The Simplex Zing is now available! Zing Plans are now only $110! Plans are professionally drawn and include all the information needed to build a complete, safe, and flyable aircraft. The plans consist of 29 detailed drawings on 11″ x 17″ paper printed and spiral bound. The drawings are accompanied by a detailed construction manual which is printed on standard 8.5″ x 11″ size paper and spiral bound. The manual details everything from the workbench to be built to the day you’re ready to test fly the aircraft. This includes instructions on wood grading and selection, covering and painting, weight and balance, engine selection, and several other important details which are so vital to completing your project with ease. Plans are always being updated to reflect error corrections. We also always look for feedback from builders to better improve our instructions and drawings to add clarification whenever possible. All plans sold by Simplex Aeroplanes include technical assistance and free updates as they become available. Previous customers of Pop’s Props who purchased plans from Scott Land can also request updates and any new revisions by simply providing contact information and their plans number. We will likely sell revised plans at a heavily discounted rate.
Construction techniques are of the old-fashioned, tried and true wood truss and plywood gusset method. It is very simple and builds quickly. Actual construction time will vary from builder to builder, depending on if you are building from a kit or from plans, the tools you have available, and your personal skills. However, expect 300-500 hrs depending on your individual situation, and how well you budget your time.
If you have ever built a balsa-wood model airplane, a back yard deck, a shed, or any other wood structure, then you have the experience required to build this “full-scale” airplane. See our aircraft construction page for more information on building.
Additionally, if you prefer to get a jump start on construction, we highly recommend either a full aircraft construction kit, or any of our various sub-kits. Our kits utilize Northern White Pine graded to aircraft standards and aircraft grade birch plywood. An all spruce kit is available upon request for an extra amount. The kits will knock off hours of time spent sourcing, selecting, grading, and cutting wood, metal, and other various components. Our kits are “materials kits,” meaning that you will still need to cut each piece to the desired length, drill your own holes, and fabric each of the components. However, this type of aircraft is very simple, and all tasks can be done by a normal home-builder.
We are proud to say that our kits are the least expensive of any ultralight kits on the market. Why? Well, wood is the main reason, as a wood airplane is a lot less inexpensive to build than an all metal plane. Overhead is the other reason as our business is a family operation operated from our personal wood shop. Finally, our kits lack complexity as none of our parts are “laser cut” with a CNC machine.
All Kit prices are given in USD
| Various Zing Kits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| #112 | Complete Zing Airframe Construction Kit with Plans & Tail Spring (save $200) | $3,999 | |
| Mini-Kit Prices** |  |
||
| #113 | Wing rib kit | $325 | |
| #114 | Wing assembly kit (does not include wing ribs) | $1,629 | |
| #115 | Fuselage kit | $1,549 | |
| #116 | Tail spring (tapered and bent) | $100 | |
| NLA | Tailwheel (order from Fisher) | $149 | See Fisherflying.com |
| NLA | Landing gear slab (tapered and bent) – 60″ wide, 24″ tall – 15 lbs | $650 | Special order from Grove. Email Grove Directly to place order |
| NLA | Landing gear axles (fabricate at the time of gear installation or order from Grove) | NA | No longer available from Simplex Aero |
| #117 | Empennage (tail) kit | $589 | |
| #120 | Zing Plans package | $110 | |
Shipping is done at your expense via UPS or your choice of trucking companies. When your kit is ready to ship we will contact you and work with you to arrange for shipping. Please note that the Fuselage and Wing Kits are both freight intensive (truck shipped). This is all because of the plywood which though thin is wide, and the longerons and spar caps that are longer than UPS will ship.
** Mini-Kit crating charges apply. Those are $10 for the fabric or wing rib kits; $35 for the empennage kit; then $60 for either the wing assembly or fuselage kits.
Do you wonder what’s in each kit?
Our sub-component kits (ie… wing rib, wing assembly, fuselage, and empennage kits) contain all the raw wood stock and plywood to complete that component. They do not include epoxy or hardware.
Tailgroup Starter Kit – Includes all wood (raw stock), and plywood to complete all members of the empennage tail group.
Fuselage Kit – Includes all wood (raw stock), and plywood to complete the entire fuselage.
Wing Rib Kit – Includes all wood (raw stock) – 100 individual 1/4″ x 1/4″ members, and 1/32″ plywood to complete all wing ribs.
Wing Assembly kit – Includes all wood (raw stock), and plywood to complete the wing spars and all other wing members for the general wing assembly. (you still need the wing rib kit)
Full Airframe Kits – Contains all RAW WOOD STOCK necessary to build a complete aircraft (it does NOT include metal material(s), bolts and fasteners, paint, varnish, restraints, instruments, upholstery, and engine)
- All aircraft grade Northern White Pine (spruce wing spar caps) cut to required lengths and widths
- Our excellent time tested Plans
- Tail Spring
Items NOT included in our kits:
- All bolts, washers, nuts, screws, etc…
- Metal Material
- Restraints
- Paint
- Spar urethane
- Upholstery
- Instruments
- Engine or engine mounts
Why are these not included? Simply because we already provide you with a very detailed and complete list to order these items direct from Wicks or Aircraft Spruce, and can’t provide you with a better price than they can. There is no reason for us to buy from them, mark it up, and sell to you.
You may make your initial order above by selecting “add to cart”. Alternatively, you may send a check or money order to the address listed on the right-hand side of the page with a list of the items you would like to purchase. I will contact you when the kit(s) are ready to ship and send you an invoice to cover the crating and shipping costs. The wood sub kits usually ship within 3 weeks from the time of your order, while the landing gear and full construction kit may take up to 12 weeks. We’ll do our best to go well below these lead times.
