Attending Zenith Aircraft’s famous hands-on workshop at the kit aircraft factory in Mexico, Missouri, is the easiest way to get started on your very own airplane! Plan now to join us at an upcoming workshop.
The 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 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.
There are two popular workshop programs to choose from:
- PROGRAM 1 (standard) – This highly recommended program actually gets you started on your own kit aircraft. Build 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.
- PROGRAM 2 – This low cost program lets you learn about and experience sheet-metal construction, without assembling your own rudder tail section. You work together with a participant of Program 1.
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
