New SAM-EX Aircraft Was Introduced By Zenith At AirVenture 2016

While engaging in our walkabout at AirVenture you couldn’t help but notice that the Zenith display was showing an airplane that looked very ‘Un-Zenith.’ The SAM-EX kit airplane produced by Zenith Aircraft looks really cool and brings back the romance of the World War II trainers or the Ryan ST airplanes. This is a two place airplane that can take a good size engine and it looks like it would be a head turner when it shows up at any airport.

We covered the story of this aircraft earlier this year when we reported that the U.S. company Zenith, and the Canadian company Zenair, had joined together in the purchasing of the SAM aircraft design and production tooling. They launched a program to seek advice from their Zenith customers as to how this aircraft might fit into their lineup of airplanes and, according to Zenith, the SAM-EX is the result of that survey.

Based on the prototype SAM Aircraft introduced in 2012 by Thierry Zibi, the new SAM-EX being introduced at Oshkosh AirVenture sports an all-new look, now configured as a taildragger and powered by a 180-hp Lycoming O-360. Zenith says the EX model has an increased gross weight of 1,800 lbs. (useful load of 650 lbs.), and can carry up to 38 gallons of fuel. The cruise speed will run between 140 to 150 miles per hour depending on the engine/prop combination, and the stall speed will be about 50 miles per hour. Now here’s really the fun part … it will be able to perform mild aerobatics similar to those allowed for a type-certificated utility category airplane.

Zenith says they are continuing to offer their builders engine choices. They say the SAM-EX will be suitable for a wide range of aircraft engines, from 150 - 200 hp, including traditional Lycoming or Continental aircraft engines, lighter and more modern engines such as Rotax, UL Power, and Jabiru, as well as specialty engines such as the radial Rotec (R2800 or R3600). Automotive conversions are also a possibility.

(Photo by ANN at AirVenture)

FMI: www.sam-aircraft.com/whatsnew