The Sam LSA, an all-metal low-wing tandem airplane that first flew in 2013, has been acquired by brothers Sebastien and Matt Heintz, owners of Zenith Aircraft (U.S.) and Zenair (Canada). In a news release issued Monday, the brothers said they are considering several different options for the airplane, including an LSA version, a kit, a quick-build kit, and a sport aerobatic configuration. The airplane was designed by Thierry Zibi, of Quebec, Canada, who built just one copy of the airplane and flew it to many U.S. airshows in search of buyers. In 2014 he put the design up for sale, saying he’d decided he was more interested in designing airplanes than in marketing and production.
“The Sam Aircraft design is a distinctive and fun airplane, and will be a welcome addition to the Zenith line of kit aircraft,” Sebastien Heintz said in Monday’s news release. The brothers said the Sam design, constructed primarily of 6061-T6 aluminum assembled with blind rivets, makes it “easy and quick to build as well as durable and affordable.” The brothers said they will announce further details about their design and production plans after they complete an engineering review and market research. Zenith will be an exhibitor at next week’s Sport Aviation Expo, in Sebring, Florida.
AVweb contributor Larry Anglisano flew the airplane in 2014; click here for his video flight report.
