Zenith Aircraft Company Celebrates 20th Anniversary

About Zenith Aircraft:
Zenith Aircraft Company is a founding member of the Aircraft Kit Industry Association (AKIA), which was formed earlier this year to "represent aircraft kit manufacturers, designers, suppliers and supporters with a unified voice in the promotion and safety of the aircraft kit industry."  Zenith Aircraft Company, along with other industry heavyweights, will work to promote the homebuilt aircraft industry, and work with other leading aviation organizations (such as EAA), as well as with Zenith builders and pilots, to continue to improve safety through ongoing education and training.

 Zenith Aircraft Company is based in modern kit production facilities in Mexico, Missouri (located between St. Louis and Kansas City). The kit manufacturer produces a very popular high-wing STOL (short take-off and landing) series made up of the two-seat STOL CH 701 and STOL CH 750 light sport utility "sky jeeps," and the four-seat STOL CH 801 sport utility kit airplane.  The STOL designs all share the same high-lift design features, which include fixed wing leading edge slats and heavy-duty tricycle landing gear, making them ideal personal planes for off-airport operations.  Zenith also produces the sleek Zenith CH 650 cruiser, an easy-to-build all-metal side-by-side cross-country cruiser with a gorgeous new bubble canopy.  

 Zenith's two-seat designs meet the definition of an LSA for operation by Sport Pilots. Kit parts and components are produced in the Zenith kit factory located on the Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ), using modern CNC design and manufacturing technology. The all-metal aircraft are produced using modern 6061-T6 aluminum alloy parts, and fastened together primarily with blind ("pop"-type) rivets, making them both quick and easy to assemble.  The kit manufacturer recently introduced "quick build kits" for all its models, supplying the fast-build kits with factory-assembled fuselage assemblies. Alternatively, builders may also choose to scratch-build their entire airplane from blueprints (drawings), or can "buy-as-they-build" with component kits, such as wings, tail, or fuselage.  Zenith Aircraft ships complete kits (packed in a large wood crate) around the world.  Factory demonstrator aircraft are also housed at the Zenith factory and are available for demo flights (by appointment), and the company hosts monthly two-day "hands-on" workshops in the factory to give prospective builders the opportunity to gain building experience prior to committing to an entire kit airplane project.