Events Slated for 01-02 December on SUN ‘n FUN Campus

Zenith Aircraft Company is returning to central Florida on 01 and 02 December 2023 for purpose of hosting its popular hands-on kit aircraft building workshop. Subject workshop will be held on the SUN ’n FUN Expo campus (site of the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo), and followed immediately by an informal regional Zenith fly-in gathering.

The workshop will get underway on the morning of Friday, 01 December, inside the Buehler Aerospace Restoration and Training Center—part of the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) at the SUN ’n FUN complex on central Florida’s Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL). The Buehler Hangar—in which members of the Lakeland Aero Club have completed the construction of a Zenith CH 750 Cruzer kit airplane dubbed Spirit of Lakeland—is no stranger to Zenith aircraft kits.

Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshops are structured, primarily, for first-time kit airplane builders. The events, which address the development of building skills, requisite tools, workspace, cost breakdown, etc., have grown popular with sport aviation enthusiasts aspiring to build their own kit airplanes. Workshop participants build their own Zenith aircraft rudder assemblies from standard Zenith kits. Owing, in part, to the high level of factory completion inherent to Zenith’s new aircraft kits, participants are able, generally, to successfully complete the work in only one day.

Over the course of building their respective rudder assemblies, workshop participants, under the auspices of Zenith factory staff, tackle an assortment of tasks, including learning to read and comprehend technical drawings (blueprints) and assembly manuals. Additionally, participants are familiarized with joinery techniques the likes of drilling and blind riveting. By workshop’s end, they’ve assembled rudders ready for installation on Zenith kit airplanes and gained a foundation of confidence upon which to commence building their own kit aircraft.

Zenith Aircraft owner and president Sebastien Heintz stated: “The rest of the kit is constructed the same way as the rudder, using the same tools. Participants get far more out of the workshop than just a finished aircraft rudder; they go home with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to build their own airplane. Most importantly, they learn that kit building is enjoyable and something that can engage the whole family. Many participants bring their spouses or other family member, who often encourage them to move forward with the rest of the kit. With modern technology, such as final hole size CNC match-drilled parts, and good instructions, aircraft construction has become much quicker and easier than most people think.”

Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshops are excellent means by which to learn about building one’s own (amateur-built) kit airplane and familiarizing oneself with the many advantages of owning and flying such machines. Kit aircraft, especially those meeting the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) definition, constitute a perennially-popular, steadily-growing segment of the general aviation sector.

Standard workshop fees are $375.00 (or $425 for the CH 750 Super Duty model) and include the complete Zenith Aircraft rudder kit. Assistants to primary aircraft builders are encouraged to attend Workshop, in which they may participate at no additional charge.

Parties interested in learning more about Zenith Aircraft’s workshop program are invited to visit www.zenithair.net or call Zenith Aircraft directly: (573) 581-9000 (Monday through Friday, 08:00-17:00 Central Time). Prior registration is required for the rudder workshop—for which space is limited.

On Saturday, 02 December, immediately following the workshop class on Friday, Zenith will host an informal regional Zenith fly-in gathering. All Zenith owners and operators are invited to fly in for the morning’s activities; enthusiasts and current builders and flyers are invited to drive in or fly in to the event. Representatives from an assortment of engine manufacturers are expected to be on hand to share information and details germane to powerplant installations in Zenith kit airplanes.

Zenith will make public additional details pertaining to the fly-in gathering as the event date approaches.

Founded in 1992, and based on Missouri’s Mexico Memorial Airport (MYJ), Zenith Aircraft Company produces a popular line of kit aircraft that includes the two-seat, low-wing, LSA-eligible CH650B; the two-seat, high-wing, tricycle-undercarriage, Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) STOL CH701; the two-seat, high-wing, tricycle-undercarriage, STOL, LSA-eligible STOL CH750; the two-seat, high-wing, all-metal, cross-country-optimized, CH750 Cruzer; and the three-seat, STOL, glass-cockpit, STOL CH750 SD (Super Duty).

FMI: www.Zenith.aero