Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company

Last updated

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.
IndustryTransportation equipment and supplies
Founded1965
FounderBob and Flo Irwin
Headquarters,
United States
Number of locations
Corona, California, US; West Chicago, Illinois, US; Peachtree City, Georgia, US; Wasilla, Alaska, US; Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Products Aircraft parts, plans and kits
Number of employees
300
Divisions Aircraft Spruce East, West, Midwest, Alaska, and Canada
Website www.aircraftspruce.com

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. is an American producer of aircraft parts and services including plans for homebuilt aircraft.

Contents

History

Aircraft Spruce Co. was founded in 1965 by Bob and Flo Irwin as a follow-on to founding Fullerton Air Parts. [1] Initially the company sold only one product: aircraft grade spruce lumber for aircraft construction and restoration. Aircraft Spruce Co. added more products and adopted the name Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.

Jim Irwin, Bob and Flo's older son, managed kit programs such as the Vari-Eze in 1975 while still in college. In 1978 Jim acquired the company, and he became president in 1980.

Aircraft Spruce was housed in Fullerton, California, from 1965 until 1997 in a historic Fullerton former citrus packing house. It then moved to a 62,000-square-foot (5,800 m2) facility in Corona, California. Aircraft Spruce East moved to a new 52,000 sq ft (4,800 m2) facility in Peachtree City, Georgia, in 2004. Aircraft Spruce Canada was opened in Toronto in 2006, and moved to the Brantford, Ontario Airport in 2008 with a new 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m2) facility coming online in 2016. In 2019, Aircraft Spruce opened two new facilities with Aircraft Spruce Midwest operating in a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) facility in West Chicago, Illinois, and Aircraft Spruce Alaska in a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) building in Wasilla, Alaska. [2]

Ron Alexander's Alexander Aeroplane Company was purchased and integrated into the company. [3] The Aviation Book Company was purchased in late 2014. [4] [5]

Founder Bob Irwin died on 26 June 2015 at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. [6]

Aircraft kits and plans

Aircraft Spruce has the rights to sell kits and plans for a large selection of homebuilt aircraft. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EAA AirVenture Oshkosh</span> Experimental Aircraft Association annual convention and air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, or just Oshkosh, is an annual air show and gathering of aviation enthusiasts held each summer at the Wittman Regional Airport and adjacent Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. The southern part of the show grounds, as well as "Camp Scholler", are located in the town of Nekimi and a base for seaplanes is located on Lake Winnebago in the town of Black Wolf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Experimental Aircraft Association</span> Aviation organization in Oshkosh, United States

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception, it has grown internationally with over 300,000 members and nearly 1,000 chapters worldwide. It hosts the largest aviation gathering of its kind in the world, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ace Baby Ace</span> Homebuilt aircraft design by Orland Corben

The Ace Baby Ace, a single-seat, single-engine, parasol wing, fixed-gear light airplane, was marketed as a homebuilt aircraft when its plans were first offered for sale in 1929 — one of the first homebuilt aircraft plans available in the United States. Plans are still available and Baby Aces are still being built. Orland Corben designed a series of aircraft for the Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the Baby Ace, Junior Ace, and Super Ace. Corben's name was associated with the aircraft, and it is commonly known as the Corben Baby Ace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acro Sport I</span>

The Acro Sport is a single-seat aerobatic sportsplane designed by US aviation enthusiast Paul Poberezny in the early 1970s for homebuilding. Plans are marketed by Acro Sport Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acro Sport II</span>

The Acro II is a two-seat aerobatic sportsplane designed by US aviation enthusiast Paul Poberezny in the 1970s for amateur construction. It is an enlarged version of his previous Acro Sport I, sized up to carry two persons. Plans are available through Acro Sport in Wisconsin and material kits are supplied by Aircraft Spruce and Specialty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Poberezny</span> United States aviator, founder of Experimental Aircraft Association

Paul Howard Poberezny was an American aviator, entrepreneur, and aircraft designer. He founded the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in 1953, and spent the greater part of his life promoting homebuilt aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wittman Tailwind</span>

The Wittman Tailwind is a popular two-seat light aircraft for homebuilding. It is a high-wing, braced cabin monoplane of taildragger configuration. It is constructed with a steel tubing fuselage, wood wings, and fabric covering. It offers exceptional cruising speeds and is economical to operate and maintain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wag-Aero CUBy</span> Type of aircraft

The Wag-Aero CUBy is a replica of the Piper J-3, designed by Dick Wagner and marketed by Wag-Aero of Lyons, Wisconsin as plans or in kit form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stolp Starduster Too</span> Type of aircraft

The Stolp Starduster Too SA300 is a two-seat, conventional landing gear equipped, homebuilt biplane. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co currently holds rights to sell plans for the aircraft.

The Howland H-3 Pegasus is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bert Howland and made available by Howland Aero Design in the form of plans for amateur construction, with kits provided by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. The H-3 first flew in 1988.

The Howland H-2 Honey Bee is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Bert Howland and made available by Howland Aero Design in the form of plans for amateur construction, with kits provided by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. The H-2 first flew in 1986.

Richard E. "Dick" VanGrunsven is an American aircraft designer and kit plane manufacturer. The number of VanGrunsven-designed homebuilt aircraft produced each year in North America exceeds the production of all commercial general aviation companies combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stolp SA-500 Starlet</span> American light aircraft

The Stolp SA-500 Starlet is an American amateur-built aircraft. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty of Corona, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White WW-1 Der Jäger D.IX</span> American homebuilt biplane

The White WW-1 Der Jäger D.IX also called the Stolp-White WW-1 Der Jäger D.IX/69 is an American homebuilt biplane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmwood Christavia Mk I</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Christavia Mk I is a Canadian two-seats in tandem homebuilt aircraft designed by Ron Mason. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction. Designed for missionary flying in Africa, the aircraft's name means "Christ-in-Aviation". The Christavia Mk II is a side-by-side configuration version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmwood Christavia Mk IV</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Christavia Mk IV (Christ-in-Aviation) is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Ron Mason and produced by Elmwood Aviation of Frankford, Ontario. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The Mirage Marathon is an American homebuilt aircraft, designed and produced by Mirage Aircraft Corporation of Prescott Valley, Arizona. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction, with materials kits supplied by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. and Wicks Aircraft Supply as well as some specialized parts supplied by the manufacturer.

Mirage Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The company specializes in the provision of homebuilt aircraft plans for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmwood Aviation</span> Canadian aircraft manufacturer

Elmwood Aviation is a Canadian aircraft manufacturer, founded by aircraft designer Ron Mason and based in Frankford, Ontario. The company specializes in the design of light aircraft for amateur construction, especially for missionary aviation use. The Christavia aircraft series name means "Christ-in-Aviation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sling Aircraft Sling TSi</span> South African homebuilt aircraft introduced in 2018

The Sling TSi is a South African four-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt aircraft sold in kit form by Sling Aircraft of Johannesburg South. It was developed from the Sling 4.

References

  1. "Aircraft Spruce marks 50 years". AOPA Pilot: 38. February 2015.
  2. "Aircraft Spruce". Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  3. "EAA Vintage Director Killed In Jenny Crash". 17 November 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  4. "[Homepage]". Aviation Book Company. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  5. "Aircraft Spruce Acquires Aircraft Book Co". EAA. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  6. "Aircraft Spruce Co-Founder Bob Irwin Dies". AVweb. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  7. "Kits & Plans". Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company. Retrieved January 17, 2023.