Zenith Aircraft Company’s annual Open Hangar Day and Builder Fly-In Gathering is next Friday and Saturday at the Zenith kit aircraft factory in Mexico, Missouri. This is a great time to visit the factory and see where these aircraft kits are made, to meet the factory staff, and to get together with fellow pilots, builders and enthusiasts.
Many activities are planned for both Friday and Saturday morning, including the following:
The One Week Wonder Zenith CH 750 Cruzer will be at the Open Hangar Day. Following the successful assembly and completion of the aircraft from a kit in just seven days at Oshkosh AirVenture 2014, the One Week Wonder plane recently concluded its Phase I flight test program and will be flown to the Zenith Aircraft factory for the Open Hangar Day from Oshkosh (Wisconsin). Come by and see the completed One Week Wonder plane!
STOL Competition! For the first time ever we will host a short take-off and short (precision) landing competition and demonstration, on Friday afternoon at Mexico Memorial Airport. Inspired by similar events in Alaska and New Zealand, this will be an informal and fun “competition,” and we encourage everyone who flies in to participate! This event is being sponsored and coordinated by American Light Sport Aircrafters, providers of professional builder assistance.
In addition to the many individual educational seminars being presented on Friday, we will host our first-ever Engine Panel Discussion. Engine representatives from Continental, Corvair, Jabiru, Rotax, UL Power, and Viking will share information about their respective engines, and a short panel discussion will follow to discuss fuels, future developments, and more! We expect this to be a very popular seminar!
Here is a summary of the educational seminars, starting on Friday morning (September 19). We’re pleased to offer 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. Please RSVP so that we can accommodate everyone.
- Transition Training & Sport Pilot License
- Dynon SkyView Touch glass panel display
EAA Update by Charlie Becker - Garmin G3X flight display system
- Engine seminars: Continental, Corvair, Jabiru, Rotax, UL Power, and Viking, with emphasis on installing and operating these engines in Zenith aircraft. Join us at 4 pm on Friday for the Engine Panel Discussion.
On Friday morning we will also host a two-hour Introduction to Building Your Zenith Aircraft seminar in the factory (where we produce our kits). If you are interested in learning more about building and flying your very own airplane this is the seminar for you! We’ll explain and demonstrate the tools and skills needed to build a Zenith kit, and answer questions about building and flying your very own aircraft.
Zenith Builders Banquet
Don’t miss the Zenith Builders Banquet on Friday evening (at the Elks Lodge next to the airport).This is an informal social buffet dinner gathering of Zenith enthusiasts, builders, pilots and employees. Charlie Becker from EAA will present a special program at the banquet about the wildly successful One Week Wonder kit project that was a highlight of EAA Oshkosh AirVenture! We’ll have many awesome door prizes to give away at the banquet, and will be announcing the winners of our Short Take-Off and Landing competitions!
Saturday, September 20
Saturday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm: The Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities will be open for factory tours and Zenith’s factory-demonstrator kit aircraft will be on display.
Starting at 8:00 am, join us for a “Continental Breakfast” courtesy of Continental Motors!
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 small sheet-metal project in the Zenith factory.
Join us at 10:30 am in front of the factory for the annual group photo! Everyone is welcome!
Hands-on project: As in past years, we’ll offer an easy hands-on project for visitors to demonstrate the assembly of the pre-formed and cut aluminum kit parts. We’ve designed a new surprise project this year! Come and build your own!
All aviation enthusiasts, especially builders and owners of Zenith Aircraft kit planes, are invited to drive or fly-in for the day. We’ll have a hot BBQ lunch available on both Friday and Saturday!
More information: www.zenithair.com/news/oh2014.html
