News Release: Zenith Aircraft’s Annual “Homecoming” Open Hangar Days & Fly-In is on September 20 & 21, 2024, in Mexico, Missouri

Mexico, Missouri – Zenith Aircraft Company will be hosting its 33rd annual Zenith Homecoming / Open Hangar Days & Fly-In this September 20th & 21st at its factory at the Mexico Memorial Airport in Mexico, Missouri.

The annual fly-in event is a homecoming for Zenith Aircraft customers from across the
U.S., with many Zenith customers flying in to central Missouri, with their completed Zenith kit aircraft (whose parts and components were all made at the Zenith Aircraft factory in Mexico, Missouri). The Open Hangar Days & Fly-In event include two full days of activities, with educational seminars and workshops, an aircraft show, contests, social activities, as well as a Zenith banquet dinner on Friday evening. This year we'll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the low-wing Zenith CH600 series designs by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz, and we'll be showcasing our newly expanded Zenith Aircraft kit factory and hangar showroom. Factory tours (of the modern kit aircraft factory), aircraft building and flying demonstrations, and other activities are planned for all visitors.

On the first day (Friday, September 20th) educational seminars begin in the morning and take place throughout the day featuring various airframe (the aircraft fuselage, wings and tail), engine, avionics seminars, with suppliers like Dynon and Garmin avionics, Corvair and Viking auto engine conversions, and more participating. The knowledge gained from these educational seminars gives the individual aircraft kit builders an opportunity to learn more about the choices they have in building and finishing their own aircraft. Charlie Becker,  EAA’s Director of Chapters & Homebuilt Community Manager, will speak about government issues affect sport aircraft owners and builders, including MOSAIC, task based phase 1 flight testing, LODA, Basic Med and fuel issues. There will be additional seminars and panel discussions on topics of interest to Zenith builders and flyers, including flight safety (transition training and first flight preparedness). Friday’s activities conclude with the popular Zenith Aircraft banquet (catered BBQ from Pig Up & Go), held outdoors in front of the Zenith Aircraft factory with the planes (weather permitting), with special guest speakers and entertainment.

Saturday's schedule is packed full of activities including:
    • Ribbon-cutting ceremony (at noon) of the Zenith Aircraft factory expansion
    • Tours of the newly-expanded Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities,
    • Zenith aircraft “show” with many categories and prizes,
    • Seminars on Zenith aircraft kit construction and maintenance,
    • STOL and other flying demonstrations at the airport
    • Dinner (fried chicken) and awards ceremony starting at 4:30 pm
    • Great camaraderie throughout the day with lots of hangar talk and food!

Hands-on building projects in the Zenith factory are being planned, including a “women’s only introduction to aircraft building” workshop class. There will be Zenith Aircraft presentations on aircraft kit construction, as well as representation from more than a dozen vendors of products and services for Zenith customers (avionics, engines, insurance, etc.).
The Zenith Aircraft Homecoming – Open Hangar Days and Fly-In is a popular annual event for Zenith customers and aviation enthusiasts.

For more than thirty years Zenith Aircraft Company has been manufacturing “easy to build and fun to fly” aircraft kits designed by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz. Zenith Aircraft continues to be the number one brand of light sport aircraft in the United States (based on actual FAA registrations numbers). Zenith Aircraft produces kit aircraft for the DIY (do it yourself) sport aviation market, with superb short take-off and landing capabilities demonstrated by the STOL CH 701 and STOL CH 750 models, as well as economical two-seat cross-country cruisers: The high-wing Zenith CH 750 Cruzer and the sleek low-wing Zenith CH 650. With builder choices in mind, all Zenith aircraft kits are designed to offer builders a wide variety of suitable engines, avionics, and custom kit options. Zenith Aircraft builders typically build their own airplanes in 400-500 hours from a complete kit, or can choose to build from component kits, quick build kits, or scratch-build from plans (blueprints) only. The STOL CH 750 Super Duty, a larger short take-off and landing (STOL) airplane with a rear jump seat, is the latest model from Zenith Aircraft.

The annual Zenith Aircraft Homecoming – Open Hangar Days and Fly-In event is a great way for Zenith Aircraft’s customers to meet with each other to share their love of building and flying, and to get to know the factory staff, while also learning about building, maintaining and flying their airplanes. While area hotels sell out well in advance of the event, there will also be free camping available at the Mexico airport. Further details are available on the Zenith Aircraft website, with a detailed seminar and events schedule (to be published closer to the event date): https://bit.ly/zen24-homecoming

Zenith Aircraft Company: https://zenithair.net

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: Zenith Aircraft Company shows Off Current and Future Designs

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

 Zenith Aircraft Company had an impressive exhibit again in the Homebuilt Area at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016.  The Zenith Aircraft Company was formed in 1992 to manufacture kit-built aircraft in their Mexico, Missouri facility featuring designs based on the Zenair designs from Chris Heintz.  In addition to the excellent design of the aircraft models offered in kit form, the company maintains generous customer service and building assistance programs that make the purchase and building processes more successful. According to company President, Sebastien Heintz, Zenith Aircraft Company sales have been steady, even during the recent economic downturn, due to the soundness of the aircraft kit designs and the customer support given to each new owner.  Advanced technology manufacturing techniques have made the parts relatively easy to assemble, and the numerous hands-on workshops give ample opportunity for new kit owners to assemble one sub-assembly at a time as they progress through the building process.  Each aircraft is designed to offer ease of assembly, fuel economy and flight performance.  

The Zodiac CH 650 is the stylish, sporty model with excellent visibility and great flight performance.  A variety of engines and instrument combinations may be used with the aircraft.  The STOL CH 750 and STOL CH-701 offer short-field, off- airport performance with plenty of interior room for two and luggage.  The bubble door window offers excellent visibility and the beefy landing gear gives off-field capability with steerable nose landing gear.  
    

A new model offering will be the SAM-EX design acquired by Zenith Aircraft (and Zenair Ltd. in Canada) last year.  It is being improved and prepared for production and is based on the prototype that has been exhibited for several years.  It has a retro military trainer look and uses aluminum skin over steel frame construction.  It will be offered in quick-build kits and will offer a variety of engine and avionics options for each kit.  Check the Zenith Aircraft SAM page for production updates.    

 

Zenith Aircraft has regular builder workshops and annual Open Hangar Days, including this weekend, September 23-24.  These events are great opportunities to visit the factory, interact with the friendly staff and go on a demonstration flight around the local area.  We highly recommend a visit to this great Midwest Aviation aircraft maker.