If you’ve always dreamed of building your own airplane, but aren’t sure that you have the required skills, Zenith Aircraft Company will provide you with the opportunity to learn all about building your own Zenith Aircraft kit at one of its workshops, where you can actually start building your own airplane. With an emphasis on gaining hands-on building experience, the informal workshops are coordinated by Zenith Aircraft staff. Small group sizes make the workshops very productive and educational.
The December 2023 workshop is hosted on the Sun ’n Fun Expo campus (home of the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in April) in Lakeland, Florida. Join us on December 1st and 2nd for the workshop and an informal Zenith fly-in gathering on Saturday. Located at the Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) in beautiful central Florida, the well equipped Sun ’n Fun facility is an excellent location for a December workshop.
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. December 2020 in Lakeland, Florida
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2020 workshop hosted by Wheels & Wings in Florida
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2020 workshop hosted by Wheels & Wings in Florida
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2020 workshop hosted by Wheels & Wings in Florida
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2020 workshop hosted by Wheels & Wings in Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop in Florida. December 2020.
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop. Lakeland, Florida
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Zenith hands-on workshop in Florida. December 2020.
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Florida workshop hosted by Wheels & Wings in Florida
Attending Zenith Aircraft’s famous hands-on workshop is the easiest way to get started on your very own airplane! 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.
Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshops are designed primarily for first-time kit airplane builders and have become popular with sport aviation enthusiasts who are considering to build their own aircraft and are unsure if they have the required skills, workspace and tools. During the workshop each participant builds and assembles their own Zenith aircraft rudder tail section from a standard Zenith kit. In the process of building the rudder assembly, participants tackle many activities including learning how to read drawings (blueprints) and work with assembly instructions (manuals) under the expert guidance of factory staff. They learn the procedures for putting together an aircraft assembly, including drilling and blind riveting. In the end, they have an assembled rudder that is ready to install on a Zenith kit airplane.
“The rest of the kit is constructed the same way as the rudder, using the same tools,” said Zenith Aircraft’s Sebastien Heintz. “Participants get far more out of the workshop than just a finished aircraft rudder: they go home with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to build their own airplane. Most importantly, they learn that kit building is enjoyable and something that can engage the whole family. Many of our prospective builders bring their spouses or other family member, who often encourage them to move forward with the rest of the kit. With modern technology, such as final hole size CNC match drilled parts, and good instructions, aircraft construction has become much easier than most people think.”
Participating at the hands-on workshop is an excellent way to learn about building your own (amateur-built) kit airplane and about the many advantages of owning and flying an airplane that you’ve built yourself. For many, building an aircraft is a very rewarding experience, and today’s modern kits make it easier and quicker to build than even before.
The in-person factory workshop makes an excellent getaway for you and your spouse or a friend! Spend a couple of days in Lakeland, Florida, and meet with fellow aviation enthusiasts – all while gaining valuable hands-on building skills. This highly recommended program actually gets you started on your own kit aircraft by building the complete rudder tail section of the Zenith kit aircraft of your choice. Following the detailed instructions from the Drawings and Manuals, you assemble (drill & rivet) the complete rudder section, under the guidance of factory personnel. You get to keep the rudder, and can apply the cost of this program toward purchasing the remainder of the full kit.
Details about the Zenith Aircraft factory workshop: http://www.zenithair.net/builder-workshops/
- Check out photos from past workshops as well as videos from past workshops
Sample rudder assembly drawing
Zenith Kit Building Workshop (at the Zenith kit aircraft factory)
STOL CH 750 SD Rudder Assembly
