Amazingly Prolific Aircraft Designer Had Massive Impact on Sport/General Aviation

News/Analysis/Commentary by Jim Campbell, ANN Editor-In-Chief/CEO

The note on social media was a sad one... "It is with great regret that we announce the passing of Chris Heintz on April 30th, 2021. Best known in aviation circles as a prolific and talented aircraft designer, aeronautical engineer, innovator, builder, entrepreneur, lecturer and author, Chris has touched the lives of thousands throughout his exceedingly productive professional life.

Chris died peacefully at his home in Southern France where he is survived by Annemarie, his loving wife of 60 years, his five children and a dozen grand-children. As per his wishes, funeral arrangements will be kept simple and private."

Wow... it is nearly impossible to properly categorize the impact this amazing man, with the delightfully thick accent, brought to our communities.

Among the many aircraft I've logged over the past half century, a significant number of them were designed or otherwise put into the Aero-Verse by the irrepressible Chris Heintz. From ultralights to light twins, Chris' efforts have been an impressive part of the aviation landscape while several of his designs have gone to super stardom and even certification.

A favorite memory goes WAY back... to the introduction of the very first Zodiac... when for some forgotten reason, there was no demo pilot for the first public flight of the CH-600 at its Oshkosh debut. Since I'd already flown quite a few of this designs prior to that point, Chris recruited me, gave me a quick but surprisingly thorough cockpit brief, and off I went... zooming back and forth along the Oshkosh flight line in an airplane I'd never flown before (back when such things were allowed)... but it flew exactly as he briefed and the resultant demo looked GREAT... better than that, it felt great. Chris thanked me for making the airplane look good, but I had to be honest... I told him that the airplane kinda did it all by itself. I got a big smile over that.

These days, it is a statistical improbability that any significant sport aviation event isn't going to have an assortment of CH-600 series Zodiacs or STOL CH700-750 birds landing in VERY short spaces -- if not other generations of his design genius. The impact of this man is hard to quantify, but its safe to say that few sport aircraft pioneers have had as a great an impact as Chris Heintz. And the industry is poorer for his loss.

ANN wishes the Heintz family, and Chris' many friends, our prayers and best wishes... What a remarkable life.

FMI: www.zenithair.com