Where we came from

The Zlin Company

From a single dream to a global backcountry icon, Zlin Aviation has been building aircraft since 1998, when Italian designer Pasquale Russo set out to create a classic, easy‑to‑maintain STOL airplane inspired by the legendary Piper Cub. Over the next two decades, his collaboration with a team of experienced aeronautical engineers produced the Savage family of aircraft, engineered with advanced CAD tools, rigorously static‑ and flight‑tested, and quickly recognized with top honors as Best Ultralight Aircraft Built from Plans at the Italian Experimental Aircraft Association Meeting in 1999.

In 1999, production moved to the Czech Republic under Zlin Aviation sro, where a highly specialized workforce builds all‑metal and tube‑and‑fabric aircraft using premium aeronautical materials sourced from the USA and Europe. Since then, the company has developed eight distinct models and delivered more than 500 aircraft, with Savage airplanes flying in over 40 countries, backed by strong resale values and a passionate, well‑organized Savage Owners Group.

The product line evolved from the original Savage Classic through the elegant Savage Cruiser, the bush‑ready Savage Cub and Cub‑S, the distinctive open‑frame Bobber and Bobber RC, and the high‑lift Shock Cub and Shock Ultra, which introduced slatted wings, massive flaps, and advanced shock‑absorbing landing gear that redefined ultra‑low‑speed, short‑field capability. These aircraft have earned a place not only in demanding bush operations—from glacier strips and canyon bars to beaches and rivers—but also in the digital skies, where the Savage Cub and Shock Ultra were selected as default aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, further cementing Zlin Aviation’s reputation as a leader in the bushflying world.

All of this experience and customer feedback culminates in the Zlin Norden, launched in 2020 as the pinnacle of Zlin’s STOL design philosophy. The Norden blends the proven 4130 steel tube structure and fabric covering with a new high‑performance wing, generous control surfaces, and refined aerodynamics to deliver exceptional takeoff and landing performance, cruise speeds above 125 mph, and outstanding visibility and safety. Designed for demanding pilots who want to go farther into the backcountry with more payload, more comfort, and more versatility, the Zlin Norden captures everything Zlin Aviation has learned from more than 20 years, eight models, and hundreds of aircraft flying worldwide—creating a modern bush plane that turns almost any remote strip into your personal runway.

Zlin Aviation USA refers to the U.S. focused operations and online presence for promoting and selling aircraft from Zlin Aviation S.R.O. (a Czech manufacturer). The website associated with this branding is owned and operated by STOL Creek Aviation LLC, a Kansas-based company established in 2017 by Michael Busenitz. As an authorized dealer for Zlin aircraft in the United States, STOL Creek Aviation LLC uses this platform to handle information, service, and support for these high-performance backcountry planes. This setup allows prospective buyers in the U.S. to access inventory, specifications, and direct purchasing options through a dedicated local entity aligned with the manufacturer’s global network.

Backed by decades of hands‑on bushplane experience, certified maintenance expertise, and a deep personal passion for backcountry flying. Founder and owner Michael Busenitz began his aviation journey as a teenager, earning his private pilot’s license in highscool and then serving alongside a missionary pilot in remote Mexico—an experience that sparked a lifelong love for aircraft that can reach the most inaccessible places.

Trained as an A&P mechanic and inspection‑authorized technician, Michael has turned wrenches on everything from corporate Cessnas and Beechcraft to experimental Super Cubs in the rugged mountains of Wyoming. There he learned every step of tube‑and‑fabric and metal aircraft construction—welding fuselages, building wings, fabric covering, paint, fiberglass, and more—skills that translate directly into understanding and supporting serious STOL machines like the Norden.

Back in Kansas, Michael and his wife Hannah built STOL Creek Aviation from the ground up—literally—on their own 10‑acres, complete with an 85×80 hangar‑home and a 2,200‑foot runway. From this purpose‑built backcountry base, STOL Creek Aviation serves customers with sales and service as an independent Rotax repair center, plus extensive experience in experimental, ultralight, and bush aircraft.

As the U.S. distributor for the Zlin Norden, STOL Creek Aviation pairs deep mechanical expertise with a personal, family‑run approach. Customers don’t just get a cutting‑edge STOL aircraft—they gain a trusted partner who flies, maintains, and builds the kind of airplanes he sells, and who is committed to helping each pilot get the most capability, safety, and joy out of their Norden in the backcountry and beyond.