Aircraft Spruce and Specialty

What Aircraft Spruce and Specialty does

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. is a privately held specialty distributor and retailer of aviation parts, pilot supplies, and aircraft building materials, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Corona, California. The company sells over 100,000 SKUs across 17 product categories, including airframe parts, avionics, engine parts, electrical components, instruments, hardware, composite materials, covering supplies, landing gear, metals and plastics, pilot supplies, tools, wood products, books and videos, kits and plans, and Rotax engines and parts. It serves aircraft homebuilders constructing experimental aircraft, certified aircraft owners and mechanics maintaining factory-built general aviation fleets, active pilots, FBOs, repair stations, and flight schools.

The company's go-to-market combines a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at aircraftspruce.com, a famous annual print and PDF catalog (now in a 2026 edition celebrating America's 250th Anniversary), 9 physical retail and warehouse locations across the United States, Canada, and Australia, and a dealer and wholesale program for bulk buyers. Fulfillment is supported by same-day shipping on orders placed by 4 PM Pacific Time via UPS, with free shipping on orders over $350 and a publicly disclosed price-match policy. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time retail unit sales across thousands of SKUs, supplemented by wholesale/dealer transactions and special-order custom and cut-to-size materials.

Aircraft Spruce maintains core marketing affiliations with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and participates annually in EAA Airventure Oshkosh. It is an authorized distributor for major aviation brands including Garmin, Bose, Lightspeed, Dynon, Whelen, Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics, True Blue Power, and Rapco. The company has recently expanded internationally with a new Australian location (February 2026) and an Alaskan location (May 2026), and acquired Wag-Aero Parts and Supplies as a complementary brand. No revenue, headcount, or AI/ML capability disclosures are publicly available.

Name

Aircraft Spruce and Specialty

Legal name

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.

Website

https://aircraftspruce.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty is a privately held aviation parts, pilot supplies, and aircraft building materials distributor founded in 1965, serving homebuilders, certified aircraft owners and mechanics, pilots, and FBOs through e-commerce, a print catalog, and 9 retail/warehouse locations across the US, Canada, and Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Parts and Supplies

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aerospace & Defense (TLAIALAB)

Keywords

• Aviation parts distribution
• General aviation retail
• Aircraft pilot supplies
• Homebuilt aircraft materials
• Aviation hardware catalog

Headquarters

HQ city

Corona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales - Aircraft Parts & Supplies: Primary revenue from selling aircraft parts, avionics, building materials, pilot supplies, and tools directly to aircraft builders, owners, pilots, and aviation businesses through e-commerce and catalog channels.
2. Wholesale/Dealer Program: Revenue from bulk sales to dealers and resellers through dedicated wholesale program with net terms and open account options.
3. Special Order Products: Revenue from custom made, special order, mixed paints, chemicals, and cut-to-size materials that are non-cancelable and non-returnable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. distributes aircraft parts, avionics, building materials, pilot supplies, and aviation tools through a print catalog (100,000+ SKUs), the aircraftspruce.com e-commerce storefront, and 9 retail/warehouse locations across the United States, Canada, and Australia. The catalog covers both certified general aviation aircraft (Cessna, Piper, Beech, Mooney) and experimental/homebuilt aircraft (Lancair, Vans Aircraft, Cozy), with same-day shipping on orders placed by 4pm via UPS and free shipping over $350. A dedicated dealer and wholesale program serves FBOs, repair stations, and aviation businesses with net terms and bulk purchasing.

Product overview

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. is a business-to-consumer e-commerce platform and mail-order catalog distributor of aviation parts, pilot supplies, and aircraft building materials. The company operates as a single unified retail platform with no modular architecture — the core offering is the Aircraft Spruce Catalog (print and digital) alongside the aircraftspruce.com e-commerce website. The product portfolio spans 17 distinct categories organized as: Airframe Parts (structural components for certified and experimental aircraft), Avionics (communication, navigation, and display equipment), Engine Parts (piston and turbine components), Electrical (wiring, lighting, and power systems), Instruments (gauges and monitoring equipment), Pilot Supplies (headsets, accessories, and gear), Tools (hand and power tools), Hardware (fasteners and AN-specification components), Composite Materials (fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar), Covering Supplies (fabrics, tapes, and finishing products), Landing Gear (brakes and wheels), Metals & Plastics (raw materials), Wood Products (spruce and aircraft-grade wood), Books & Videos (training and reference materials), Kits & Plans (homebuilt aircraft components), Rotax Engines & Parts (specialty engine inventory), and specialty shopping tools including Gift Cards, Parts Finder, Bargain Bin, and Deal of the Day promotions. The company has been operating since 1965 and stocks over 100,000 aviation products from hundreds of manufacturer brands including Garmin, Bose, Lightspeed, Dynon, Whelen, and Lycoming. Fulfillment is handled through 8 warehouse locations across the US, Canada, and Australia, with same-day shipping available on orders placed by 4pm via UPS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Spruce Catalog The Aircraft Spruce print and digital catalog featuring over 100,000 aviation products available free by mail order or PDF download, used by pilots, aircraft owners, builders, and aviation enthusiasts to browse and order parts, supplies, pilot gear, and tools.
• Airframe Parts Comprehensive selection of structural aircraft components including windshields, cowlings, fairings, control cables, pulleys, seats, and interior components suitable for both certified and experimental aircraft.
• Avionics Full range of avionics equipment including intercoms, audio panels, transponders, GPS units, ADS-B solutions, EFIS displays, autopilot components, antennas, and wiring kits for certified and experimental aircraft.
• Books, Videos & Software Aviation educational materials including pilot training manuals, exam prep guides, FAR/AIM regulations, homebuilding how-to resources, and instructional videos from publishers like ASA and Jeppesen.
• Composite Materials Materials for aircraft construction and repair including fiberglass cloth, carbon fiber sheets, Kevlar fabric, epoxy resins, core materials, foam, and finishing coatings for light aircraft and UAV projects.
• Covering Supplies Aircraft fabric covering materials including fabric, finishing tapes, adhesives, aircraft dope, brushes, spray equipment, and heat-shrink irons for aircraft restoration and covering.
• Electrical Aircraft electrical components including wiring harnesses, connectors, switches, circuit breakers, LED lighting kits, batteries, alternators, and power units for certified and experimental aircraft.
• Engine Parts Complete engine component inventory including cylinders, pistons, ignition components, spark plugs, oil filters, hoses, engine mounts, and fuel system parts meeting FAA-PMA or OEM specifications.
• Hardware Aviation-grade structural fasteners including AN bolts, nuts, MS screws, aviation rivets, washers, nutplates, cotter pins, and other hardware meeting aerospace standards for strength and corrosion resistance.
• Instruments Aircraft instruments including RC Allen digital attitude indicators, engine monitors, and specialty gauges from manufacturers like Mid-Continent Instruments and Avidyne.
• Kits & Plans Homebuilt aircraft kits and plans including Lancair, Vans Aircraft (RV series), and Cozy aircraft kits for amateur builders.
• Landing Gear Landing gear components including Rapco brake discs and lining, wheels, tires, and associated hardware for general aviation aircraft.
• Metals & Plastics Metal and plastic materials for aircraft construction including steel, aluminum tubing, sheet metal, and plastic components.
• Pilot Supplies General pilot equipment and accessories including Bose A20 headsets, flight bags, charts, kneeboards, watches, and personal aviation gear.
• Tools Professional aviation tools including Leatherman multi-tools, Milwaukee power tools, aviation-specific hand tools, and installation equipment.
• Wood Products Aircraft-grade wood materials including spruce, wood strips, cap strips, and specialty wood products for vintage aircraft construction and repair.
• Garmin D2 Mach 2 Pro Aviator Watch New Garmin D2 Mach 2 Pro aviator smartwatch featuring built-in inReach satellite and LTE connectivity, marketed to pilots who want continuous connectivity between flights.
• Dream Pilot Magic Kneeboard Universal pilot kneeboard that securely fits virtually any iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or tablet, marketed as one kneeboard for all pilot devices.
• Teledyne Gill LT Sealed Batteries Teledyne Battery Products' Gill legacy sealed batteries providing power solutions for Business Aviation, General Aviation, and Military aircraft applications.
• ARKON SkyHold Cockpit Mounts SkyHold by ARKON secure tablet and phone mounts for aircraft yokes and windshields, designed for cockpit organization of phones and tablets.
• Aircraft Spruce Gift Cards Aircraft Spruce gift cards available for purchase, allowing customers to give aviation supplies as gifts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Same day shipping on orders by 4 PM Pacific Time
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAircraft Spruce is affiliated with EAA and participates in EAA Airventure Oshkosh annually with an exhibit and store presence. The company has been recognized with the EAA Freedom of Flight Award and maintains EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame recognition. EAA provides a platform for reaching homebuilders and aviation enthusiasts.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAircraft Spruce is affiliated with AOPA, the largest aviation membership organization supporting aircraft owners and pilots. The partnership provides access to AOPA's membership base of pilots and aircraft owners for marketing and customer acquisition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sporty's Pilot Shop: Clermont County, Ohio-based pilot shop retailer offering pilot supplies, headsets, charts, training materials, and avionics through e-commerce, catalog, and on-site store. Closest like-for-like competitor across the pilot supplies and consumer aviation gear category.
• Chief Aircraft: Griffin, Georgia-based aircraft parts and pilot supplies retailer serving general aviation and homebuilders. Overlaps with Aircraft Spruce across pilot supplies, avionics, and aircraft parts categories.
• Wicks Aircraft Supply: Aircraft kits, plans, and parts specialist serving the homebuilt aircraft community. Highly comparable to Aircraft Spruce's Kits & Plans category and homebuilder parts segment.
• ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics): Newcastle, Washington-based publisher and distributor of aviation training materials (FAR/AIM, exam prep, study guides) and pilot supplies. Directly overlaps with Aircraft Spruce's Books & Videos category and the broader training supplies segment.
• SkyGeek: Online-only retailer specializing in aviation parts, supplies, and accessories with a comparable product mix across cleaning, safety, and pilot gear categories.
• Knots 2U: Specialist in parts and accessories for homebuilt aircraft, focusing heavily on the Van's Aircraft RV community. Directly comparable to Aircraft Spruce's homebuilder segment with similar SKU overlap on interior, exterior, and system components.
• Pilot Mall: Online retailer of pilot supplies, gift items, and aviation accessories serving the pilot community. Overlaps with Aircraft Spruce's Pilot Supplies category and gift-card product.
• Marv Golden Pilot Supplies: Long-established (founded 1963) pilot supplies retailer based in Carlsbad, California, supplying pilots with headsets, charts, training materials, and aviation accessories. Comparable competitor on pilot-shop consumer SKUs.
• Pacific Coast Avionics: Aurora, Oregon-based avionics retailer and installation center selling and installing aircraft avionics. Directly comparable to Aircraft Spruce's avionics distribution and aviation electrical categories.

Broad incumbents

• Aviall: Boeing subsidiary operating as a large-scale aerospace parts distributor serving commercial, business, and general aviation. Broader portfolio and customer base than Aircraft Spruce, but operates in the same aerospace distribution value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aircraftspruce
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/aircraftsprucevideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/aircraftspruceandspecialty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aircraft-spruce
• Instagraminstagram.com/aircraftspruce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aircraft Spruce and Specialty