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Starting on Friday, September 19, Zenith Aircraft will host educational seminars with programs of interest to all. Whether you're a new or existing builder, already flying your completed Zenith, or just interested in learning more about building and flying your very own airplane, you will find the seminars to be informative and useful. Both Dynon SkyView and Garmin G3X will be represented by factory reps, as will� Rotax, UL Power, Jabiru, Viking and Corvair engines! We're also planning seminars on "Building Your Own Zenith," paining your aircraft, and more! We'll have hot BBQ lunches available both days, and once again, we'll have an informal "Zenith banquet" dinner and social gathering on Friday evening (after the seminars and before the Saturday Open Hangar Day).
RSVP now for the banquet and the free seminars.
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On Saturday morning the Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities will be open for factory tours and Zenith's factory-demonstrator kit aircraft will be on display. Company staff will demonstrate kit production and fabrication techniques used in producing the all-metal kit aircraft parts made at the Zenith Aircraft factory, including cutting and pre-drilling kit parts on the CNC router, forming and hand finishing wing ribs and other kit parts, and aircraft aluminum welding demonstrations. We'll also have aircraft kits and parts on hand, and, once again, we'll offer visitors a chance to build their own sheet-metal project in the Zenith factory.
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Join us at 10:30 am in front of the factory for the annual Zenith Aircraft Company Open Hangar Day Group Photo. Everyone is welcome!
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More information:
Note: The Open Hangar Day schedule is subject to change. Keep checking the official website for the latest updates.
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One Week Wonder follow-up
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In his article in Sport Aviation magazine titled "The Best Oshkosh in Years," EAA chairman Jack Pelton writes: "A part of Oshkosh that [EAA founder] Paul [Poberezny] would absolutely have loved was the One Week Wonder project to build a Zenith CH 750 kit airplane during the week. Thousands of people pitched in, and the airplane was completed, engine running, and signed off for flight before our convention closed. The project brought joy back to Oshkosh and demonstrated that it is within the reach of almost anyone to build his or her own airplane."
The September 2014 issue of Sport Aviation magazine has a five-page pictorial of the One Week Wonder project, chronicling the project from start to finish. View the full article
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| In "Pure Magic! The One Week Wonder lived up to its name" article in Experimenter magazine, EAA's Charlie Becker (who organized the project) said: "This project was a total team effort... My thanks to everyone involved, especially the team from Zenith Aircraft, for making it a success." |
As those of you who participated on the Zenith kit project know, Jonathan Porter (of Ghana, Africa) was a true One Week Wonder "evangelist" during the week, cheering volunteers on and motivating participants and onlookers throughout the week. Here is a day-by-day recap of the week's awesome activities, as written by Jonathan Porter, with many photos:
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The maiden flight was performed by EAA's Jeff Skiles a couple days after the end of AirVenture: "The flight was great. The Zenith Cruzer has a lot of performance, and lifts off very fast. Like a rocket ship, really."
Since completing the One Week Wonder project and performing the first flight, EAA staffers have been busy flying off the required 40 hours for the Phase I flight test program of the Rotax 912iS Sport powered Zenith CH 750 Cruzer aircraft, and Charlie Becker from Oshkosh plans to fly the completed One Week Wonder plane to the upcoming Zenith Open Hangar Day on September 20 at the Zenith factory in Mexico, Missouri: |
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New Aircraft Spruce Catalog
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Check out the new 2014-2015 Aircraft Spruce and Specialty catalog with the Zenith CH 750 Cruzer on the cover!
There are hundreds of new products among the 80,000 different items
featured. See the complete product line at the Aircraft Spruce website or order your free catalog.
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"How To" DVD Series from HomebuiltHELP.com
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HomebuiltHelp.com offers a complete "how- to" video library to assist builders with constructing their Zenith kit. The DVDs are a useful reference to help and guide Zenith builders while assembling their kit airplane. Complete DVD series includes the Zenith CH 601 / 650 series and the STOL CH 750 and 701 kit aircraft from start to finish, while additional titles cover popular topics such as instrument panel, engine installation and more.
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Zenith Aircraft on YouTube
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Subscribe to our free YouTube channel for the latest videos of building and flying Zenith kits.
Over 200 exclusive videos on building and flying Zenith aircraft! |
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| New for 2014, we've published a new Zenith Aircraft magazine, chock-full of information on building and flying your own Zenith. This free 48-page full color magazine provides an excellent introduction to the world of recreational flying and kit aviation. Download your free copy (PDF, 12.9 MB) or contact Zenith Aircraft Company to have one mailed to you. |
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Want to receive updates from Zenith Aircraft Company?
Be sure to "Like" our Facebook page to receive daily updates. Receive all of our Facebook updates by clicking on Get Notifications (after clicking the Liked button on the Zenith page). |
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New Zenith Builder Completions
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Zenith.Aero is the online community for active builders and pilots of Zenith Aircraft kits, with more than 4,000 fellow members. Check out the many photos, videos, discussions, coming events, and more. Membership is free to Zenith builders and pilots, and we encourage all Zenith customers to actively participate. Here are some recent new additions:
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Above, David Shrader's new STOL CH 701 (built from plans) on a gravel bar in Alaska (Nootak River). Below, Chuck Dean's Zenith CH 650 B, powered by a Jabiru 3300 engine and glass panel. |
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Join Us At Our Next Factory Workshop
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We invite you to join us before the Open Hangar Day at our next factory workshop to gain hands-on experience in building your own Zenith aircraft kit !Next Factory Workshop: September 17 & 18 in Mexico, MissouriZenith 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 the opportunity to actually start assembling kit parts under the direction and guidance of factory professionals. They "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 new Zenith CH 750 Cruzer or STOL CH 750. |
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The workshops are held over two days, with participants assembling the complete rudder tail kit of the aircraft (which is the entire vertical tail section of most Chris Heintz designs) 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.
 All workshop participants are offered a demo flight in the aircraft, and the workshop includes a tour of the Zenith kit aircraft production facilities. 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. Zenith's extensive experience in the industry provides builders with expert technical support as well as 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. 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 potential fun getaway for a few days. Participants are also invited to attend a social group dinner at the end of the first day. |
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"We recommend our workshops as a starting point to anyone interested in building, owning or flying a light aircraft," states Zenith Aircraft Company president Sebastian Heintz. "Oftentimes, initially skeptical builders are surprised that they already have most of the skills needed to build their own aircraft and they discover that building a kit is both a fun and rewarding project."
Attending a workshop is an invaluable first step in building (or selecting) a kit aircraft, and a workshop held at the factory (where the actual kit parts and assemblies are manufactured) offers the "hands-on experience" of a demonstration flight, factory tour and meeting the people who design, fly and manufacture the kits. For those that may not have the time or confidence to build the entire project themselves, there are several professional builder assistance centers located around the country to help builders complete the project.
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If you cannot travel to the factory to attend a workshop, Zenith also offers the comprehensive 'Rudder Starter Kit' that includes the complete rudder tail kit and detailed assembly instructions that can be
shipped by UPS. The rudder takes about 10 hours to assemble (with
 basic tools), and provides the first-time builder with an excellent introduction to building an all-metal Zenair aircraft, while actually building a control section for the aircraft.
Zenith Aircraft Company's factory workshops are held every month. The next scheduled dates: |
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Midwest LSA Expo: September 4 - 6, 2014:
Join us today through Saturday at the 6th annual Midwest LSA Expo in Mt. Vernon, IL
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