Abstract: The as-cast microstructure of ZL116 alloy castings prepared by nearby liquidus casting were studied by means of electron microscope, then the mechanical properties of the parts through thixoforming extrusion were tested on horizontal extruder and electronic tensile tester. The results showed that the ZL116 aluminum alloy castings with refined rosette grains were obtained by means of near-liquidus semi-continuous casting process, in which lots of refined Si grains are found in uniform distribution when reheating the semi-solid ingots at 575°C, and they are advantageous to semi-solid thixoforming. The brackets used in airplane can be thixoformed successfully using the horizontal 800 T extruder by which the tensile strength can be up to 320 MPa with percentage elongation 11.4% after heat-treatment.