Zenith Aircraft’s 25th Annual Open Hangar Days & Fly-In
July 7, 2016 - The 25th Open Hangar Days September 23 and 24, 2016, will bring new and exciting activities to Zenith Aircraft Company. This year's annual fly-in promises to be the biggest yet with fun contests, educational seminars, and social activities, including a live band at the kit aircraft factory located in central Missouri.
On Friday, educational seminars will begin in the morning and last throughout the day featuring various airframe, engine, and avionics options with Dynon, Garmin, Continental, Rotax, UL Power, and many more participating. The knowledge gained from these educational seminars gives builders and potential builders an opportunity to learn more about the choices they have when building and finishing their own aircraft. Friday night's Zenith banquet dinner will include a fun Zenith trivia game show with great prizes.
Saturday's schedule is packed full of activities including:
- Zenith aircraft show, judged by the public with many categories and prizes,
- Cleco and riveting contest,
- STOL Competition (sponsored by Kitplanes magazine)
- Flour bombing competition.
There will also be hands-on building projects in the factory, Zenith Aircraft presentations, and guided factory tours, as well as representation from more than a dozen vendors (avionics, engines, insurance, etc.). The event has been extended this year to add a fun barbecue dinner and awards ceremony starting at 5 p.m. and live ’60s and ’70s rock ’n’ roll music with the Highwater Band.
EAA Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton and EAA Director of Chapters, Communities & Homebuilt Community Manager Charlie Becker will be featured guests at this year's event and will attend with the newly painted One Week Wonder Zenith CH 750 Cruzer that was built from a standard aircraft kit into a completed flyable aircraft in just seven days by more than 2,500 people at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014.
The SAM aircraft, the latest addition to the Zenith aircraft kit family, will also be on display at the factory. A low-wing, all-metal, tandem two-seater, the SAM Aircraft design presents a rare balance between retro styling and modern engineering. The SAM Aircraft was inspired by legendary trainers of the Golden Age of aviation, yet offers pilot comfort, state-of-the-art technology and outstanding flight characteristics that all pilots will appreciate, and is being offered in a brand new CNC manufactured kit for quick and easy assembly.
The annual Open Hangar Days have become a popular event for builders and enthusiasts to fly-in and visit the factory. Prior to the event, Zenith Aircraft is hosting a monthly factory rudder workshop on Wednesday, September 21 and Thursday, September 22, giving potential builders the opportunity to learn all about building their own kit aircraft.
Corvair engine guru William Wynne (of The Corvair Authority) will also be hosting a Corvair engine finishing school at the Mexico airport, demonstrating a complete Corvair auto conversion engine assembly and test run.
For 25 years the Zenith Open Hangar Days have proven to be a great way for Zenith builders, flyers, and enthusiasts 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 own airplane. There is no cost to attend the days' activities, but an RSVP ticket purchase is required for the dinners. All Zenith aircraft owners are encouraged to fly in or drive in, and all aviation enthusiasts are welcome to attend.
Details on location and accommodations can be found on Zenith’s website, along with a detailed seminar and events schedule. While area hotels sell out well in advance of the event, there will be camping available at the Mexico airport.
Further details will be available on Zenith’s Facebook page.