Experimental-Amateur-Built (E/AB)

Sebastien Heintz has successfully taken the mantle of his father’s legacy in promoting sport and homebuilt aviation.

When Zenith Aircraft CEO Sebastien Heintz invited me to attend the company’s annual homecoming event at its Missouri headquarters at the Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ) in September, he didn’t know I’d been eyeing the company’s designs covetously for over two years—long before I found an editorial home at Plane & Pilot. I eagerly agreed to […]

Today’s bargain offers a rare combination—a relatively low price and a relatively new airframe. Derived from the homebuilt Zenith CH640, it was introduced as a certificated type in the mid-1990s, and some 53 appear on the FAA registry today. Today’s example was manufactured in 2003, making it one of the newest certificated aircraft for the […]

Today’s Bargain Buy provides a unique combination of vintage, golden-era flying without many of the compromises that are so often inherent in aging aircraft. A modern interpretation of the classic J3 Cub, the experimental Legend Cub builds upon a legend with a full metal airframe that incorporates no wood, modern covering, and a cabin that’s […]

Looking for an affordable way to get into aircraft ownership? An experimental model may be the ticket.

By Marc Cook Van’s Aircraft filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week begs the question: How can the largest and most successful company in the kit-aircraft world find itself in this situation? With more than 11,000 RVs flying and record kit sales over the last three years, it seemed Van’s was set for success. But countering […]

By Amy Wilder The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has announced that applications for its 2024 aviation scholarships are now open, offering aspiring aviators a financial leg up to pursue their dreams. These scholarships, which can help fund flight training and post-secondary education, are available to individuals age 16 and up. The application window will remain […]

By Dan Johnson In their second event, Aero Showcase is hosting a flock of airplanes at one of Florida’s most vibrant recreational aviation airports. Partners Alex Rolinski and Doma Andreka return for the second annual of their own event, which follows on the heels of the DeLand Showcase that ran several years, all of which […]

Mention the late Jim Bede to some, and images of the sleek little BD-5J Microjet, flown through a hangar by none other than iconic movie spy James Bond, come to mind. To others, the picture is of an incredibly visionary aircraft designer who unfortunately left more than a few dissatisfied customers in his wake. Over […]

By Dan Johnson Let’s get that name dealt with right away—say, “ACK-will-lay.” The model name looks more awkward than it is and sounds more graceful than it looks. The word translates from Latin as “eagle.” Though unusual, Aquilae is a worthy name for a light aircraft. When you glance at the photos, do you get […]