Zenith Aircraft Building Workshop Class Coming to Southwest USA in February 2026

• Register now for the workshop class (Prior registration is required. Class size is limited)
  Visitors are welcome to come by to observe the rudder workshop class and to participate at the Zenith gathering on Sunday morning even if not a registered for the workshop class.

Zenith Aircraft Company is coming to Arizona with its popular hands-on workshop class, to Yuma, in southwest Arizona close to the California and Mexico borders. The workshop will be held February 28 and March 1, 2026.
The workshop will begin on Saturday morning, February 28th, inside a spacious hangar at Somerton Airport (54AZ).

Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshops are primarily for first-time kit airplane builders and have become popular with sport aviation enthusiasts who are considering to build their own aircraft and are unsure if they have the required skills, workspace and tools. During the workshop each participant builds and assembles their own Zenith aircraft rudder tail section from a standard Zenith kit. The two-day workshop concludes once participants have successfully completed assembly of their own rudder tail section of the aircraft.
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 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.”

The hands-on workshop is an excellent way to learn about building your own (amateur-built) kit airplane and about the many advantages of owning and flying an airplane that you’ve built yourself. Kit aircraft is a segment of general aviation that is growing (while much of general aviation activities continue to decline year over year). For many, building an aircraft is a very rewarding experience, and today’s modern kits make it easier and quicker to build than even before.
Standard workshop fees are $375.00 (or $425 for the CH 750 Super Duty model) and include the complete rudder kit for a Zenith aircraft. Additional helpers are encouraged to attend and can participate for free. To learn more about the workshop program, visit zenithair.com or call Zenith Aircraft directly: (573) 581-9000 (Mon – Fri, 8 – 5 Central). Space is limited, and prior registration is required for the rudder workshop. Click here to register for the February workshop in Yuma, Arizona.

Zenith builders, pilots and enthusiasts are invited to attend and visit the workshop.

This event is graciously hosted again by local Zenith builder/pilot Larry Nelson (of LNC Laboratories, a leading engine oil analysis company) who is providing their hangar that will provide the workshop space.

Larry will be the local contact and host for the event, and will be welcoming workshop participants and Zenith enthusiasts to his hangar for the event: “We look forward to having a Zenith workshop in Arizona. Already, we have a handful of active Zenith projects under construction and in the air and we look forward to welcoming new area Zenith builders and flyers with true Southwest hospitality. There are a number of local hotels near the airport. The closest is the Cocopah Casino and Resort, less than 2 miles from the airport. Dry camping is also available at the airport for $5 per night. The airport does have limited facilities including a shower and bathroom close to the hangar we will be holding the workshop in.”

Contact Larry with any questions about the location, facilities, and surrounding area: lnelson@lnclabs.com
Check out Larry's excellent YouTube channel for great building and flying resources.

All Zenith aircraft builders, flyers and enthusiasts are invited to fly-in or drive in on both Friday and Saturday to

Somerton Airport (54AZ) airport where we will be hosting an informal Zenith fly-in and builder gathering on Sunday, March 1st.

Zenith builders, pilots and enthusiasts are invited to attend and participate at an informal Sunday Zenith fly-in gathering. All Zeniths are invited to fly in for the day’s activities, and Zenith enthusiasts and current builders are invited to drive in or fly in to attend. We'll publish more info about the fly-in activities as we near the event.

Note also that Zenith will be traveling to Arizona in the Zenith cargo van (for the workshop event) and can arrange to deliver kits to customers along the way as it travels from the kit factory in central Missouri. Let us know if we can deliver a kit or component kit to you on the way to Arizona! (Subject to availability and space.)

Zenith Aircraft Company also hosts its popular workshop classes monthly at its factory in central Missouri.

Workshop details and registration form: https://www.zenithair.co/zenithstore/product-category/workshops/

Zenith will be returning to southwest Texas in early March (following the Arizona workshop), hosting a workshop class in Boerne, Texas, on March 6 & 7.