Zenith Aircraft Company will be hosting its 32nd annual Zenith Homecoming / Open Hangar Days & Fly-In this September 15 & 16 at its factory at the Mexico Memorial Airport in Mexico, Missouri.
The annual fly-in event is a homecoming for Zenith Aircraft customers from across the U.S., with many Zenith customers flying in to Mexico, Missouri, with their completed Zenith kit aircraft (whose parts were “hecho en Mexico” or much more precisely made at the Zenith Aircraft factory in Mexico, Missouri, USA). The Open Hangar Day & Fly-In events include two full days of activities, including educational aviation seminars and workshops, an aircraft show, contests, social activities, as well as a Zenith BBQ banquet dinner on Friday evening, and a fried-chicken dinner with awards presentations on Saturday. Factory tours (of the modern kit aircraft factory), aircraft building and flying demonstrations, and other activities are planned for all visitors.
On the first day (Friday, September 15) educational seminars begin in the morning and take place throughout the day featuring various airframe (the aircraft fuselage, wings and tail), engine, avionics seminars, with suppliers like Dynon and Garmin avionics, Corvair and Viking auto engine conversions, and more participating. The knowledge gained from these educational seminars gives the individual aircraft kit builders an opportunity to learn more about the choices they have in building and finishing their own aircraft. Charlie Becker, EAA’s Director of Chapters & Homebuilt Community Manager, will speak about government issues affect sport aircraft owners and builders, including MOSAIC, task based phase 1 flight testing, LODA, Basic Med and fuel issues. There will be additional seminars on flight safety (transition training and first flight preparedness) and representatives from the insurance industry (Avemco and Sky Smith Insurance), and more. Friday’s activities conclude with the popular Zenith Aircraft banquet, held outdoors in front of the Zenith Aircraft factory with the planes (weather permitting), with special guest speakers and entertainment.
Saturday’s schedule is packed full of activities including:
- Tours of the modern Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities,
- Zenith aircraft show, judged by the public with many categories and prizes,
- Seminars on Zenith aircraft kit construction and maintenance,
- STOL and other flying demonstrations at the airport
- Dinner and awards ceremony starting at 4:30 pm
- And great camaraderie with lots of hangar talk and food!
There will also be hands-on building projects in the factory, Zenith Aircraft presentations, as well as representation from more than a dozen vendors (avionics, engines, insurance, etc.).
The Zenith Aircraft Homecoming is a popular annual event for Zenith customers and aviation enthusiasts to fly-in and visit the factory at the Mexico Memorial Airport in central Missouri.
For more than thirty years Zenith Aircraft Company has been manufacturing easy to build and fun to fly aircraft kits designed by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz. Zenith Aircraft continues to be the number one brand of light sport aircraft in the United States, based on actual FAA registrations numbers. 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. With builder choices in mind, all Zenith aircraft kits are designed to offer builders a wide variety of suitable engines, avionics, and custom kit options. Zenith Aircraft builders typically build their own airplanes in 400-500 hours from a complete kit, or can choose to build from component kits, quick build kits, or scratch-build from plans (blueprints) only. The STOL CH 750 Super Duty, a short take-off and landing (STOL) airplane with a rear jump seat, is the latest model from Zenith Aircraft.
The annual Zenith Open Hangar Days have proven to be a great way for Zenith Aircraft’s customers to meet with each other to share their love of building and flying, and to get to know the factory staff, while also learning about building, maintaining and flying their airplanes. While area hotels sell out well in advance of the event, there will also be free camping available at the Mexico airport. Further details are available on the Zenith Aircraft website, with a detailed seminar and events schedule.
Zenith Aircraft Company: https://zenithair.net
Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/WWw4RbKU
