‘This Project Is Not Just About Building The Airplane; The Important Part Of This Project Is That We Can Share It With So Many Other People’

If anything could relate to sport aviation more than the one week wonder project at EAA AirVenture this year, it would be hard to find. Organizers hope that the fact that thousands of people will participate in the building of a Zenith 750 Cruzer in front of the whole world at AirVenture will inspire and encourage the homebuilding movement.

The day before the one week wonder project was set to begin, we checked in with Zenith Aircraft Company President, Sebastien Heintz, to see how the preparation was going. The one week wonder Pavilion looked ready for operation and several large boxes were in place ready for the grand opening (literally). When asked if everything had arrived as planned Heintz replied, “We think so because we planned carefully but we haven’t even opened the boxes because that won’t occur until the official start of the project.” He laughingly said they were waiting until the official opening so no one could claim that they had actually started the project early.

Heintz reminded us that the factory is open all during the EAA AirVenture week and if anything did turn up missing they would be available to help. He said, “The folks that remained behind at the factory are excited about the project and will be watching just like everybody else. They worked hard to get us ready for this.”

When asked about the building volunteers to help guide the program, he said they have about 150 people that are scheduled to show up. He is also hoping for the ambassador volunteers to work along beside them to talk to and encourage people about building an airplane.

Sebastian said “This project is not just about building the airplane. After all, we build airplanes all the time. The important part of this project is that we can share it with so many other people.”

(Photo shows one of 5 boxes waiting at the OWW site)

FMI: www.eaa.org