Just unveiled by Zlin. Probably not a huge useful load as a light sport, but oh it looks like so much fun:

ZLIN AVIATION s.r.o. Napajedla, 25. 3. 2020
Two years of hard job, more than 20 years of specific experience in this sector, putted into this new project. This new plane represents the sum of our vision, the expectations and needs coming from our customers and the tendencies coming from the STOL market. Design and elegance, innovations and safety, aerodinamic and performances, enhanced ergonomy and new cargo capacity, reliability and strength, functionality and desire of new adventures, all togheter we hope, quite well mixed.

This refined backcountry aircraft is 703 cm long, 223 cm tall (or more depending on tires sizes) and has a wing span of 903 cm. The empty basic weight is less than 360 kg (792 pounds) and will be available in the future as LSA in the USA and other Countries and as ULM in Europe (into the new Ultralight 600 kg class).

A completely new and bigger fuselage, with new shapes for fin/rudder section (fin now has ribs to increase the efficency and stability) and lateral windows, for the first time matched with a completely new metal wing with traditional spars and more advanced airfoil, equipped with an over-dimensioned electrical retractable slat system and a manual double slotted flaps, will ensure excellent performances both in cruise speed and landing.

The new wing tips were designed to help the aileron's efficency at low speed and to increase the aerodinamic efficiency at cruise or top speed... The strength of the new metal wing, designed for 800kg MTOW, the slats and the low landing speeds ensured by the large double slotted flaps (that will even create enough pitch moment to increase the front visibility), will enhance the safety factor for the pilots during STOL operations.

The wing struts have been redesigned with new stronger and separate attachments to the fuselage.The fuel tanks will be available in 3 sizes :100, 140 and up to 180 lt and will offer together with an higher cruise speed an extended range for your longer trips.

A new fuel indicator system will alert you, just in case and to prevent any risk in this area.
The trim system has been modified, increasing the total vertical travel of the yoke system, allowing now more trimming capacity to the elevator to compensate a larger spectrum of speeds.

A very large optional cargo area, full carbon made, with an external access door, with the possibility to extend it even further, allowing one pilot to sleep inside the plane if necessary, will open new possibility for our Savage owners.

A completely revised cabin ergonomy, with new easier accessibility for both pilots, with the larger door of the category and a bigger distance between the two seatings, will offer a new dimension of confort inside the cabin. New “adjustable" carbon seats matched with some premium leather, available in 18 different colors, will offer a new touch to the interiors and a new confort for longer trips...

Optionally the seat belts can be ordered using different colors, according to customer desires. New rudder pedals will ensure better control on the ground in every condition.

The even bigger ailerons, are now controlled by push pull tubes inside the wings, giving a more precise feedback to the pilots .The flaps are now controlled by a torsional tube and push pull rods.

An important goal for Zlin Aviation, has been to try to increase the forward visibility for pilots during STOL operations: the front windshield is now more angled (to also reduce the amount of drag at higher cruising speeds) and our new instrument panel, compact but elegant, has been designed to achieve this target.

We also wanted to be innovative from the design point of view, and this new instrument panel can be in fact customized, according to customer wishes. Up to 20 special different aeronautical paints, or a full carbon look or even an alcantara / leather combination, with a choice of different seams, will be availabe for our customer.

The new optional dual caliper brake system is more than enough to handle full power coming from a Rotax 915. The main landing gear is now extended and reinforced by 3" (standard) and has a different design. It has also been moved more forward, allowing pilots to brake even harder, when necessary.

The standard tailwheel can now be upgraded to T3 tailwheel suspension system or even Acme Stinger. The standard bungee system can be upgraded with a custom made shock absorber system produced by one of our dealers, or even with a more professional Acme Shock PRO Series system, designed for tought operations.

The new cowling design is sleek and streamlined, taking in mind the faster cruise speed planned for this plane, but big enough to offer plenty of space for engines installation, due to our new rounded bowl and firewall area, that gives more presence and elegance to the whole front area of the plane.

The basic engine for this plane will be the Rotax 100 hp but the plane during 2021, will be able to hold also the power coming from the new Edge Performance EPeX300Ti (300 hp), planned to be installed only for the experimental market. The first EPeX300Ti will be installed and tested later this year and has already been ordered by our company.

Now something about the name. It took really long to decide for a new name, this time. So why NORDEN? and why with a “globe” designed in place of the standard “O” and then an inverted N at the end? basically because we were inspired by the main cardinal point, the mythical North and because we always try to think different, so why not to invert the N at the end for example? to think different in fact, allowed us to design this plane, not taking in mind what we did untill yesterday, but trying to open our mind, reaching new limits...

Norden then, is a name used to identify the beautiful Nordic and Scandinavian Countries as Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland... These incredible lands all together with North of Canada and Alaska, are well linked with the concepts of Adventures and STOL operations. Who has never dreamed to make a trip to Cape North, to Iceland or to Alaska, just to name some of these places? Furthermore, it is not a secret that the real bushflying has been invented in the “real North Territories”...

These Countries are then very far by most of the people around the world, and this also moved us trying to find a name that could both inspire great "adventures" and "long trips"...
Link video www.youtube.com/watch

1765 gross, so about 975 useful.

Looks like a neat plane. I like the idea of the electric slats. Q-controlled (automatic) pop-out slats might weigh less, but also might be tough for a homebuilder to precisely design. I hadn’t thought of making something electric-powered like how they did. Definitely a neat idea.

EDIT: typos

CamTom12 wrote:Looks like a neat plane. I like the idea of the electric slats. Q-controlled (automatic) pop-out slats night with less, but also might be tough for a homebuilder to precisely design. I hadn’t thought of making something like how they did. Definitely a neat idea.

Last I had talked to them they did not offer a kit. They didnt seem to interested in producing a kit either. Maybe that's changed with this plane. I hope so, I'd like to build one.

I discovered Zlin last January and have grown to become a big fan of them. I really like the Outback Shock (Shock Cub) 915 iS combination.

I had heard a lot about this new prototype that was going unveiled so it was exciting to finally see it and on my birthday no less! I’ve been diligently seeking as much information about it as I can. It’s a pretty impressive little airplane! I love that it’s built around a Rotax 915 iS as that’s the perfect engine for Idaho’s backcountry minus some nagging lane light issues they’ve had.

I think the Savage Norden looks a little bit like a mini A-1B Husky. From the electric slats, performance flaps from Airframes Alaska, to the drooped tips it kinda has it all the performance modifications you could want but in a factory built LSA. Pretty neat!

I also was excited to hear that it has pushrod ailerons and I believe elevator which should make handling quick and precise. The wing area in cruise is 156 sq. ft and when the slats and flaps are fully extended it provides a 12% increase in wing area to about 175 sq. ft. That, along with an empty weight I’m guessing of around 900 pounds with the 29” Airstreaks and 915 should provide great performance at high density altitudes. It also has a really awesome angle of attack and much improved downward visibility as the windscreen has been brought down considerably which will be really useful in conjunction with what the leading edge slats/performance flaps provide in a nose low slow approach speed for off airport use.

https://youtu.be/ZH6kN0JvbxM

https://www.facebook.com/61609259511192 ... /?vh=e&d=n

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_McMbDh2jP ... 8zmswd83d0

Cool looking airplane! I’m not wild about the paint scheme, I think they could do better. I dont care for the dipping stripe at the front of the airplane, A nice level stripe from front to rear would look better in my opinion. Ok ok, I know, I’m splitting hair’s here, nice airplane regardless of the paint scheme design.

Kurt

nagging lane light issues they’ve had.

Typo here? I don’t understand what this refers to.

Pinecone wrote:

nagging lane light issues they’ve had.

The 912 iS uses the same fuel injection system as the 915 iS utilizing Rockwell Collin’s ECU’s. The 912 iS has had a history of throwing up either a Lane A or Lane B light with no way to diagnose what it’s telling you other than solid red for checking it when you’re done or flashing red meaning land at the nearest place.

The Dynon HDX panel is able to relay these faults that the ECU throws up in real time to the pilot which is a godsend. The Garmin G3X also has this but only way you can access these system faults is to reboot into the configuration menu. Not very useful while in flight!

Yes, I agree I’m not the biggest fan of the paint colors but the scheme is pretty neat. There are more details than I had originally thought when I screenshot different angles of the airplane through that Facebook video link.

Hey y’all, here’s the pricing for the Norden.

If this plane actually has 975 useful load and comes standard with that panel it is a pretty good price.

I have never been able to figure out the wing structure on that bird. They don't tell you anything.... I do know is it a many times removed evolution of the RANS S-7, an outgrowth of their Savage Cub, which was, other then cosmetic changes to make it appear more cub like, a 7 clone. Like a EuroFox was "inspired" by the Kitfox, not knocking it just saying that is how they got their start. So, Jetcat, (who appears to be a company shill, just saying, not that's there is anything wrong with that) what and how is the wing structure comprised? As in type of spars specifically.

Ok, for the record I do not in any way shape or form work for any manufacture of aircraft or receive compensation from one. I’m a huge fan of LSA type aircraft and love to share the latest and greatest aircraft that don’t have much presence or aren’t as widely know in the United States yet.

The wing is all metal with dual aeronautical spars and tested up to 1765 pounds. The designer won’t divulge the type of airfoil being used but it can’t be a USA35B which was used on the Outback Shock and Shock Ultra models. Wing area cleaned up is 156 sq.ft and with the flaps and slats fully extended that gets a 12% increase to 175 sq.ft.

The flaps are actually Zlin’s own custom design on the Norden which are double slotted. That combined with the far reaching electrically operated slats should make for a wonderful combination of slower airspeed at a reduced AOA required for off airport fun.

There is only one place where the slats are going to make a significant difference and the designer of the aircraft has assured me they have achieved that position. If the electric actuator failed for any reason there will always be a symmetrical situation for both wings even close to the ground.

The drooped wingtips are there to effectively increase the local span loading near the tips which should increase the effectiveness of the ailerons at slower speeds. They’ve also been shown to modify the departure stall characteristics to maintain flow near the tips longer as the stall progresses.

The nose has been lowered along with the dashboard to provide enhanced visibility for this reason. Just look at how far the front windscreen extends. The nose high attitude is to maximize the AOA for takeoff and landing. I’m personally excited about this as it will make for an impressive STOL competitor as the Shock Cub’s tailwheel gave up significant AOA on takeoffs.

I don’t know about y’all, but this is what I’ve been waiting for! Just unbelievable! https://youtu.be/5Olmfj7O4Ec

If that price point holds, this thing will get some attention for sure. As an S7 builder, I think it would be difficult to build a bushed out S7 with a 915 for less than $110k. Adding double slotted flaps and slats to it would be difficult. So, I can’t see a direct comparison between the two, except for the logical conclusion that the bones of this airplane is a direct ripoff from Randy’s S7. I applaud the innovation and am very impressed; but, I dislike the history of their bush aircraft development.

mpm wrote:If that price point holds, this thing will get some attention for sure. As an S7 builder, I think it would be difficult to build a bushed out S7 with a 915 for less than $110k. Adding double slotted flaps and slats to it would be difficult. So, I can’t see a direct comparison between the two, except for the logical conclusion that the bones of this airplane is a direct ripoff from Randy’s S7. I applaud the innovation and am very impressed; but, I dislike the history of their bush aircraft development.

Do you know the story of how Pasquale at Zlin got his start though?

Jetcat3 wrote:Do you know the story of how Pasquale at Zlin got his start though?

No. Please share it...

JP256 wrote:

Jetcat3 wrote:Do you know the story of how Pasquale at Zlin got his start though?

No. Please share it...

Pasquale explained twenty-one years ago to Kitplanes that he had imported two RANS S-7’s twenty-five years ago for personal use. Then he told himself, “Why not make it nicer, stronger, and better? He made one S-7 just for himself with inspiration taken from the mythical Piper Super Cub and then explained what happened after he had done so.

People started to see his airplane and in fact, his was awarded some prizes for construction quality, and people started asking him, “Where did you buy it? I want one.” So he started thinking there might just be a market and then started a miniature production not with any specific intention to make it a business.

Twenty plus years later and there’s really not much of the Norden that resembles an S-7 except for wingspan length I guess. Same goes for the Shock Cub and Shock Ultra. He was inspired by what Randy at RANS and Piper had already done. And who isn’t? Just ask CubCrafters and American Legend!

There are many American manufacturers who have taken inspiration from those that have gone before them including the two previously mentioned as well as Kitfox and the European spinoff Aeropro with their Eurofox, all derivatives of Dean Wilson’s Avid Flyer.

Pasquale is a great guy and super humble about what he has produced and accomplished. In a market of ever increasing prices he’s a breath of fresh air! His creativity and innovative mind is what the STOL market needs right now!

The Norden is the aircraft I was wishing CubCrafters would have produced when I toured their factory over a year ago, a lighter Carbon Cub derivation around the Rotax 915 iS. And now Zlin has done it better than I could have dreamed of and for that I’m super grateful. The real question now is, who will copy the Norden next? And it goes round and round and round again.

I sure wish you could buy it as a kit though. I would like to build one the way I want it, and it would save me some coin.

A1Skinner wrote:I sure wish you could buy it as a kit though. I would like to build one the way I want it, and it would save me some coin.

According to Zlin it will be available as a kit next spring. Here are some takeoffs with fixed pitch and constant speed propellers all done with tailwinds. https://youtu.be/wLW4JTJX2as