What Oregon Aero does

Oregon Aero, Inc. is a privately held aerospace engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1989 by Mike and Jude Dennis and headquartered in a single AS9100-certified facility in Scappoose, Oregon. The company designs, manufactures, certifies, and tests advanced seating systems, helmet and headset upgrade kits, and portable cushioning products, with core technology centered on proprietary temperature- and pressure-sensitive visco-elastic foam protected by a patented waterproof, breathable, positively buoyant coating. Its seat portfolio includes the VK SmartCushion system, the High-G crashworthy seat assembly (certified to 14 CFR 23.562 for 19G/26G dynamic loads), and the APECS line of ejection-seat cushions validated at NASA Dryden, Wright-Patterson AFB, and other military test facilities; complementary helmet/headset product lines (BLSS, BLU, Zeta, ZetaLiner, SoftSeal, SoftTop, HushKit, MicMuff) serve ballistic, aviation, and gaming end uses. The company also operates FAA Repair Station #O1IR004X, providing certified seat-upgrade and interior services.

Oregon Aero monetizes hardware sales through four primary channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce and phone sales; OEM embedded supply to aircraft manufacturers (Van's Aircraft, CubCrafters, Cessna, Viking Air, Maule, Aviat Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Columbia Helicopters, and others); an exclusive military distribution agreement with Coastal Seat Cushions serving all branches of the U.S. military; and FAA repair-station seat-upgrade services for certified aircraft owners. Pricing spans a wide range, from $7-$232 for headset/helmet accessories, $39.95-$44.95 for ShockBlockers insoles, $193-$245 for SoftSeat portable cushions, to $18,913 per RV-10 complete ship set (with a 10% community discount). Beyond hardware, the company offers Crew Resource Management / Aeromedical Resource Management (CRM/AMRM) training delivered by chief instructor Randy Mains. The company also serves adjacent land/marine markets (military HUMVEE/Stryker seats, forklift/truck seats, race-car cushions) and a motorsports vertical, with the Elaine Larsen jet dragster case representing documented 5-7G force tolerance.

The company remains under founder ownership, has not disclosed institutional funding, and has been recognized with the U.S. Air Force Director's Award (F-22 Life Support Task Force, 2013), the Jim Charlson Aviation Safety Award (AAMS, 2013), and the ESGR Above & Beyond Award (DoD, 2014). Annual production is approximately 16,000 seat cushions; cumulative military flight hours logged on Oregon Aero seating are described in the millions.

Name

Oregon Aero

Legal name

Oregon Aero, Inc.

Website

https://oregonaero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Oregon Aero is a privately held aerospace manufacturer founded in 1989 in Scappoose, Oregon, that designs, certifies, and produces advanced seating systems, helmet and headset upgrade kits, and portable cushions for the U.S. military, aircraft OEMs, HEMS operators, and general consumers, using proprietary visco-elastic foam technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Seating Systems

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin) (IMABANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rotorcraft Cabin Interiors & Mission Equipment (IMABABAJ), Automotive Seating Systems Manufacturing (Frames/Mechanisms/Foam/Complete Seats) (IMACAKAA)

Keywords

• Aerospace seating systems
• Aircraft seat cushions
• Ballistic helmet upgrades
• Aviation headset accessories
• Crashworthy aircraft seats

Headquarters

HQ city

Scappoose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Seating Systems: Sale of seat cushions and complete seat assemblies for OEM, certified, experimental, and homebuilt aircraft. Includes High-G safety seats, VK SmartCushion systems, and APECS ejection seat cushions. Revenue generated from direct sales to aircraft owners, manufacturers, and through FAA repair station services.
2. Helmet and Headset Upgrades: Sale of upgrade kits for aviation headsets, ballistic helmets, and aviation helmets including BLSS and BLU kits, SoftTop, SoftSeal, HushKit products. Revenue from individual component and full kit sales.
3. Portable Consumer Cushions: Direct-to-consumer sales of SoftSeat portable cushions, Super Cushion stadium cushions, and ShockBlockers insole inserts through e-commerce and retail channels.
4. FAA Repair Station Services: Aircraft interior upgrade services and seat upgrades for certified aircraft through FAA-approved Repair Station #O1IR004X.
5. Industrial and Military Products: Specialized seating and cushion products for military land vehicles (HUMVEE, Stryker), marine applications, industrial equipment operators, and tactical gear including tactical knee/elbow pads.
6. CRM/AMRM Training: Crew Resource Management / Aeromedical Resource Management training courses provided by certified instructor Randy Mains. Single-day, eight-hour seminars held at customer sites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Oregon Aero designs, engineers, manufactures, certifies, and tests advanced seat cushion systems and complete seat assemblies for OEM, certified, experimental, and homebuilt aircraft as well as military, land, and marine applications. Its portfolio also covers ballistic and aviation helmet upgrades, aviation headset upgrade kits, and portable consumer comfort products such as SoftSeat cushions and ShockBlockers insoles, all built on a proprietary visco-elastic foam technology platform.

Product overview

Oregon Aero is a specialized aerospace products manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of comfort and safety solutions for aviation and defense applications. The product portfolio spans three core categories: (1) Seating Systems including VK SmartCushion™ cushion upgrades, High-G® Safety Seat assemblies, and APECS® ejection seat cushions serving OEM, certified, experimental, and military aircraft across fixed-wing, rotor-wing, land, and marine platforms; (2) Head/Helmet Upgrades including BLSS®/BLU® ballistic helmet kits, Zeta series aviation helmet liners, SoftSeal® ear cushions, HushKit® noise attenuation, SoftTop® headset cushions, and EDGE® gaming headset upgrades; and (3) Portable/Industrial Products including SoftSeat® portable cushions, ShockBlockers® insole inserts, flight bags, and tactical gear. The company also provides CRM/AMRM training services and FAA repair station certification services. All products share proprietary visco-elastic foam technology and are backed by AS9100 certification and FAA compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EDGE: Gaming headset upgrade kits sold under the EDGE by Oregon Aero brand
• SoftSeat
• SoftTop
• SoftSeal
• HushKit
• ShockBlockers
• VK SmartCushion
• High-G
• APECS
• BLSS
• BLU
• ZetaLiner
• Zeta III
• MicMuff

Products and services

• VK SmartCushion System Custom-engineered seat cushion system using temperature-sensitive, pressure-sensitive visco-elastic foam that shifts hips, pelvis, and back into optimal sitting position for comfort and safety. Sold to OEMs, certified aircraft owners, and homebuilt builders.
• High-G Safety Seat Complete crashworthy seat assembly with energy-absorbing frame, seat pan, cushions, and operating mechanisms that passes 14 CFR FAR 23.562 19G download and 26G horizontal load tests without damage. Targeted at general aviation, rotor-wing, and military aircraft.
• APECS (Advanced Performance Escape Cushion System) Shock-absorbing ejection seat cushion system for military aircraft ejection seats, validated through testing at NASA Dryden, Wright-Patterson AFB, Patuxent River NAS, Brooks AFB, and McDonnell Douglas. Variants fit A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, F-4, F-15, F-16, FA-18, OV-10, S-3, F-22, U-2/SR-71, and Universal Propulsion seats.
• OEM Seating Systems High-volume custom OEM seat cushions and seat assemblies supplied to aircraft manufacturers for installation as standard or optional equipment on production aircraft.
• Certified Aircraft Seat Upgrades FAA-approved VK SmartCushion seat upgrades for certified aircraft completed through Oregon Aero's FAA-approved Repair Station #O1IR004X at its Scappoose, Oregon facility.
• Experimental/Homebuilt Seat Cushion Systems Un-upholstered cushion cores and complete seating systems for amateur-built experimental aircraft. Sourced directly via Oregon Aero's e-commerce site for builders of Cozy, GlasAir I/II/III, GlasStar, Harmon Rocket, Lancair, Long-EZ, QuestAir, Rans S-7, Starduster II, Van's RV series, and Velocity aircraft.
• Civilian Land/Marine Seating Comfort seating solutions for civilian land vehicles (forklifts, Freightliner, Kenworth, and Peterbilt trucks) and marine applications including high-speed boats, using Oregon Aero's visco-elastic foam platform.
• Military Fixed Wing Seating VK SmartCushion Systems and High-G Seat Assemblies for military fixed-wing aircraft including B-52, C-17, C-130, E-3D Sentry, KC-135, P-3 Orion, and Boeing 707/727/737, with USAF Safe-To-Fly approvals.
• Military Rotor Wing Seating Comfort seating systems for military helicopters including AH-6/MH-6 Little Bird, AH-64 Apache, CH-47/MH-47 Chinook, H-60 Black Hawk, UH-1N/Iroquois, OH-58 Kiowa, and UH-1 Huey, with AWR (Army War Reserve) approvals.
• Military Land/Marine Seating High-G energy-absorbing seat systems for military land vehicles including RST-V (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting Vehicle), NLOS-C (Non-Line-Of-Sight Cannon), Stryker, and HMMWV (HUMVEE).
• BLSS Kit (Ballistic Liner and Suspension System) Patented ballistic helmet upgrade kit with seven liner pads and 4-point chin strap/harness with integrated nape pad. Originally developed in 1997 for the U.S. Army Special Operation MICH helmet and used on ACH, LWH, MICH, and RBR ballistic helmets.
• BLU Kit (Ballistic Liner Upgrade) Ballistic helmet liner upgrade kit containing seven helmet liner pads only, without the chin strap/harness system. Lower-cost alternative to the full BLSS kit.
• ZetaLiner Helmet Liner Aviation helmet upgrade liner providing shock absorption, comfort, and moisture-wicking for fixed-wing and rotor-wing pilots.
• Zeta III Helmet Liner Advanced aviation helmet upgrade liner offering enhanced comfort and shock absorption for pilots using aviation helmets.
• Civilian Headset Upgrade Kits Upgrade kits for civilian aviation headsets including Bose and David Clark models, combining SoftTop, SoftSeal, and HushKit components to reduce pressure points and noise.
• Military Headset Upgrade Kits Upgrade kits for military headsets and helmets, including adapters that allow military headsets to be used on civilian aircraft.
• EDGE Gaming Headset Upgrades Gaming headset upgrade kits combining SoftTop cushion, SoftSeal ear cushions, and HushKit insulation, sold under the EDGE by Oregon Aero sub-brand for extended duration gaming comfort.
• SoftSeat Portable Cushion Portable seat cushion with temperature-sensitive, pressure-sensitive visco-elastic foam for use in cars, trucks, offices, and other non-aviation seating applications.
• Super Cushion Stadium Cushion Portable stadium cushion designed for spectator comfort at sporting events and other prolonged sitting situations.
• ShockBlockers Insole Inserts Dual-layer insole inserts that reduce shock to feet and joints while keeping feet cool and dry, available in Light, Work/Sport, and Deluxe variants.
• Industrial Products Industrial and tactical accessories including knee pads, elbow pads, the Zeta-C Universal Head Gear Upgrade Kit, GripKit anti-vibration tool grip, and FlashPoint flashlight holder.
• CRM/AMRM Training Program Face-to-face Crew Resource Management and Aviation Medical Resource Management training courses delivered at customer sites by certified instructor Randy Mains. Single-day, eight-hour seminars satisfying FAA, EU-OPS, JAR ICAO, Canadian, and CAMTS requirements.
• FAA Repair Station Services FAA-approved Repair Station #O1IR004X providing certified aircraft seat upgrades, interior services, and custom cushion modifications at the Scappoose, Oregon facility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivers more than 435 helmet systems to multiple locations for F-22 Life Support Task Force, ahead of schedule and within budget.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coastal Seat CushionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor for Oregon Aero military fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft seating systems and accessories. Handles all military customer orders through www.coastalseatcushions.com or 954-980-6929.
• Van's AircraftcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMajor OEM customer where High-G Safety Seat is standard kit equipment for RV-10 front seats since 2003. Annual orders of seat cushion systems for homebuilt aircraft. Relationship dates back to aircraft introduction in 2003.
• CubCrafterscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMore than a decade-long partnership. Exclusive seat cushion system for Carbon Cub EX, Carbon Cub SS, and Sport Cub aircraft. VK SmartCushion standard on Top Cub for many years.
• Cessna Aircraft CompanycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSTC and PMA approval for High-G Seat and VK SmartCushion System for Cessna Corvalis. Seat upgrades for LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, LC42-550FG, and T240 models.
• Viking AircoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerVK SmartCushion System installed as OEM equipment in DHC-6 Twin Otter (19-seat aircraft).
• Maule AircoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerVK SmartCushion Systems standard optional equipment in all Maule aircraft.
• Aviat AircraftcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerVK SmartCushion System optional OEM seating for Aviat Husky and Aviat Pitts aircraft. Long-standing relationship.
• Bell HelicopterminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBell helicopters equipped with Oregon Aero seating. Randy Mains served as senior instructor for Bell International.
• Columbia HelicoptersminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAircraft manufacturer customer for seating systems.
• Erickson AviationminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerErickson Air-Crane helicopter manufacturer customer.
• DaherminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAircraft manufacturer customer.
• BoeingcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner707, 727, 737 pilot/co-pilot seat cushions. Major defense contractor customer.
• Lockheed MartincoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerF-22 Raptor ejection seat system supplier. Multiple defense programs supported.
• Northrop GrummancoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerE-3D Sentry seating systems (also fits E-6, E-8). Major defense contractor.
• BAE SystemscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerNLOS-C seating systems for U.S. Army future combat systems concept. Major defense contractor.
• L3HarrisminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDefense contractor customer for seating systems.
• General DynamicscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerRST-V (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting Vehicle) High-G energy-absorbing seats for land vehicles.
• U.S. Air ForcecoreOthersEnd customer for F-22 Raptor, F-16, F-15, B-52, B-1, B-2, C-17, C-130, KC-135, E-3D Sentry, U-2, SR-71 seating. Awarded U.S. Air Force Director's Award for F-22 Life Support Task Force contributions.
• U.S. ArmycoreOthersEnd customer for AH-64 Apache, H-60 Black Hawk, AH-6/MH-6 Little Bird (160th SOAR), CH-47 Chinook, MH-47, UH-1 Huey/N, OH-58, Stryker vehicle seating.
• U.S. Navy/Marine CorpscoreOthersEnd customer for FA-18 Hornet APECS III, S-3 Viking, Marine CVC helmets, Marine HUMVEE vehicles.
• U.S. Coast GuardcoreOthersEnd customer for H-65 rescue swimmer multi-functional crew seat development.
• Air MethodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor helicopter emergency medical services operator customer for seating upgrades.
• Metro AviationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor HEMS operator customer for helicopter seating.
• Air Evac LifeteamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHEMS operator customer.
• Operation HelmetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit that provides Oregon Aero helmet pads to deployed service members. Oregon Aero donates products through this organization.
• Oregon Department of Veterans' AffairsminorOthersState agency partner for Oregon-based veteran programs.
• Air Force Research LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Air Force Research Laboratory on F-22 Life Support Task Force. Oregon Aero designed helmet ear seal to accommodate oxygen sensor installation for data collection.
• Blue OriginminorOthersAerospace company partner.
• Scaled CompositesminorOthersAircraft manufacturer partner.
• Rockwell CollinsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAvionics manufacturer partner for potential integration projects.
• AAR CorpminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAerospace products and services company, aircraft maintenance provider.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Recaro Aircraft Seating: German-based manufacturer of premium aircraft seating for commercial airlines, business jets, and special mission applications. Directly comparable to Oregon Aero's seating portfolio, with a similar focus on certified, comfort- and safety-optimized seat assemblies sold to OEMs, airlines, and government/defense customers.
• Geven S.p.A. Italian aircraft seating manufacturer producing economy, business, and pilot seats for commercial and military aircraft, including a dedicated defense/rotorcraft line. Closely comparable to Oregon Aero across fixed-wing and rotorcraft seating for both civil and military customers.
• Acro Aircraft Seating: U.S.-based aircraft seating manufacturer supplying economy-class seats to major airlines. Comparable as a U.S. peer in the aircraft seating market with similar FAA certification requirements and OEM/aftermarket channels, though focused on large commercial volume rather than defense.
• IMMI (Indiana Mills & Manufacturing): U.S. manufacturer of safety-critical seating and restraint systems for commercial vehicles, school buses, and military ground vehicles, including HMMWV and Stryker. Comparable to Oregon Aero on the defense land-vehicle and high-G energy-absorbing seat business, with overlapping military customers.
• Ops-Core (a Gentex Corporation brand): Ops-Core is a leading supplier of tactical head protection systems, integrated helmet systems, and accessories for military and law enforcement. Comparable to Oregon Aero's BLSS/BLU ballistic helmet upgrade business and broader tactical head-protection product line.

Broad incumbents

• Safran Seats (formerly Stelia Aerospace): A division of Safran, one of the world's largest Tier 1 aircraft seating and aerostructure integrators, serving all major commercial OEMs and many defense programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same overall market as Oregon Aero, but at significantly larger scale and with full-cabin-system offerings.
• Collins Aerospace (B/E Aerospace): Collins Aerospace (a unit of RTX), through its legacy B/E Aerospace business, is a global leader in aircraft cabin interiors including seating, galleys, and lavatories. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the aerospace seating market, with deeper pockets and broader product breadth than Oregon Aero.
• Crane Aerospace & Electronics: A diversified supplier of engineered systems and components for commercial, business, and military aircraft, including sensing, utility, and fluid management. Comparable to Oregon Aero as a U.S.-based Tier 2 aerospace component supplier serving defense primes and OEMs, though with a much broader product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Milsco Manufacturing: U.S. manufacturer of seating solutions for motorcycles, power sports, forklifts, turf care, and industrial equipment. Comparable to Oregon Aero's industrial/utility-vehicle cushion business (forklifts, trucks) and other land-vehicle applications.

Regional players

• Aviator by Bucher (Bucher Group): European-based manufacturer of lightweight composite aircraft cabin interior and seating products. Comparable to Oregon Aero's seating and aircraft interior business but primarily focused on European commercial and regional aircraft programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OregonAero
• YouTubevimeo.com/oregonaero
• Facebookfacebook.com/oregonaero
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oregon-aero

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Oregon Aero