Aircraft Manufacturing and Design

Last updated
Aircraft Manufacturing and Design
Typeprivate
Industry Aerospace
Founded1995
Headquarters Eastman, Georgia, United States
ProductsGeneral aviation aircraft
Parent Zenair (formerly)
Website www.newplane.com

Aircraft Manufacturing and Design Co. (AMD) is a manufacturer of three aircraft- the Alarus CH2000, the Zodiac CH601, and the Patriot 150.

Contents

The CH2000 is a two-seat, single engine aircraft used primarily for flight training purposes. The CH601 is a two-seat light sport aircraft in the United States of America and an AULA in Canada and is used mainly as a personal aircraft. The Patriot 150 is a two-seat, high-winged SLSA with STOL performance. Unlike the other SLSA (Zodiac), the Patriot is not available as a kit; only as a ready-to-fly SLSA.

The company is headquartered in Eastman, Georgia, USA.

History

Founded in 1974 by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz, Zenair, Ltd. of Midland, Ontario, Canada began its presence in the light aircraft industry with a single aircraft design, the ZENITH CH 200. This two-seat kit aircraft was designed by Heintz during the sixties while he was chief engineer at French aircraft manufacturer Avions Pierre Robin. The ZENITH was an all-metal two-seat low-wing monoplane, designed to be simple and affordable: Simple because Heintz was an engineer and not a craftsman, and affordable because he was raising a family with five children while building the prototype.[ citation needed ]

Since 1974, Heintz has designed and developed more than 12 new aircraft models which have been marketed and sold as kit aircraft around the world. Among them was the Zenair ZENITH CH2000. This aircraft, based on Heintz' kit aircraft CH640 design, received FAA type certification on July 25, 1995. This type-certified aircraft was renamed and is now manufactured as the AMD Alarus CH2000.[ citation needed ]

Recently, the company changed hands. Where the original company was owned by a member of the Heintz family (and known as Aircraft Manufacturing and Development, Inc.), the new company was created by the existing executive team and incorporated in Georgia, USA as a Limited Liability Company named Aircraft Manufacturing and Design, LLC. The new company retained the "AMD" shorthand and very similar logos. The new company also took over the responsibility for all the previous AMD's Zodiacs; but not the Alarus. And, the new AMD will be producing the Patriot. [1] [2]

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Zenair

Zenair Ltd is a Canadian kit aircraft producer founded by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz and based in Midland, Ontario.

Zenith Aircraft Company is in the exclusive business of designing, developing and manufacturing kit aircraft. The independent, privately owned company was formed in 1992 in Mexico, Missouri, centrally located in the United States, and is based in 20,000+ sq.ft. production facilities at Mexico Memorial Airport. Zenith Aircraft Company has acquired the rights to manufacture and market Zenair kit aircraft designs from designer Chris Heintz of Zenair Ltd. Chris Heintz' son Sebastian is listed as the owner of Zenith Aircraft Company.

Alpha 2000

The Alpha Aviation Alpha 2000 is a two-seat, all-metal training and general aviation aircraft, designed by Chris Heintz and built in Hamilton, New Zealand. It continues the successful French Apex Aircraft's Robin R2000 series acquired upon Apex's purchase of the Avions Robin company.

Zenith STOL CH 701

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.

AMD Alarus

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.

AMD Zodiac Family of Canadian light airplanes

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 USA.

Zenith STOL CH 801

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.

Zenair CH 200

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.

Zenair CH 300

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.

ICP Savannah

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.

Zenair CH 640

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.

Sam Aircraft Sam LS

The Sam Aircraft Sam LS is a Canadian aircraft design, designed and produced by Sam Aircraft, formerly known as Haim Aviation of Lachute, Quebec. The aircraft was designed for the Canadian AULA and American light-sport aircraft rules and had its first flight on 26 February 2013.

ICP srl

ICP srl is an Italian wiring harness, automotive brake wear indicator and aircraft manufacturer founded by Tancredi (Edi) Razzano in 1980 and originally based in Piovà Massaia. The company relocated to Castelnuovo Don Bosco in Piedmont on 10 September 2009. ICP specializes in the design and manufacture of kit aircraft for amateur construction.

BRM Costruções Aeronáuticas Portuguese aircraft manufacturer

BRM Costruções Aeronáuticas is a Portuguese aircraft manufacturer based in Pero Pinheiro. 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.

Chris Heintz was a French and Canadian aeronautical engineer, known for his kit aircraft designs.

References

  1. Georgia Dept. of State; Aircraft Manufacturing and Design (unclear ref)
  2. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 170. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X