Aerotronics
Aerotronics is a privately held, FAA-certified avionics sales, installation, and service company in Billings, Montana, serving commercial, general aviation, and experimental/homebuilt aircraft owners with custom instrument panels, avionics upgrades, and pilot supplies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersBillings, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aerotronics does
Aerotronics, Inc. is a privately held, FAA-certified avionics sales, installation, and service company headquartered at Billings Logan International Airport in Montana, operating from a 15,000+ square foot facility with approximately 20 employees. Founded in 1962 by Richard Van Luchene and A.J. Lundquist, the company serves three primary customer groups: commercial operators (including helicopters and light jets), general aviation aircraft owners requiring certified avionics maintenance and upgrades, and experimental/homebuilt aircraft builders. Its core technology is custom instrument panel fabrication, anchored by a proprietary CPC plug connector system that enables fully pre-wired, pre-tested "Plug and Play" panels shipped worldwide to experimental builders. The company is a recognized leader in the experimental segment, maintaining extensive experience across homebuilt models from Van's (RV series), Glasair, Lancair, Zenith, and Velocity aircraft.
Aerotronics monetizes through four revenue streams: (1) sales of new and used avionics hardware from manufacturers including Garmin, Dynon, Avidyne, Bendix/King, and L-3 Harris; (2) custom instrument panel fabrication for experimental aircraft on a quote-based, deposit-secured production schedule; (3) FAA-certified installation, maintenance, and repair services including autopilot installation, glass cockpit upgrades, ADS-B compliance, and comprehensive system renovations; and (4) e-commerce pilot supplies via the wholly-owned Avionicsmall.com storefront. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led with deep direct engagement from design through installation, supplemented by an annual branded presence at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, EAA chapter presentations, customer testimonials, and community channels. The company is independently co-owned by Steve Vold (General Manager) and Gary Wirrell (Vice President), with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or M&A activity.
Aerotronics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aerotronics
- Legal name
- Aerotronics, Inc.
- Website
- https://aerotronics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aerotronics is a privately held, FAA-certified avionics sales, installation, and service company in Billings, Montana, serving commercial, general aviation, and experimental/homebuilt aircraft owners with custom instrument panels, avionics upgrades, and pilot supplies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aerotronics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Avionics Sales, Installation, and Repair Services
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Avionics Integration, Wiring Harnesses & Installation Kits (IMABAFAL)
Keywords
Where Aerotronics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Billings
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aerotronics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Avionics Sales: Sale of new and used avionics equipment including radios, GPS, transponders, autopilots, and display systems from major manufacturers including Garmin, Dynon, Avidyne, Bendix/King, L-3, and others.
- Custom Instrument Panel Fabrication: Design and fabrication of custom Plug and Play instrument panels for experimental aircraft, shipped worldwide. Includes wiring, assembly, and testing of complete avionics suites.
- Installation and Repair Services: FAA-certified repair station providing avionics installation, maintenance, and repair services for certified and experimental aircraft. Services include autopilot installation, glass cockpit upgrades, and comprehensive system renovations.
- Pilot Supplies: Online sales of pilot supplies including headsets, accessories, portable GPS devices, and handheld radios through Avionicsmall.com.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom Panel Fabrication - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Aerotronics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aerotronics sells new and used avionics, fabricates custom pre-wired Plug and Play instrument panels for experimental aircraft using its CPC Plug connector system, and delivers FAA-certified installation, maintenance, and repair services for both certified and experimental aircraft. It also operates the Avionicsmall.com online pilot-supplies store and offers a loaner/extension support program (Aero-Plus) to customers ranging from individual homebuilders to commercial operators and government fleets.
Product overview
Aerotronics is an avionics sales, installation, and service company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on aircraft instrument panels and avionics systems. The core offerings include Plug and Play Panels (pre-built, pre-wired panels for experimental aircraft) and Custom Instrument Panels (bespoke panels for certified and experimental aircraft). Supporting services include avionics maintenance and repair (FAA-certified), new and used avionics sales, loaner avionics programs, aircraft upgrades, and hands-on training. The company also operates AviOnics Mall, an online retail platform for pilot supplies. The products serve fixed-wing, rotor-wing, commercial, general aviation, and experimental aircraft customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Avionicsmall: Online shopping platform for pilot supplies and avionics products operated by Aerotronics Inc.
Products and services
- Plug and Play Instrument Panels for Experimental Aircraft Custom-fabricated, pre-wired instrument panels built in-house for experimental/homebuilt aircraft using a proprietary CPC Plug connector system; designed to plug into compatible avionics gear and ship worldwide for owner-installation.
- Custom Instrument Panel Fabrication Bespoke panel design, CNC fabrication, and pre-wiring for individual aircraft owners and experimental builders who need a tailored avionics layout rather than an off-the-shelf Plug and Play panel.
- Avionics Installation Services FAA-certified installation of new avionics equipment into certified and experimental aircraft, performed at the Billings Logan International Airport facility by the company's certified staff.
- FAA-Certified Avionics Maintenance and Repair Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of avionics systems under Aerotronics' FAA Repair Station Certificate (CRS# NH2RO31L), serving general aviation, commercial, and government operators.
- New & Used Avionics Sales Sale of new avionics from major manufacturers (e.g., Garmin, Dynon, others) and used avionics equipment to aircraft owners, homebuilders, and operators.
- Avionicsmall.com Pilot Supplies Store Online retail store operated by Aerotronics for pilot supplies and accessories, complementing the in-shop avionics sales channel.
- Loaner Avionics Program Loaner avionics equipment provided to customers whose own units are in for service or upgrades, intended to reduce aircraft downtime during maintenance events.
- Aero-Plus Avionics Support Program Post-installation support and service program providing ongoing avionics coverage, troubleshooting, and customer support beyond the initial installation.
- Avionics Demonstrations and Training Demo equipment access and training offered by Aerotronics so customers can evaluate avionics before purchase and learn how to operate installed systems.
Companies that use Aerotronics
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aerotronics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Aerotronics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GarmincoreMajor avionics manufacturer whose products are sold and installed by Aerotronics. Products include G600, G900, GPS navigators, transponders, and ADS-B systems. Garmin equipment is featured extensively in customer panels.
- Dynon AvionicscoreManufacturer of SkyView and EFIS systems prominently featured in Aerotronics experimental panels. Featured in numerous customer builds and demo panels.
- AvidynecoreAvionics manufacturer whose products are sold and installed. Products include flight displays and integrated avionics systems.
- Bendix/KingcoreEstablished avionics brand represented and installed by Aerotronics. Products include radios, navigation equipment, and autopilot systems.
- L-3 HarriscoreGeneral aviation avionics manufacturer whose products are sold and installed. Formerly L-3 Communication Systems.
- Van's AircraftcoreLeading homebuilt aircraft manufacturer. Aerotronics has extensive experience building panels for all RV models (RV-4 through RV-14) and is recommended by the company. Multiple customer testimonials reference Van's aircraft.
- Glasair AviationcoreHomebuilt aircraft manufacturer whose aircraft are featured prominently in Aerotronics gallery. Experience with Sportsman, TWTT program, Glasair II, III, and Glastar models.
- LancaircoreHomebuilt aircraft manufacturer with extensive gallery presence. Aerotronics has built panels for Legacy, IV, IV-P, ES, Evolution, Mako, 320, and 360 models.
- Zenith AircraftminorHomebuilt aircraft manufacturer for which Aerotronics builds custom panels for Zenith, Zodiac, and Zenair models including 601, 701, 750, and 801.
- Velocity AircraftminorHomebuilt aircraft manufacturer whose aircraft are featured in Aerotronics gallery, including Velocity XL models.
- Edwards Jet CenterminorLocal FBO at Billings Logan International Airport providing aircraft maintenance and fuel services. Referenced as part of Aerotronics coordination network.
- Aircraft Refinishing Inc.minorLocal aircraft interior and refinishing service coordinated with Aerotronics for complete aircraft upgrade projects.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Aerotronics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SteinAir: SteinAir specializes in custom-built Plug-and-Play avionics panels for Van's RV-series and other experimental aircraft, competing head-to-head with Aerotronics in the homebuilt builder community.
- Avionics Shoppe: Avionics Shoppe is an avionics sales and installation business serving general and experimental aviation with custom panel work, directly comparable in product set and customer profile to Aerotronics.
- Pacific Coast Avionics: Pacific Coast Avionics is a FAA-certified avionics dealer and installer with strong focus on experimental and general aviation custom panels, very comparable to Aerotronics' core offering and target customer base.
- Gulf Coast Avionics: Gulf Coast Avionics is an avionics retailer, installer, and experimental panel builder operating a similar sales-installation-service model targeting general aviation and experimental pilots.
Broad incumbents
- Dynon Avionics: Dynon is a leading experimental avionics manufacturer whose SkyView and EFIS products are prominently featured in Aerotronics panels, providing both partnership upside and potential direct-customer alternatives.
- Avidyne: Avidyne is an avionics OEM supplying integrated flight displays and safety systems that Aerotronics installs; an incumbent in the same value chain with overlapping customer relationships.
- Garmin (Aviation): Garmin is the dominant avionics OEM whose products Aerotronics sells and installs. While a partner, Garmin's broader retail and dealer ecosystem competes for the same general aviation retrofit business and shapes product availability.
Others
- Aircraft Spruce & Specialty: Aircraft Spruce is a broad aviation parts and pilot supplies retailer; comparable to Avionicsmall.com as an e-commerce pilot-supplies channel and overlapping in some avionics categories.
- Sporty's Pilot Shop: Sporty's is a major pilot supplies retailer and flight school operator with strong brand recognition in GA; parallels Avionicsmall as a competitor for online pilot commerce and head-to-head in headset/accessory sales.
Emerging players
- FlyEFlight: FlyEFlight is an avionics installer and custom-panel fabricator for experimental aircraft (particularly RV-series), offering comparable Plug-and-Play and harness work to a shared customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aerotronics social profiles
Digital presenceAerotronics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aerotronics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Aerotronics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Aerotronics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aerotronics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aerotronics
What does Aerotronics do?
Aerotronics sells new and used avionics, fabricates custom pre-wired Plug and Play instrument panels for experimental aircraft using its CPC Plug connector system, and delivers FAA-certified installation, maintenance, and repair services for both certified and experimental aircraft. It also operates the Avionicsmall.com online pilot-supplies store and offers a loaner/extension support program (Aero-Plus) to customers ranging from individual homebuilders to commercial operators and government fleets.
When was Aerotronics founded?
Aerotronics was founded in 1962. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aerotronics based?
Aerotronics is headquartered in Billings, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aerotronics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Avionics Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Instrument Panel Fabrication, installation and Repair Services and pilot Supplies.
Who are Aerotronics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SteinAir, Avionics Shoppe, Pacific Coast Avionics and Gulf Coast Avionics. Broad incumbents are Dynon Avionics, Avidyne and Garmin (Aviation). Others are Aircraft Spruce & Specialty and Sporty's Pilot Shop. FlyEFlight is listed as an emerging player.
Does Aerotronics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aerotronics.
What industry is Aerotronics in?
Aerotronics's product category is Avionics Sales, Installation, and Repair Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAFAL, Avionics Integration, Wiring Harnesses & Installation Kits. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.