

That combination makes it particularly interesting for pilots operating in rural areas, bush environments and locations where a conventional paved runway may not be available.

Built for the Short-Strip Mission

The Super Duty is designed around low-speed handling and short-field performance.

Zenith’s published figures for its 205-horsepower demonstrator show a 115-foot takeoff roll and a 150-foot landing roll. Its published stall speed is approximately 34 mph, while cruise speed is about 105 mph in the factory configuration. (Zenith Aircraft Company⁠)

Those numbers help explain why the aircraft has attracted attention from pilots interested in private grass strips and backcountry operations.

However, advertised takeoff and landing rolls should not be confused with a recommended runway length. Actual operations require additional margin for pilot technique, temperature, altitude, wind, runway surface, aircraft weight, obstacles and emergency situations.

A Different Approach to STOL Design

Many bush aircraft use conventional tailwheel landing gear. The CH 750 Super Duty takes a different approach with fixed tricycle landing gear and a steerable nosewheel.

Zenith says this arrangement provides good forward visibility on the ground and makes ground handling relatively straightforward. The aircraft also uses fixed leading-edge slats and full-length flaperons to improve its slow-flight and STOL characteristics. (Zenith Aircraft Company⁠)

For pilots transitioning from conventional tricycle-gear aircraft, that configuration can also make ground operations more familiar.

Serious Load-Carrying Capability

The “Super Duty” name is not simply marketing.

Zenith publishes an 800-pound useful load for the prototype configuration, with a design gross weight of 1,900 pounds and an empty weight of approximately 1,100 pounds. (Zenith Aircraft Company⁠)

The aircraft also has a large rear cabin/baggage area. Zenith describes a rear jump-seat configuration that can accommodate another person or additional baggage, giving the aircraft considerably more utility than a minimalist single-seat ultralight.

That could make the CH 750 Super Duty particularly interesting for agricultural, surveying, bush, logistics and private-airstrip missions — subject to the applicable operating category and aviation regulations.

205 Horsepower — With Options

The factory prototype uses a 205-horsepower IO-375 engine, but Zenith says the CH 750 Super Duty is not designed around one particular engine.

The company lists a suitable power range of approximately 150–230 horsepower, giving builders flexibility when selecting an engine based on availability, weight, performance requirements and budget. (Zenith Aircraft Company⁠)

That flexibility can be particularly important for aircraft intended for African operations, where engine support, spare parts and qualified maintenance facilities should be considered before selecting a powerplant.

These are factory/prototype figures and should not be treated as guaranteed performance for every completed aircraft. (Zenith Aircraft Company⁠)

What Does It Cost?

The commonly quoted $110,000 figure should not be treated as a fixed current purchase price for a complete aircraft.

Zenith currently sells the Super Duty primarily as a kit, with its online store listing the airframe kit at $33,790 and the finishing kit at $12,990. Additional costs include the engine, propeller, avionics, instruments, paint, interior, wheels/tires, shipping, construction equipment and other components. (Zenith Air⁠)

In other words, the final price of a flying CH 750 Super Duty can be substantially different from the price of the basic airframe kit.

Could It Work for Africa?

This is where the CH 750 Super Duty becomes particularly interesting.

Across Africa, many communities and private properties are located far from major airports. A capable STOL aircraft can potentially provide access to locations where building a conventional airport would be impractical.

For a private African airstrip, however, the aircraft’s impressive factory performance should not be used to justify building an extremely short runway.

A properly engineered grass strip should provide substantial additional safety margin beyond the published takeoff and landing rolls. Local terrain, trees, power lines, drainage, soil conditions, seasonal rain, temperature and density altitude all matter.

For Liberia, Ghana and neighboring countries, regulatory approval would also have to be addressed before establishing and operating a private airstrip.

More Than a Backyard Airplane

Zenith itself describes the broader CH 750 family as being suited to short grass strips and utility operations. The company’s aircraft literature specifically describes the STOL CH 750 as capable of operating from a backyard grass strip, while the Super Duty adds significantly greater load-carrying capability. (zenithair.com⁠)

That combination makes the Super Duty an intriguing candidate for a different kind of African aviation network — one based not only around major international airports, but also around appropriately licensed private and rural airstrips.

For someone interested in connecting farms, mining properties, remote communities, construction projects and regional destinations, the aircraft’s mission is potentially much more useful than that of a basic ultralight.

Where to Buy

The Zenith Aircraft Company is the manufacturer and sells the CH 750 Super Duty kits directly.

Zenith Aircraft Company — Official Website⁠

CH 750 Super Duty Specifications⁠

CH 750 Super Duty Kit Store⁠

Zenith also offers builder resources and workshops, which can be valuable for anyone considering taking on an aircraft-building project rather than purchasing an already-completed aircraft. (Zenith Aircraft Company⁠)

The African STOL Opportunity

The CH 750 Super Duty illustrates an important possibility for African aviation: small aircraft do not necessarily need enormous airports to be useful.

A rugged, relatively slow, high-lift aircraft capable of carrying people and equipment can be particularly valuable where roads are poor, distances are significant and conventional aviation infrastructure is limited.

For private operations in Liberia, Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa, the real question isn’t simply whether the aircraft can land in a short distance.

It is whether the aircraft, airstrip, pilot, maintenance program and regulatory approvals can be designed together as a safe operating system.

That is where the CH 750 Super Duty becomes more than a recreational aircraft — it becomes a potential light utility aircraft for Africa’s rural and emerging aviation economy.