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Cover Story: Zenith STOL on a Budget
A Modern, Affordable Sky Jeep
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The iconic STOL CH 701 design is on the cover of the September issue of KITPLANES magazine, with a feature story about Carson Stilson's second Zenith build, this one built "on a budget" and to be given away to a lucky winner later this year. Since its 1986 debut, the Chris Heintz designed STOL CH 701 has been known as a "Sky Jeep," and with its "form follows function" design and construction elements, few airplanes are as instantly recognizable, and even fewer are as fun to fly.
The stars-and-stripes theme of the cover plane marks America’s 250th and the CH701’s 40th anniversary.
"This airplane is a celebration of affordable kitplanes, America’s 250th birthday, and the 40th anniversary of the Zenith CH 701," writes Carson. "It has been incredible to see how far these kits have come, and I genuinely believe that if I can build one, just about anyone can." Carson is a private pilot from St. George, Utah, who documented his homebuilding projects for a large online audience (counted in the millions!). He has now completed two Zenith aircraft, a STOL CH 750 Super Duty and a STOL CH 701, and runs the aviation apparel company Wairworthy. His flying interest is the backcountry.
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"I built my first airplane with absolutely no experience working with sheet metal. After building two Zeniths, I feel as though I have earned a college education in aircraft construction. The skills, confidence, and understanding that come from building your own airplane are difficult to replicate any other way," states Carson. "I wanted to begin with a new, easy-to-assemble kit that someone could still order today, while incorporating quality used components where it made sense."
He completed the budget CH 701 project in less than six months, powered it with a used Rotax 912ULS engine, and flew it to Oshkosh (and back) this summer.
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"More than anything, I hope this project encourages someone who has been sitting on the fence to take the leap. Homebuilding is not reserved for master mechanics or lifelong craftsmen. It is for ordinary people who are willing to learn, make mistakes, correct them, and keep moving forward.
"If this airplane convinces even one person to begin a project they never thought they could afford or accomplish, then every hour spent building it, including the stressful moments along the way, will have been worth it."
| | Check out the PREVIEW VIDEO as Zenith Aircraft's Sebastien Heintz and Roger Dubbert discuss the upcoming Zenith Homecoming - Open Hangar Days and Fly-In, while taking you flying in the new Zenith CH 750 Super Cruzer sport utility cruiser, powered by a 180-hp Lycoming O-360 engine. | |
We're busy planning and finalizing the schedule for next month's Zenith Homecoming - Open Hangar Days and Fly-In. This will be the 35th annual Zenith Homecoming at the kit aircraft factory in Mexico, Missouri. This year's Homecoming event promises to be another activity-packed gathering of Zenith builders, owners and enthusiasts, with two full days of educational and fun activities!
| | The Open Hangar Days and Fly-In event will be a fun and informal Zenith gathering, with educational seminars, hands-on workshops, great food and camaraderie! Starting on Friday morning (September 18th) we’ll host seminars on avionics, engine installations, aircraft building, and more, followed by the Zenith BBQ Banquet “dinner with the planes.” Saturday's activities will include a Zenith “aircraft show” with prizes, building and flying contests and demonstrations, ending on Saturday evening with a dinner at the airport and awards ceremony! Make plans now to join us! All aviation enthusiasts and pilots are welcome! Check out some of the many photos from last year's event. We'll be sharing more event details soon. | |
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Zenith builders and flyers: Remember that this is your homecoming. We invite you to get involved and continue to make this a fantastic annual event. Share with the Zenith community your tips and expertise (for flying or building), volunteer your time to help and guide new builders. Let us know how we can help make this event even better! Check out the event Facebook page, and mark yourself as "interested" or "going" to be notified of event updates.
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Upcoming workshops at the Zenith kit aircraft factory in central Missouri:
September 16 & 17 (right before the Homecoming) | October 8 & 9, 2026
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Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshop classes are a great way to get started building your own airplane. During the workshop, you’ll learn the basic skills, tools, and techniques used in aircraft construction while assembling your own complete rudder tail section for one of Zenith’s popular designs, including the high-wing CH 750 series or the sleek low-wing CH 650 cruiser.
The workshop offers an ideal introduction to kit aircraft building and provides a firsthand look at the many benefits of owning and flying an airplane you built yourself. For many people, building an aircraft is an especially rewarding part of the ownership experience, and today’s modern, match-drilled kits make the process easier and faster than ever.
Standard workshop tuition is just $375, or $425 for the CH 750 Super Duty or CH 750 Super Cruzer, and includes the complete Zenith rudder kit you’ll build during the class. Spouses, family members, or other helpers are welcome to attend and participate at no additional charge. Prior registration is required, and class size is limited.
| | Workshop Class + Zenith Fly-In Gathering in Michigan | |
| |  | Zenith Aircraft Company is taking its popular hands-on workshop classes on the road, returning to central Michigan, to the Livingston County Airport (KOZW) in Howell, about 55 miles west of Detroit. The workshop will be held October 9th and 10th, 2026. During the workshop each participant builds and assembles their own Zenith aircraft rudder tail section from a standard Zenith kit. The two-day workshop concludes once participants have successfully completed assembly of their own rudder tail section. The event is being organized by local Zenith builder / pilot Steve Aupperle, who flies a Zenith STOL CH 750 powered by a Viking (Honda) engine, and local EAA Chapter 1056. The workshop is being supported in part by Martina and Oliver Reik (Zenith CH 750 Cruzer pilots), owners of Midwest Flying Machines, a professional builder assistance center located west of Detroit. The hands-on workshop class will start on Friday morning, October 9th, at Livingston County airport and will conclude the following day. Watch a short video from the 2025 Michigan workshop. Register now for the workshop class (class size is limited).
| Zenith will also host an informal regional fly-in gathering for Zenith aircraft owners, flyers and enthusiasts on Saturday (October 10th). “We have a great community of Zenith aircraft builders and pilots in Michigan and surrounding states,” said Sebastien Heintz, Zenith Aircraft’s president. “We look forward to meeting with them and seeing many of their flying Zenith projects.” All Zeniths are invited to fly in for the activities, and enthusiasts and current builders are invited to drive in to attend. | | | | |
