Zenair Ltd is a Canadian kit aircraft producer founded by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz and based in Midland, Ontario.
44°41′28″N79°55′58.75″W / 44.69111°N 79.9329861°W
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(August 2008) |
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| Type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Chris Heintz |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Kit aircraft |
| Website | www.zenair.com |
The company was founded in 1974 when Heintz started to manufacture Zenith kits from his two-car garage. Heintz has introduced more than twelve kit aircraft designs. In 1992, Heintz licensed the kit manufacturing and marketing rights to Zenith Aircraft Company for the STOL CH 701 and the ZODIAC CH 601 designs, and has developed the new STOL CH 801 and the new ZODIAC XL for Zenith Aircraft Company.
In 1996, Chris Heintz and Zenair Ltd. obtained FAA type-certification for the Zenith CH 2000, a two-seat low-wing aircraft based on his kit aircraft designs. Aircraft Manufacturing and Design (AMD) manufactures this aircraft as the AMD Alarus CH 2000. AMD also produces the CH 601 XL as a Light-sport aircraft (LSA).
In October 2012, four French universities selected the Zodiac CH 650B as their instructional aircraft. In France, where the CH 650 is semi-certified in the CNSK category, the kit aircraft can be assembled by amateurs and still be used by Aeroclubs and schools for flight training and banner-towing purposes. [1]
Zenair Limited on November 15, 2012 announced that its FAA type-certificated CH 2000 trainer will be assembled in Peru, South America by a joint venture involving the Peruvian armed services, the University of Perunas and SEMAN, a local aeronautical facility. Negotiations to structure the long-term program have been ongoing for the past year, with Zenair staff traveling to Lima and a contingent of Peruvian decision-makers visiting the Ontario-based factory. [1]
Company founder Chris Heintz died on 30 April 2021, at his home in France at age 82. [2]
The Zenith STOL CH 701 and CH 750 are a family of light, two-place kit-built STOL aircraft designed by Canadian aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz through his Midland, Ontario, based company, Zenair. The CH 701 first flew in 1986 and the design is still in production. The CH 750 was first introduced in 2008. The CH 701 was later developed into the four-place Zenith STOL CH 801.
Aircraft Manufacturing and Design Co. (AMD) is a manufacturer of three aircraft- the Alarus CH2000, the Zodiac CH601, and the Patriot 150.
The AMD Alarus CH2000 is a two-seat, fixed tricycle gear general aviation airplane, used primarily for flight training, that was designed by Chris Heintz. It is manufactured by Aircraft Manufacturing and Design Co. in Eastman, Georgia. It is a low-wing aircraft, with one door located above each wing, respectively. It can be considered a competitor to similar aircraft used for flight training, such as the Diamond DA20.
The Zodiac is a family of Canadian all-metal, two-seat, fixed landing gear airplanes that first flew in 1984. The aircraft have been produced as kits and completed aircraft by Zenair in Canada and Zenith Aircraft Company in the US.
The Zenith STOL CH 801 is a four-seat sport STOL aircraft developed by Chris Heintz and available in kit form from the Zenith Aircraft Company.
The Zenair Zipper is a Canadian ultralight high-wing, single seat aircraft that was designed by Chris Heintz and produced by Zenair.
The Rotec R2800 is a seven-cylinder 110 hp radial engine built by Rotec Aerosport Pty Ltd in Australia. The R2800 was Rotec's first engine offering when they first opened their doors in 2000. In 2005, Rotec released a more powerful variant, the Rotec R3600 which basically adds two more cylinders for a total of nine and increases the rated horsepower to 150. Both this engine and its larger cousin have been frequently used as both replacement engines for vintage World War I aircraft, and reproduction aircraft from the same vintage. Some notable repro WW I aircraft this engine has been used in are the Fokker Triplane, Sopwith Camel and the Nieuport 17. Other experimental / homebuilt aircraft have also been fitted with the Rotec 2800, including the Kitfox Model 7; a popular kit aircraft with over 5,000 examples of all variants completed. It is unknown how many Kitfox aircraft are equipped with the Rotec 2800 engine.
The Zenair Zenith CH 200 and CH 250 are a family of Canadian single-engined homebuilt light aircraft. It is a low-winged single engine monoplane, that was first flown in France in 1970, with kits being made by the Canadian company Zenair from 1974, with hundreds built and flown.
The Zenair Tri-Z CH 300 is a three-seat Canadian homebuilt light aircraft. A single-engined low-winged monoplane, the CH 300 first flew in 1977, with several hundred kits sold.
The Zenair Mono-Z CH 100 is a single-seat, single-engined Canadian light aircraft of the 1970s, that was designed by Chris Heintz. It is a smaller version of the Zenair CH 200 with a less powerful engine, which was sold as a homebuilt aircraft by Zenair.
The Zenith CH 150 Acro Zenith is a Canadian single-engine, low wing, all-aluminum aircraft designed by Chris Heintz and produced by Zenair in kit form for amateur construction. The aircraft is intended for aerobatic use and was introduced at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention in 1980.
The ICP Savannah is a high-wing, single-engine, ultralight with side-by-side seating for two produced in Italy by ICP srl. It has sold in large numbers, particularly in Europe. The Savannah is in production, sold in both kit and ready-to-fly form.
The Zenith Gemini CH 620 is a twin engine, two seat, light aircraft, designed to be competitive in the single engine market. The Canadian designed Gemini flew in 1996 but kit production has not been started.
The Zenair Zodiac CH 640 is a Canadian light aircraft that was designed by Chris Heintz and is produced by Zenair in the form of a kit for amateur construction.
BRM Costruções Aeronáuticas is a Portuguese aircraft manufacturer based in Pêro Pinheiro, Sintra. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft for the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category.
The Zenair CH 180 Super Acro-Z is an aerobatic light aircraft, that was designed by Chris Heintz and built by Zenair in the 1980s.
Chris Heintz was a French and Canadian aeronautical engineer, known for his kit aircraft designs.