Zenith Aircraft Company is hosting its 20th Annual Open Hangar Day and Builder Fly-In Gathering at the Zenith kit aircraft factory, on September 17 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. The factory has many activities planned for both Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.Starting on Friday, September 16, Zenith will offer educational seminars with programs of interest to all, whether new or seasoned builder, already flying a completed Zenith, or just interested in learning more about building and flying your own airplane. Below is a summary of the seminars. Please RSVP soon so that everyone can be accommodated.
Dynon Avionics: Kirk Kleinholz from the Dynon factory will demonstrate and explain all the features and capabilities of the popular Dynon SkyView glass panel display system, as seen in both the Zenith CH 650 and the STOL CH 750 demo planes.
The Experimental Aircraft Association: EAA is the national organization for sport and recreational aviation, with extensive resources to support kit builders and sport pilots. Charlie Becker, director of member programs, will host a seminar on EAA resources to help builders, owners and pilots of Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft along with details on Sport Pilot/LSA rules.
Performing a proper aircraft weight and balance: This is something every builder has to go through on a newly completed kit aircraft. Zenith builder Mike Pruett of Scales4Planes.com will show you how this can be done quickly and easily. As a part of his seminar, Pruett will weigh an actual Zenith plane and work through the weight and balance report.
Jabiru Engines: Jabiru will be represented one again by Zenith builder/owner Mark Stauffer of JabiruUSA. This informative seminar will cover installing, operating and maintaining the popular Jabiru aircraft engines, including the four-cylinder Jabiru 2200 and the six-cylinder Jabiru 3300.
Aumie and Buzzy Devoll of Buzz Air Flight Academy: Sport Pilot flight training in Zeniths and transition training will be discussed. The flight school operates both a STOL CH 750 and a CH 601 SLSA aircraft in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area.
UL Power North America: Robert Helms from UL Power will present details and answer questions about the UL Power light aircraft engine, as seen on Zenith’s demo CH 650 aircraft. UL Power engines are direct-drive, air-cooled lightweight engines featuring full FADEC technology.
Garmin Avionics: Tim Casey from Garmin will talk about the G3X “glass cockpit” system for kit planes and Light Sport Aircraft. The G3X adapts proven technology from Garmin’s top-of-the-line integrated flight deck systems in a package to fit your panel and budget.
Corvair engine guru William Wynne: He will explain the methods of a successful Corvair auto conversion installation in light aircraft. The Corvair engine is one of the more popular automotive conversions used in light aircraft.
These seminar presenters will also participate and display inside the Zenith Aircraft factory on Saturday, to meet with builders and owners and to answer questions.
At the Zenith builders banquet on Friday evening, many great door prizes will be awarded, including a brand new Garmin Aera 510 handheld GPS (valued at over $1000). RSVP soon as space is limited.
Other Hangar Day presenters include Matco wheels and brakes, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, FlightCrafters and American Light Sport Aircrafters builder assistance centers, HomebuiltHELP.com (instructional DVDs), Wicks Aircraft Supply, Composite Design power panels, the Zenair Newsletter and more.
On Saturday, September 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Zenith Aircraft Company 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 factory, including cutting and pre-drilling kit parts on the CNC router, forming and hand finishing wingribs and other kit parts, and aircraft aluminum welding demonstrations. Zenith will also offer hands-on projects for builders to demonstrate the ease of assembly of the pre-formed and cut all-metal kit parts.
If you can’t attend the Open Hangar Day this year, Zenith encourages you to visit on your own schedule, to meet with us, tour our factory, and fly the aircraft. Visitors can also gain hands-on experience at one of the company’s monthly workshops at the factory.
For more information, visit www.zenithair.com.
