What Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics does

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics, operating as Mid-Continent Instrument Co., Inc., is a privately held aerospace supplier founded in 1964 and headquartered in Wichita, Kansas (with a secondary California office). The company operates two core lines: a legacy aircraft instruments and avionics business (airspeed indicators, altimeters, attitude indicators, autopilots, COM/Radios, GPS receivers, transponders/ADS-B, weather radars, standby attitude modules, and custom Flex displays), and the True Blue Power division focused on advanced electrical power systems — notably proprietary NanoPhosphate lithium-ion main ship batteries, NiMH emergency battery power supplies, USB-C PD chargers (up to 100W), DC-to-DC and AC-to-DC converters, and DC-to-AC inverters.

The company serves five primary customer segments: General Aviation, Business Aviation (Pilatus PC-24, Cirrus SR Series G7, Gulfstream), Commercial Aviation (Delta, Lufthansa, Ryanair, SkyWest, EasyJet, Qantas, United, ITA Airways), Defense and Special Missions (Boeing MQ-25, Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton, Lockheed Martin X-59 for NASA Quesst), and Advanced Air Mobility (eVTOL/electric aircraft). Manufacturing occurs at an AS9100D- and ISO 9001:2015-certified Wichita facility producing more than 25,000 units per year, with a parallel overhaul, exchange, and repair operation processing more than 15,000 units annually. Products carry FAA TSO, RTCA DO-311A, DO-160G, and DO-178C DAL A certifications, supported by a broad STC library across multiple aircraft platforms.

Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales (new outright, new exchange, overhaul exchange, and repair-only transaction types) plus custom design services. Distribution runs through enterprise field sales targeting MROs, OEMs, fleet operators, and airlines, complemented by an authorized dealer/distributor network, an e-commerce storefront at mcico.com with net-30 terms for qualified accounts, and OEM embedded partnerships where products are standard or optional equipment on platforms from Pilatus, Cirrus, Gulfstream, and others. Listed product pricing ranges from approximately $1,899 (battery tester/charger) to $5,999 (True Blue Charger PRO) and $5,912 (MD835 lithium-ion emergency power supply), with high-end certified lithium batteries priced upon request.

Name

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics

Legal name

Mid-Continent Instrument Co., Inc.

Website

https://mcico.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics is a privately held Wichita-based aerospace manufacturer producing certified aircraft instruments, avionics, and proprietary lithium-ion power systems (True Blue Power division) serving business aviation, commercial airlines, defense programs, and emerging eVTOL platforms globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Avionics and Electrical Power Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254) (IMABAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Avionics Integration, Wiring Harnesses & Installation Kits (IMABAFAL), Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE), Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) & Avionics Computing Platforms (IMABAFAI)

Keywords

• Aircraft instruments
• Avionics manufacturing
• Aerospace power systems
• Lithium-ion aircraft batteries
• Aviation MRO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Instruments and Avionics Sales: Sale of aircraft instruments (airspeed indicators, altimeters, attitude indicators, clocks, COM/Radios, transponders, GPS receivers, etc.) and avionics products including autopilots, engine instruments, weather radars, and navigation equipment. Products sold as new outright, new exchange, overhaul exchange, or repair only.
2. True Blue Power Electrical Power Systems: Sale of advanced power solutions including lithium-ion batteries (Gen5 TB series), USB chargers (TA102, TA202, TA360 series), voltage converters, inverters, emergency battery power supplies, and battery STC kits. Revenue from both OEM installations and aftermarket upgrades.
3. Repair, Overhaul, and Exchange Services: Overhaul and exchange program for returned instruments. Customers receive fully overhauled and certified units in exchange for repairable cores. Includes FAA compliance and functional testing. Core return required for exchange pricing.
4. Custom Design Services: Custom design and development of power solutions and instruments to meet specific project requirements. Team of Mechanical, Software, Certification, and Electrical Engineers develop unique solutions for OEM customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics manufactures aircraft instruments, avionics, and advanced electrical power systems (through its True Blue Power division) for the global aerospace industry. The company produces airspeed indicators, altimeters, autopilots, transponders, weather radars, standby attitude modules, lithium-ion main ship batteries, USB chargers, voltage converters, DC-to-AC inverters, and emergency battery power supplies. It also provides FAA-certified overhaul, exchange, and repair services for returned instruments, and custom design/engineering services for OEM customers.

Product overview

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics is an aviation equipment manufacturer and MRO provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of aircraft instruments, avionics, and advanced electrical power solutions. The product portfolio is organized around two main divisions: (1) core aircraft instruments and avionics including SAM Standby Attitude Modules, Flex Custom Function Displays, CHRONOS Digital Clocks, airspeed indicators, altimeters, attitude indicators, autopilots, COM/Radios, GPS receivers, transponders/ADS-B, weather radars, and related flight instruments; and (2) True Blue Power, a specialized division providing electrical power systems including Gen5 lithium-ion batteries (TB20, TB30, TB40, TB44, TB50, TB60), USB charging ports (TA102, TA202, TA360 Series at 45W-100W), battery chargers, voltage converters (TC800 Series, TC2000), DC-to-AC inverters (TI1204, TI2004, TI254), and emergency battery power supplies (TS6, TS28, TS32, TS56, TS835). Products serve General Aviation, Business Aviation, Commercial Aviation, Defense and Special Missions, and Advanced Air Mobility markets with TSO-certified and RTCA DO-160G/DO-311A compliant solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flex: Certified all-in-one controller and data converter with glass display functionality for custom behind-the-panel interface or replacement for legacy displays.
• SAM (Standby Attitude Module)

Products and services

• SAM Standby Attitude Module (MD302) Remotely-mounted standby attitude module delivering secondary attitude, altitude, airspeed, slip, vertical trend, and heading information with independent AHRS and DAL Level A certified software. Used in business and general aviation aircraft.
• Flex Custom Function Displays Certified all-in-one controller and data converter with glass display functionality offering custom behind-the-panel interfaces or replacements for legacy displays, supporting ARINC 429, analog, discrete, frequency, temperature, and pressure data inputs.
• CHRONOS Digital Clocks Multi-function digital clocks with USB charging ports, featuring multiple time modes (Local Time, UTC/Zulu, Countdown Timer, Stopwatch) and automatic dimming for cockpit use.
• Gen5 TB50 Lithium-ion Aircraft Battery 50 amp-hour lithium-ion aircraft battery (26.4 VDC) weighing 44.3 lbs, same-size replacement for standard 44 amp-hour batteries with up to 50% weight reduction, 8-year life, automatic built-in heater, FAA TSO-C179b certified, DAL Level A software.
• Gen5 TB40 Lithium-ion Aircraft Battery 40 amp-hour lithium-ion aircraft battery (26.4 VDC) weighing 36.6 lbs with up to 60% weight reduction compared to lead-acid and NiCad solutions, featuring built-in automatic heater and real-time state-of-charge/state-of-health monitoring.
• TA360 Series USB-C PD Chargers USB-PD charging ports delivering up to 100 watts per port with intelligent device-driven voltage output (5-20V at 3-5A), available in single, dual, lighted, and non-lighted configurations, TSO-certified with Limited Lifetime Warranty.
• TI2004 DC-to-AC Inverter 2,000 VA DC-to-AC inverter with three-phase, 400 Hz power capability, featuring input transient, overload, and short-circuit protection up to 150% rated load, used in interconnected configurations for aircraft requiring 6,000 watts of power.
• TC120 DC-to-DC Voltage Converter DC-to-DC voltage converter featuring fanless design, lightweight and compact construction, FAA TSO certified and RTCA DO-160G qualified, used for mission-critical power on autonomous aircraft systems.
• TS28 Emergency Battery Power Supply 28V DC emergency battery power supply providing 24 VDC power for aircraft loads such as emergency lighting, featuring NiMH battery technology with 4-6 year battery pack life, 60-minute run time at 1A, field-replaceable battery pack, FAA TSO-C173a certified.
• TS835 Emergency Power Supply Lithium-ion emergency power supply providing 24.5 VDC with 4.5 amp-hour capacity, 60% lighter than competing units, direct replacement for L-3 Avionics/JET PS-835 Series with 8-year life expectancy, FAA TSO-C179b Class A-3B certified.
• TC2000 AC-to-DC Voltage Converter AC-to-DC voltage converter delivering 2,000 watts of DC power to in-flight entertainment systems, interior and exterior lighting, and USB power applications for aircraft with AC electrical systems requiring 28-volt DC power.
• Aircraft Flight Instruments Complete line of aircraft flight instruments including airspeed indicators, altimeters, attitude indicators, autopilots, directional gyros, horizontal situation indicators, turn and slip indicators, turn coordinators, vertical speed indicators, and navigation indicators, available in new, exchange, overhaul, and repair configurations.
• Aircraft Communication and Navigation Avionics Aircraft communication radios, NAV/COMs, GPS receivers, transponders/ADS-B, audio panel/marker beacon receivers, encoders, and weather radars available in new, exchange, overhaul, and repair configurations.
• Emergency Locator Transmitters Emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) for aircraft available in new, exchange, overhaul, and repair configurations.
• Battery Chargers Battery charger products including True Blue Charger PRO (ACM-1260-101) and direct-connect fully automatic 2.5 amp chargers (282-101 by Lamar Technologies).
• Aircraft Power Outlets Aircraft power outlets for pilot, passenger, and crew power applications.
• Battery STC Kits Supplemental Type Certificate kits enabling installation of True Blue Power lithium-ion batteries across multiple helicopter and aircraft platforms.
• Repair, Overhaul, and Exchange Services FAA-certified overhaul, exchange, and repair services for aircraft instruments including airspeed indicators, altimeters, attitude indicators, autopilots, GPS receivers, transponders, weather radars, ELTs, and remote gyro systems. Customers receive fully overhauled and certified units in exchange for repairable cores.
• Custom Design and Engineering Services Custom design and development of power solutions and instruments to meet specific OEM project requirements, provided by a team of Mechanical, Software, Certification, and Electrical Engineers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 60% weight reduction per battery (up to 40 pounds)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Boeing (MQ-25 Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2021True Blue Power awarded contract by Boeing to supply TB30 and TB40 Gen5 lithium-ion aircraft batteries for the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling program - U.S. Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft.
• Northrop Grumman (MQ-4C Triton)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue Blue Power inverters (TC120) and voltage converters (TI254) are standard equipment on Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton autonomous aircraft system for U.S. Navy maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions.
• Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (X-59)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue Blue Power TB44 lithium-ion battery and TI2004 DC-to-AC inverter provide critical power to Lockheed Martin's X-59 experimental aircraft integral to NASA's Quesst mission to quiet the sonic boom.
• 101 AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner101 Aviation, a Texas-based company specializing in Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) development, partnered to make True Blue Power Gen5 TB50 (50 amp-hour) and TB20 (20 amp-hour) lithium-ion batteries available for Gulfstream and Bombardier aircraft.
• Airwolf AerospaceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirwolf Aerospace developed supplemental type certificates (STCs) enabling installation of True Blue Power lithium-ion batteries across multiple helicopter platforms including Bell, Airbus, and Leonardo aircraft.
• Vertical Flight SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVertical Flight Solutions developed supplemental type certificates (STCs) enabling installation of True Blue Power lithium-ion batteries across multiple helicopter platforms.
• U.S. Technical Consultants, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerU.S. Technical Consultants, Inc. completed STC for True Blue Power TC2000 AC-to-DC Voltage Converters and MAX Power TA360 USB Chargers on Bombardier CRJ-550 regional jets for in-seat, cabin, galley and cockpit power.
• Butler National Corporation / Avcon IndustriescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerButler National Corporation received FAA STC approval for CHRONOS digital clock with USB chargers on Learjet Model 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 35, 36, 55, 60 aircraft series. Avcon Industries designed the installation.
• Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPilatus offers True Blue Power Gen5 TB40 Advanced Lithium-ion Battery, TA202 USB Charger, and TI2000 DC-to-AC Inverter as optional equipment for PC-24 Super Versatile Jet customers.
• Cirrus AircraftcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMid-Continent's remote-mounted SAM (MD302 Standby Attitude Module) and True Blue Power TA202 and TA360 Series USB Chargers are standard equipment on Cirrus SR Series G7 aircraft.
• Gulfstream Aerospace CorporationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerTrue Blue Power TI1204 DC-to-AC Inverter is offered as drop-in replacement for existing E-inverters on Gulfstream G550, GV and G450 model aircraft.
• Aircraft Manufacturers (Business Aviation)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSupplier to world's top business aircraft manufacturers including Airbus, Bombardier Aviation, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Gulfstream Aerospace, Honda Aircraft Company, Piaggio Aerospace, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, and Textron Aviation.
• Aircraft Manufacturers (Defense)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSupplier to world's top defense and special missions aircraft manufacturers including Boeing Defense, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Airbus Defence and Space, Bell, Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin), Sierra Nevada Corporation, Kratos Defense, and L3Harris.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crane Aerospace & Electronics: Manufacturer of aerospace power conversion, lighting, and avionics products for commercial, business, and military aviation — directly comparable product portfolio in converters, inverters, and avionics.
• Garmin: Major avionics manufacturer producing flight instruments, GPS/nav, transponders, ADS-B and autopilot systems for general and business aviation — directly overlapping with MCIA's instrument and avionics product lines.
• EaglePicher Technologies: Specialized manufacturer of aerospace and defense batteries including thermal, silver-zinc, and lithium-ion chemistries — directly competes with True Blue Power in certified aviation lithium batteries and military battery programs.
• Astronics Corporation: Aerospace supplier of in-flight power, USB charging, lighting, and avionics — comparable product mix (USB PD chargers, inverters, power outlets) serving the same business and commercial aviation customers.

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: Major defense avionics and electronics supplier with adjacent offerings in standby instruments, power supplies, and emergency systems — partly overlaps with MCIA's SAM standby module and TS835 emergency power supply.
• Safran Electrical & Power: Tier-1 supplier of aircraft electrical systems, power generation, and conversion equipment for commercial and military platforms — overlaps with MCIA's True Blue Power converters, inverters, and battery product lines.
• Meggitt: Now under Parker Hannifin, produces aerospace sensors, power systems, and engine components overlapping with MCIA's instruments, power conversion, and standby attitude modules across defense and commercial platforms.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Dominant Tier-1 supplier of avionics, power systems, and batteries across commercial and business aviation. Provides direct competition in certified power conversion, batteries, and integrated avionics suites where MCIA also competes.
• Collins Aerospace: Raytheon Technologies subsidiary producing avionics, electrical power systems, and battery solutions for commercial, business, and military aviation — broad overlap with MCIA in power conversion and lithium battery offerings.

Emerging players

• Aspen Avionics: Specialized avionics manufacturer of certified retrofit displays and instruments for general aviation — narrower in scope than MCIA but competes head-to-head in flight instrument retrofits and panel upgrades.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mcico
• Facebookfacebook.com/mid-continent-instruments-and-avionics-583185955150316
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mid-continent-instruments-and-avionics
• Instagraminstagram.com/_weflywithyou

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics