Zenith Aircraft 2025 Homecoming Report

Thank you to everyone who visited and participated at the 34th annual Zenith Aircraft Homecoming this past Friday and Saturday. We had a wonderful event with great attendance over two full days of educational and fun activities at the Zenith kit factory in Mexico, Missouri. Watch the video and check out the many photos of the planes, people and activities.

"Zenith Aircraft’s 34th annual Homecoming drew builders, pilots, and vendors to Missouri for flying, workshops, tours, and camaraderie," summarized aviation writer LeRoy Cook for AvBrief.com's story titled "2025 Zenith Aircraft’s Homecoming Draws Large Crowd."
The article, aptly subtitled "A family reunion for Zenith builders," explains how "there’s nothing like a good family get-together to bond lone individuals into like-minded cohesion. On Sept. 19 and 20, iconic kit-maker Zenith Aircraft held its 34th annual gathering of builders and enthusiasts at the Mexico, Missouri, factory."

Highlights included well-attended hands-on workshops, seminars, and panel discussions

where experts (and actual Zenith builders and flyers) shared their experiences in such areas as engines (selection, installation and experience), avionics and aircraft finishing (paint, polish, wraps, etc.). The Zenith Homecoming celebrates Zenith builders and flyers, and they came out in force once again, with 39 Zeniths flying in to Missouri from around the country.

The educational seminars and hands-on workshops kept visitors busy both days, learning about building and flying kit aircraft. Back by popular demand, volunteers hosted a women's-only workshop to introduce women to kit aircraft building. Visitors toured the modern Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities including guided tours of the recently expanded sections of the Zenith factory to see and to learn how the all-metal aircraft kit parts are fabricated, while Zenith Aircraft staff and volunteers demonstrated the ease of the kit assembly with modern final hole size match-drilled parts.

The late summer weather allowed for outdoor socializing and dining, with evening dinner events held outdoors on the ramp in front of the factory and surrounded by aircraft. Friday night's "Zenith Banquet" event (serving local BBQ) attracted more than 270 diners, with remarks from EAA's Charlie Becker and Zenith Aircraft's Sebastien Heintz, including updates about FAA MOSAIC / Sport Pilot 2.0 and how the expanded rule benefits Zenith builders and flyers.

"Every summer for the last 33 years, Heintz, owner of Zenith Aircraft Co., has opened his hangar doors and invites his customers and community to his manufacturing facility for two days of learning and collaboration," reported the local Mexico Ledger newspaper about the Zenith Homecoming event.

We salute the pilots who flew in to the Homecoming in their Zeniths from across the country, some flying over 1,000 miles to the Homecoming in the aircraft that they built themselves.

Select suppliers and vendors (who supply products and services needed to finish and fly kit aircraft) were invited to participate once again at the Zenith Homecoming, meeting with new and existing Zenith aircraft builders, owners and pilots, and sharing information about their services and products. Long time sponsors, such as Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, continue to support the Zenith Homecoming event year after year, and suppliers and sponsors offered great prizes that were awarded to lucky visitors. Once again, EAA Chapter 944 provided a hot breakfast of pancake and sausages both mornings, sponsored by Wheels & Wings (builder assistance services) on the first day, and by KITPLANES magazine and Avemco aviation insurance on the second day.

Presented by the Chris Heintz Foundation, Inc., the annual Homecoming event has grown over the years to become the prime annual gathering (and “Homecoming”) for Zenith builders, owners and flyers. Organizers use the event to educate the Zenith community (made up of builders, owners and flyers) about building and flying Chris Heintz designs, with seminars of basic light aircraft construction as well as important educational seminars on ongoing airworthiness for existing CH-series light aircraft.

For more than three decades Zenith Aircraft Company has been manufacturing easy-to-build and capable fun-to-fly aircraft kits designed by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz. Zenith Aircraft produces kit aircraft for the DIY (do it yourself) sport aviation market, with superb short take-off and landing capabilities demonstrated by the STOL CH 701 and STOL CH 750 models, as well as economical two-seat cross-country cruisers: The high-wing Zenith CH 750 Cruzer and the sleek low-wing Zenith CH 650.

"If you have always dreamed of building your own airplane, now couldn't be a better time to get started under the wise expertise of the folks at Zenith Aircraft Company."

The Zenith hands-on workshop class is an excellent way to learn about building your own kit aircraft and about the many advantages of owning and flying an airplane that you’ve built yourself. For many, building an aircraft is a very rewarding experience, and today’s modern kits make it easier and quicker than ever to build. Workshop fees are just $375.00 (or $425 for the CH 750 Super Duty model) and include the complete rudder kit for a Zenith aircraft. Additional participants (spouse or other family members) are encouraged to attend and can participate at no extra cost. Prior registration is required for the rudder workshop class and class size is limited. Here are the next workshop classes (held at the factory):

October 10 & 11 (in Michigan) | November 6 & 7, (at the Zenith factory)