Thanks to Larry Nelson for these great aerial views of the 2025 Zenith Aircraft Homecoming - Open Hangar Days and Fly-In, held on September 19 and 20, 2025 at the Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ) in Mexico, Missouri.
The 34th annual event was another successful event, held at Mexico Memorial Airport (KMY) on September 19th and 20th. Zenith builders and flyers from across the country flew in (and drove in) to the Homecoming, one of the largest of its kind in the nation, to attend educational seminars and to share in camaraderie with fellow Zenith builders and flyers.
Highlights included well-attended hands-on workshops, seminars, and panel discussions where experts (and actual Zenith builders and flyers) shared their experiences in such areas as engines (selection, installation and experience), avionics and aircraft finishing (paint, polish, wraps, etc.). The Zenith Homecoming celebrates Zenith builders and flyers, and they came out in force once again, with 39 Zeniths flying in to Missouri from around the country in their beautifully finished Zenith kit aircraft.
The educational seminars and hands-on workshops kept visitors busy both days (Friday and Saturday), learning about building and flying kit aircraft. Back by popular demand, volunteers hosted a women's only workshop to introduce women to kit aircraft building. Visitors toured the modern Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities including guided tours of the recently expanded sections of the Zenith factory to see and to learn how the all-metal aircraft kit parts are fabricated, while Zenith Aircraft staff and volunteers demonstrated the ease of the kit assembly with modern final hole size match-drilled parts.
The late summer weather allowed for outdoor socializing and dining, with evening dinner events held outdoors on the ramp in front of the factory and surrounded by aircraft. Friday night's "Zenith Banquet" event (serving local BBQ) attracted more than 270 diners, with remarks from EAA's Charlie Becker and Zenith Aircraft's Sebastien Heintz, including updates about FAA MOSAIC / Sport Pilot 2.0 and how the expanded rule benefits Zenith builders and flyers.
Select suppliers and vendors (who supply products and services needed to finish and fly kit aircraft) were invited to participate once again at the Zenith Homecoming, meeting with new and existing Zenith aircraft builders, owners and pilots, and sharing information about their services and products. Long time sponsors, such as Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, have continued to support the Zenith Homecoming event year after year, and suppliers and sponsors offered great prizes that were awarded to lucky visitors. Once again, EAA Chapter 944 provided a hot breakfast both mornings, sponsored by UL Power engines on the first day, and by KITPLANES magazine and AVEMCO aviation insurance on the second day.
This annual Homecoming event has grown organically over the years to become the prime annual gathering (and “Homecoming”) for Zenith builders, owners and flyers. Organizers use the event to educate the Zenith community (made up of builders, owners and flyers) about building and flying Chris Heintz designs, with seminars of basic light aircraft construction as well as important educational seminars on ongoing airworthiness for existing CH-series light aircraft. The annual Zenith Homecoming event is presented by the Chris Heintz Foundation, Inc.