http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/011308/hom_20080113011.shtmlAircraft manufacturing to begin this year in Chugiak
Buyout to allow Super aircraft production in Alaska
By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce
Anchorage-based Northern Piper Aircraft Inc. has purchased Airframes Inc. of Big Lake. The newly combined business will locate to Birchwood Airport in Chugiak.
Renamed Northern Airframes LLC, the new company plans to combine the two business models and begin manufacturing a Federal Aviation Administration-certified aircraft it will call the Super 18. Production is expected to begin later this year.
The Super 18 is an outgrowth of the Piper Super Cub, commonly referred to as a PA-18.
“The combination of these two businesses - one that refinishes and rebuilds with another that has 10 years experience manufacturing after-market parts for the Piper PA-18 Super Cub - is a no-brainer,” said Richard Roberts, general manager and one of the owners.
Roberts bought Airframes Inc. from Lee Budde for an undisclosed amount. Airframes' four employees and its equipment will move from the Big Lake area.
The purchase and expansion was made possible by a silent investor. Roberts had previously looked for investors after meeting with the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Alaska InvestNET and the Anchorage Economic Development Corp.
“I credit all of these entities with helping me prepare a solid business plan that helped attract the right investor,” Roberts said.
Once the company gets organized, the owners plan to put together a production schedule, Roberts said. The company hopes to produce as many as six aircraft the first year.
Roberts said he expects the FAA to certify the Super 18 in May. The aircraft's base price new will be around $155,000.
The Super 18 is a high wing, two-place, high performance bush plane. Northern Airframes has an agreement with Dakota Cub Aircraft Inc., located in Brandon, S.D., which owns the rights to the Super 18 and has flown the aircraft prototype for FAA certification testing for the past four years.
Budde essentially designed the Super 18, which incorporates his FAA special type certificated parts that include a fuselage that is four-inch wider than typical. Other features Budde designed include certifications for longer baggage compartments and beefed-up attachment points for landing gear and wings. The craft will be certified at a higher gross weight than similar models.
Northern Piper, in business as an aircraft refinisher for three years, is the Alaska distributor for Dakota Cub wings, which allows pilots to fly slower.
Budde will continue to manufacture aircraft baffles under the name of Airforms, a company that specializes in aircraft engine cowling baffles.
“This was a win, win, win, deal,” Budde said. “This is great for the employees, great for Dick, and good for me. It gets me out of the Super Cub parts business, which was about 56 percent of our line, and allows me to develop other products.”
Northern Airframes is located at Birchwood Airport, 23 miles north of Downtown Anchorage. It will also offer aircraft inspections and maintenance from its new location at 20130 Birchwood Loop Rd. in Chugiak.
There are some pictures with the link.
Basically, they took the supercub and are giving the certified production version they are building all the modifications currently out there that have been designed over the years.
A lot of these new designs also use modern materials in place of wood, reducing maintenance as well.
