UPDATE: Read the follow-up report from the 2019 Sport Aviation Expo

Following up on the success the past couple of years with Zenith hands-on workshops at the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in central Florida we are returning with the workshops at the 2019 event, to be held January 23 - 26, 2019!  Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.

Overview of the workshops at Sebring:

From an appreciative workshop participant from Sebring 2018: "Just wanted to thank you for the excellent experience both you and your team provided at the Sebring January 24th/25th Workshop. I truly enjoyed constructing the CH750 Cruzer rudder and of course the demo flight! Both Roger and Steve provided excellent oversight while I was constructing my Cruzer rudder. Their talents are obvious and they readily share their experience without any hesitation. All of my questions were answered and my concerns were diminished as they guided me during the workshop. I am truly looking forward to ordering the Cruzer kit this spring and again I appreciate your taking the time to answer all of my questions patiently."

Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.

The Zenith workshops are aimed at the first-time airplane builder and have become popular with sport aviation enthusiasts who are considering to build their own aircraft, but are not sure if they have the required skills, work-space and tools. During the workshop, which begins on Wednesday (January 23) and runs until Thursday afternoon (January 24), each participant builds and assembles a Zenith Aircraft rudder tail section from a standard kit. A second workshop session begins on Friday (January 25) and ends on Saturday (January 26).  Additionally, Zenith Aircraft will be on display at the Sebring Expo.

Workshop participants tackle many activities including learning how to read drawings (blueprints) and work from assembly instructions (manuals). They learn the procedures for putting together an aircraft assembly, including drilling, de-burring and blind riveting. As part of the building process participants cut, file and fit the aluminum alloy (sheet metal) parts. In the end, they have an assembled rudder that is ready to install on a Zenith kit airplane.

A demo flight is also be offered to all workshop participants. There is no cost for the actual workshop, but participants are required to purchase the rudder kit that they will assemble at the workshop. The assembly tools will be provided.

Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.

"The rest of the airframe is constructed the same way as the rudder using pretty much the same tools," said Sebastien Heintz, President of Zenith. "People get far more out of the workshops than just a rudder. They go home with the knowledge and skills they need to finish an airplane. Most importantly, they learn that building is easy, 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 airframe. With modern technology and good instructions, aircraft construction has become much simpler than most people imagine."

Jamie Beckett (below), AOPA ambassador and General Aviation News columnist, spent a couple hours building the STOL CH 750 Super Duty rudder at the 2018 event and thoroughly enjoyed the build process.  The new CH 750 Super Duty rudder is much easier and quicker to build than previous Zenith rudders thanks to final hole size match-drilled parts!

Above: Enthusiastically getting started on the rudder assembly. Below, still enthusiastic a couple of hours later with the completed rudder assembly.

Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.

Ever the consummate aviation advocate, Jamie explains how we're the only thing holding ourselves back: "This basic human tendency to short-circuit our own hopes and dreams is a tremendously effective method of holding most of us back from ever trying to do something big, something amazing, something we can be truly proud of."

• Read the report of his rudder build experience in General Aviation ....

AVweb Builds An Airplane (Part)

Paul Bertorelli, editor of AvWeb.com and The Aviation Consumer, took us up on our offer to build the rudder kit for the new STOL CH 750 Super Duty (SD) at the 2018 event. Below, Paul rivets rear ribs to the rudder spar assembly:

In the first half of the video Iearn how SolidWorks software and CNC manufacturing has made Zenith kits easier to build, and in the second half of the video Roger Dubbert takes Paul Bertorelli flying in the Zenith CH 750 Super Duty.

Being the newest Zenith model, the CH 750 SD kit is the easiest Zenith model to build, fully utilizing match drilled final hole size technology made possible with SolidWorks design software and CNC manufacturing. The entire STOL CH 750 SD rudder (which is large than the standard STOL CH 750 / 701 rudder) takes just a few hours to put together.

Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.

Below: Herman Eshuis (right) of Wheels and Wings (builder assistance center) discusses professional builder assistance services available in Edgewater, Florida at the Sebring Expo:

Some past grads from the Zenith Workshop at Sebring:

The two-day hands-on workshop is an excellent way to learn about building your own amateur-built aircraft and about the many advantages of owning and flying an airplane that you've built yourself. Kit aircraft is a segment of aviation that is growing while the rest of the aviation industry continues to decline. For many, building an aircraft (from a kit) is a very rewarding experience, and today's modern kits make it easier and quicker to build than even before.

Workshop participants are also invited to the Zenith dinner (time and place in Sebring to be determined).

The cost of the rudder tail kit is $375. Additional helpers can participate for free. To learn more about the workshop program visit zenithair.com, and visit the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo website for details about the aviation expo in Sebring, Florida, January 23 - 26, 2019. Click here to sign up for the workshop. Workshop space is limited, and prior registration is required.

Plan now to come to the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo, and learn all about building and flying your own airplane! This trip will make an excellent getaway for you and your spouse or a friend. Spend a couple of productive days learning to build the rudder, meet with fellow aviation enthusiasts, and visit the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo in sunny Florida!

• Sign up here for the Zenith Workshop at the 2019 Sebring Sport Aviation Expo

Also at the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo:

Come by the Zenith Aircraft booth and workshop tent to meet with Amy and Herman Eshuis of Wheels and Wings, which offers professional builder assistance to Zenith builders in Edgewater, Florida.

Existing Zenith builders and flyers are also encouraged to attend the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo, and to fly-in with their finished Zenith aircraft projects. Come by and visit with Zenith staff, see the planes at booth N205, lend a helping hand at the workshop tent, and join us for the Zenith dinner (time and place to be announced).

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Following are videos from previous years:

Video: Landing in Sebring in the Zenith CH 750 Cruzer:

Video: Zenith Aircraft kit building workshop at the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo: First Session (Wednesday and Thursday):

Video: Demo flight in the STOL CH 750 around the race track at Sebring:

Above video, flying around Sebring International Raceway and the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo:

Video: Zenith Aircraft kit building workshop at the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo: Second Session (Friday and Saturday):

Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.

Video: Demo flight in the Zenith STOL CH 750 around Sebring:

Video: Flying home: CH 750 Cruzer over central Florida:

Video: Flying home: Air-to-air video of the Zenith STOL CH 750 "Sky Jeep" over southern Alabama:

Video: Flying home: Crossing the Mississippi River in the Zenith CH 750 Cruzer on Monday morning, before stopping for lunch at Lambert's (Sikeston, Missouri):

Video: Flying home: Following the Missouri River home on Monday afternoon:

STOL CH 750 featured on Sebring promotional literature:

• Check out the follow-up report from the 2018 Sebring Expo trip and ...
• Photos and videos of the trip to and from Sun'n Fun 2017
• Check out photos and videos from the 2016 Sebring Expo
• See the Zenith Facebook page for more photos and videos from Sebring
• Sign up now for the Zenith Workshop in Sebring.