Zenair Ltd. took off in Nobleton
Did you know?
A pioneer in aeronautical engineering Chris
Heintz built the Zenair, a small all-metal aircraft
in Nobleton, Ontario.
Zeniths were of simple designs; built for economical
flight, and also constructed in such a
way as to endure long outdoor exposure.
As reported on the Canadian Air & Space
Museum Web site, Heintz started an aircraft company
in 1974, calling it Zenair Ltd. He began to
build these aircraft kits from his two-car garage.
He then relocated to Midland, Ontario, where
some Zenair airplanes are still in operation to this
day.
In 1992 as reported, Heintz licensed the kit
manufacturing and marketing rights to Zenair
Aircraft Company for the STOL CH 701 and the
ZODIAC CH 601 designs, and developed new
models for Zenair Aircraft Company. From this
he obtained a Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) type certification for the ZENITH CH
2000 in 1996. This model is a two-seat, low-wing
aircraft based on his kit aircraft designs.
Sadly, though, in 2007 the STOL CH 701 and
ZODIAC CH 601 ceased production and were
sold by Czech Aircraft Works.
But there are still some being made throughout
Europe, through kits from Zenith Aircraft
Company in Missouri, U.S.A. |