If you have yet to attend a Zenith workshop at the kit aircraft manufacturing factory in Mexico, Missouri, plan to attend one in 2014!  Here's the schedule for the next few months:

• February 6 & 7, 2014
• March 6 & 7, 2014
• April 24 & 25, 2014

Zenith Aircraft Company's factory workshops have become popular with sport aviation enthusiasts, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in building their own Zenith Aircraft kit plane. Participants get to actually start assembling kit parts under the direction and guidance of factory professionals, and "graduate" from the workshop upon completing construction of their own aircraft rudder tail section for one of Zenith Aircraft Company's popular kit aircraft designs, including the Zenith CH 650 cruiser or the high wing Zenith CH 750 series.

This workshop is held over two days (all day Thursday and Friday morning), with participants assembling the complete rudder tail kit of the aircraft from stock rudder kit parts.  Some of the skills learned in the construction of the rudder assembly include: reading the drawings and assembly manuals, measuring, drilling, de-burring, and blind riveting, as well as cutting and filing sheet metal parts.  Once complete, the rudder tail section is ready to install on an actual airplane and each participant keeps the rudder that they have assembled themselves.  The rudder kit that is built at the workshop is constructed the same way as the rest of the kit airplane, and thus provides an excellent introduction to simple all-metal light aircraft construction.

Roger Dubbert, Zenith's demo pilot and a staff workshop coordinator, states: "The workshop makes it easy for first-time builders to learn all about building their own plane - they learn about the required  tools, skills, and workspace by spending a couple of days on actual construction."

Workshop participants are also offered a demo flight in the aircraft. Spouses, family members, and friends are encouraged to attend and to take part in the rudder kit assembly (at no additional cost), making the workshop a fun getaway for a few days.

Additional workshops are held in Canada (Zenair Ltd.) and on the west coast (Quality Sport Planes). Zenith Aircraft Company's international dealers also hold hands-on kit-building training sessions and workshops.

New technology, such as extensive use of CNC drilling and cutting equipment in the kit parts manufacturing process, makes building a kit aircraft quicker and easier than ever before, while Zenith's 20-year experience in the industry assures builders with available expert technical support and quality blueprints and assembly manuals (which include detailed step-by-step photo assembly guides).  Zenith's kits are supplied complete, with standard factory-riveted wing spars, factory welded steel parts, and all hardware included to complete the aircraft.  Kit builders can choose to "buy-as-they-build" from component (section) kits or they can purchase the full kit in one large box.