Zenith Aircraft Company will host one of its popular hands-on aircraft kit building workshops just before the first-ever SUN ‘n FUN Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show.
The two-day workshop will be held Dec. 3-4 at the Buehler Hangar on the SUN ‘n FUN campus at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL) in Florida. The Holiday Flying Festival is slated for Dec. 4-5.
Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshops are designed for first-time kit airplane builders and are popular with aviation enthusiasts who are considering building their own aircraft, but are unsure if they have the required skills, workspace, and tools, according to company officials.
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.”
Standard workshop fees are $375 (or $425 for the CH 750 Super Duty model) and include the complete rudder kit for a Zenith aircraft. Additional participants are encouraged to attend and can participate for free. Prior registration is required for the rudder workshop.
To learn more about the workshop program go to ZenithAir.com or call 573-581-9000.