More Than Triples The Space Previously Available

Yingling Aviation has significantly expanded to its propeller maintenance, repair and overhaul operations with the completion of a 10,000 square foot facility which will more than triple the space previously allocated to propeller maintenance. Located approximately one quarter mile north of Yingling’s primary site adjacent to Runway 1R/19L at Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, the new space will supplement Yingling’s extensive propeller overhaul and service work and accommodate a growing list of customers who rely on Yingling for aircraft maintenance. Yingling offers factory authorized service for McCauley, MT, & Sensenich and is working with Hartzell to become factory authorized on Hartzell propellers as well.

“This expansion allows us to move our existing prop shop to the new location and expand it to accommodate additional equipment we’ve acquired to service a growing number of new composite propeller designs as well traditional aluminum propellers,” said Bob Gallop, Yingling’s Vice President, Repair Station Operations. “The added capacity also means we have been able to add new shot peening equipment and further enhance our repair and overhaul capabilities. We are investing in the latest technology, which means we will not only have one of the most modern propeller services facility in the country, we will also have direct control of our quality.  We will no longer have to rely on outside vendors to perform all analytical inspections or finishing. And with those outside processes moved in-house, we will be able to control not only the quality but the costs and turnaround times, as well,” he added.

“This expansion is part of our ongoing business plan to be responsive to a broadening range of customers,” noted Lonnie Vaughan, Yingling’s president. “We recently became an authorized Beechcraft Service Center. That means we’re now listed among the options available to operators of Beech aircraft who previously would have assumed we only worked on Cessna aircraft. That has not only expanded our customer base, it has broadened the universe of products we’re seeing in our shop--like Hartzell propellers. With this larger facility, we’re able to add technology and, as necessary, manpower to achieve the goal we’ve set for our propeller business.”

Yingling also expects to add capacity for other maintenance and repair activities by utilizing the existing space vacated by the propeller operation which moved into the new facility “and with some additional expansion which we’ll be announcing in the near future,” Vaughan commented. The company also recently announced a program to remanufacture single engine Cessna 172s for flight training operations, flying clubs, and individual flyers. The Ascend 172 program is part of an industry-wide effort to provide affordable light aircraft which can be utilized to reinvigorate flight training and revive a dwindling pilot population.

(Source: Yingling Aviation news release)

FMI: www.yinglingaviation.com