Air Plains
Air Plains Services is a privately held FAA-certified repair station specializing in STC-approved engine upgrades, FAA-PMA parts manufacturing, custom avionics, and propeller upgrades for legacy Cessna piston aircraft, serving individual owners, flight schools, and commercial operators worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersWellington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Air Plains does
Air Plains Services, Corp. is a privately held, family-owned FAA Certified Repair Station founded in 1977 by Mike Kelley in Wellington, Kansas. The company specializes in Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)-approved engine and airframe modifications for legacy Cessna piston aircraft, with a portfolio of 31 approved STCs spanning 180HP, 260HP, and 300HP engine upgrades for the Cessna 172, 180, 182, and R182 families. Its core product line — the "Extreme Performance" (XP) engine upgrade kits — combines Lycoming O-360/IO-540 or Continental IO-520/IO-550 engines with matching propeller STCs (McCauley Blackmac, Hartzell Trailblazer/Scimitar), gross weight increase STCs, and complementary technologies such as SureFly/Lycoming electronic ignition, and is delivered as complete turn-key kits or installed at the Wellington facility.
The company manufactures over 665 FAA-PMA approved parts in-house (engine baffle kits, airboxes, brackets, spinner bulkheads, gaskets), operates an authorized avionics dealership for Garmin, Dynon, Avidyne, Genesys, and others, and provides custom panel fabrication, engine maintenance, and aircraft refurbishment services. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of upgrade kits and installations, ongoing FAA-PMA parts sales via shopairplains.com, propeller and gross weight STC licensing, custom avionics integration, and engine maintenance — with quote-based pricing positioned as comparable to a scheduled engine overhaul. Customers include flight schools (e.g., Silverhawk Aviation Academy), individual private aircraft owners, skydive operators (Carl Aero), floatplane operators, and business users, with installations shipped or performed across 17 U.S. states and 10+ countries. The April 2024 Transport Canada approval and prior EASA validation enable international expansion, while the December 2024 acquisition of Petersen Aviation expanded the company's STC portfolio and engineering depth.
Air Plains firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Air Plains
- Legal name
- Air Plains Services, Corp.
- Website
- https://airplains.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Air Plains Services is a privately held FAA-certified repair station specializing in STC-approved engine upgrades, FAA-PMA parts manufacturing, custom avionics, and propeller upgrades for legacy Cessna piston aircraft, serving individual owners, flight schools, and commercial operators worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Air Plains industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Engine Upgrades and Modifications
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Wing Aircraft Conversion & Modification (STC/Completions) (IMABAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Modification, Retrofit & Engineering (STC, Avionics Upgrades, Conversions) (TLAKAJAI), Avionics Integration, Wiring Harnesses & Installation Kits (IMABAFAL), Avionics & Electronics Repair (Bench Repair) (IMABALAE)
Keywords
Where Air Plains is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Air Plains business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Engine Upgrade Kits: Complete turn-key engine upgrade kits (172XP, 180XP, 182XP) sold for installation by Air Plains or shipped worldwide. Includes new engines, propellers, governors, and all installation components.
- FAA-PMA Parts: Over 500 PMA part numbers including airboxes, baffles, brackets, gaskets, and specialty parts manufactured in-house and sold through online store and direct sales.
- Installation Services: Engine upgrade installations performed at Air Plains facility in Wellington, KS by certified technicians. Includes full aircraft refurbishment services.
- Custom Avionics: Avionics panel fabrication, installation, and integration services. Authorized dealer for multiple avionics manufacturers including Garmin, Dynon, Avidyne.
- Propeller STCs: Propeller upgrades and STC packages for various Cessna models using McCauley, Hartzell, Sensenich, and MT propellers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Engine upgrade kits priced based on aircraft model and horsepower rating |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Air Plains product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Air Plains Services develops, manufactures, and installs FAA-approved engine upgrade kits (Supplemental Type Certificates) for legacy Cessna 172, 180, 182, and R182 aircraft, increasing horsepower from stock to 180HP, 260HP, or 300HP using Lycoming and Continental powerplants. The company also manufactures over 500 FAA-PMA replacement parts in-house, produces propeller upgrade STCs (McCauley Blackmac, Hartzell Trailblazer, Hartzell Scimitar), fabricates custom avionics panels, and provides full aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul support, and refurbishment services at its Wellington, Kansas facility, with kits shipped worldwide for installation by certified A&P mechanics.
Product overview
Air Plains Services is an industry leader in general aviation engine and airframe modifications for Cessna aircraft, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered around their Extreme Performance (XP) engine upgrade STCs. The core product line consists of five branded XP engine upgrades: two 180HP Lycoming O-360 upgrades for Cessna 172 models (including 172R), and three 300HP Continental IO-520/IO-550 upgrades for Cessna 180, 182, and R182 aircraft, plus 260HP Lycoming IO-540 upgrades for 182S/T and R182RG models. These engine upgrades are complemented by propeller STCs including McCauley Blackmac, Hartzell Trailblazer, and Hartzell Scimitar options. Air Plains also manufactures over 500 FAA-PMA parts in-house (baffles, airboxes, brackets, gaskets, spinner bulkheads) and offers advanced avionics solutions including the 172XPα Advanced Instrument Panel Kit with integrated Dynon and Avidyne systems. Additional products include SureFly/Lycoming electronic ignition systems, Alpha Systems AOA, Béringer brakes, Flint Aero fuel tanks, and gross weight increase STCs. Services include custom avionics fabrication, aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul support, and specialty fabrication, all backed by comprehensive technical support and worldwide kit shipping.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 172XP 180HP Engine Upgrade (Cessna 172 B-P) Lycoming O-360 180HP engine upgrade for Cessna 172 aircraft (models B through P), providing increased cruise speed, climb performance, and gross weight. STC SA4428SW. Targets Cessna 172 owners seeking XP performance at TBO replacement time.
- 172XP 180HP Engine Upgrade (Cessna 172R) Lycoming O-360 180HP engine upgrade specifically for Cessna 172R models (1996-2004 without G1000), with 100 lbs gross weight increase. Available via STC SA4428SW or SA10406SC. Targets owners of later Cessna 172R variants seeking power upgrade.
- 180XP 300HP Engine Upgrade
Quantifiable outcome
- 300-400 feet per minute increase in rate of climb for 172R 180HP upgrade
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Air Plains
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Air Plains technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Air Plains partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Petersen AviationcoreAir Plains acquired Petersen Aviation in December 2024, expanding their STC portfolio and engineering capabilities for Cessna piston aircraft upgrades.
- GarmincoreAir Plains named Authorized Garmin Dealer, offering Garmin avionics including G500, GTN 750, GTN 650, and other Garmin products as part of custom panel installations.
- Alamo AerospacecoreAir Plains acquired STC SA10406SC from Alamo Aerospace in 2018, adding the Cessna 172R 180HP upgrade option to their portfolio.
- Textron LycomingcoreSupplier of Lycoming O-360 and IO-540 engines for Air Plains 180HP and 260HP upgrade packages.
- Continental Aero TechcoreSupplier of Continental IO-520 and IO-550 engines for Air Plains 300HP XP upgrade packages.
- Hartzell Engine TechnologiesmajorAir Plains gained STC for Hartzell Trailblazer composite propeller for 300HP upgrades. Also offers Hartzell Scimitar propellers. Trailblazer STC is 10 lbs lighter than other options.
- McCauley PropellermajorSupplier of Blackmac and other propeller STCs for Cessna 180, 182, 185, 188, 206, 210 aircraft. Multiple STCs including SA00531WI, SA00727WI, SA00412WI.
- Power Flow Exhaust SystemsminorAir Plains is a preferred Power Flow Systems Dealer for exhaust upgrades compatible with their engine upgrade packages.
- AvidynemajorAuthorized avionics dealer offering IFD540, IFD440, IFD550, AMX240 Bluetooth Audio Panel as part of 172XPα Advanced Instrument Panel Kit.
- DynonmajorAuthorized dealer for Dynon HDX 10" PFD, 7" MFD, EFIS-D10A backup, ADS-B, Mode S transponder, engine monitoring, autopilot, and com radio systems.
- SureFlymajorApproved SureFly installer for electronic ignition modules (SIM) that replace traditional magnetos. Developed drop-in Lycoming EIS with SureFly for 180HP engines. No maintenance required through 2,400-hour TBO.
- Alpha Systems AOAminorAuthorized dealer for Alpha Systems angle of attack (AOA) products including four models with glare-shield mounted head-up displays, audio feedback, and optional dual displays.
- Béringer AerominorAir Plains added Béringer Aero wheel and brake kits as an optional accessory for upgraded aircraft.
- Guardian AvionicsminorAuthorized dealer for Guardian avionics products.
- BendixKingminorAuthorized dealer for BendixKing including TruTrak avionics products.
- Genesys AerosystemsminorAuthorized dealer for Genesys Aerosystems (a Moog Company) avionics.
- AppareominorAuthorized dealer for Appareo avionics products.
- L3minorAuthorized dealer for L3 avionics products.
- Aspen AvionicsminorAuthorized dealer for Aspen Avionics products.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Air Plains competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Tamarack Aerospace: Tamarack Aerospace is a general aviation modification company specializing in aerodynamic and active technology upgrades (originally active winglets and later the Jettison autofeather system) for Cessna aircraft. It addresses a similar legacy-Cessna upgrader customer but pursues aerodynamic rather than powertrain modifications.
- Power Flow Systems: Power Flow Systems produces and sells STC-approved tuned exhaust systems for legacy Cessna and Piper piston aircraft, often bundled with engine upgrades. As an Air Plains partner (Air Plains is a preferred dealer) and competing STC shop, it shares the same aftermarket upgrade customer.
- General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI): GAMI manufactures the GAMIjector® fuel injection system and other STC-based fuel system and engine modifications for general aviation aircraft. It serves the same FAA-STC-driven modification ecosystem targeting older GA engine owners, including the legacy Cessna single-engine fleet that Air Plains targets.
Others
- SureFly Aerospace: SureFly manufactures the solid-state electronic ignition module (SIM) that Air Plains co-developed and approved-installs for 180HP engines. It is a complementary technology partner within the same legacy Cessna modification ecosystem.
- Hartzell Propeller: Hartzell supplies the Trailblazer composite propeller STC and Scimitar propellers marketed through Air Plains' upgrade programs. It operates as both a propeller partner and an indirect competitor in the propeller-STC segment.
- Garmin International: Garmin is the dominant avionics supplier for general aviation and the largest behind Air Plains' panel installations. As an authorized Air Plains dealer with partnership relationships on the 172XPα kit, Garmin is a complementary channel partner serving the same Cessna upgrader market.
Broad incumbents
- Lycoming Engines: Lycoming is the dominant supplier of certified piston engines to general aviation (including the O-360, IO-540 series used in Air Plains upgrades). As the engine OEM, it controls new engine sales and certified overhaul infrastructure that compete and complement Air Plains' STC-based upgrade pathway.
- Continental Aerospace Technologies: Continental supplies the IO-520 and IO-550 engines behind Air Plains' 300HP upgrades and historically offered factory-direct 300HP Cessna STC programs. It is both a critical supplier and a potential competitor with broader OEM reach than Air Plains.
Direct peers
- Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies: Blackhawk Aerospace (acquired by Pratt & Whitney Canada) is the most prominent direct competitor, offering STC-based engine upgrades on Cessna 340/400/421 and King Air platforms. While more focused on twin-engine and turboprop conversions, the STC-based modification business model, FAA certification-heavy operations, and piston/turboprop owner customer base strongly overlap with Air Plains.
- LoPresto Aviation: LoPresto Aviation is a well-established Cessna engine upgrade shop in Farmersville, TX that holds STCs for engine conversions (notably Eclipse 550 turbo-normalizing systems and similar Cessna 210/R182 upgrades). It directly competes with Air Plains for the legacy Cessna piston owner customer seeking higher-performance engine upgrades.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Air Plains social profiles
Digital presenceAir Plains compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Air Plains financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Air Plains leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Air Plains subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Air Plains funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Air Plains 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 Air Plains
What does Air Plains do?
Air Plains Services develops, manufactures, and installs FAA-approved engine upgrade kits (Supplemental Type Certificates) for legacy Cessna 172, 180, 182, and R182 aircraft, increasing horsepower from stock to 180HP, 260HP, or 300HP using Lycoming and Continental powerplants. The company also manufactures over 500 FAA-PMA replacement parts in-house, produces propeller upgrade STCs (McCauley Blackmac, Hartzell Trailblazer, Hartzell Scimitar), fabricates custom avionics panels, and provides full aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul support, and refurbishment services at its Wellington, Kansas facility, with kits shipped worldwide for installation by certified A&P mechanics.
Is Air Plains a public or private company?
Air Plains is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Air Plains founded?
Air Plains was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Air Plains based?
Air Plains is headquartered in Wellington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Air Plains make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Engine Upgrade Kits are the primary driver. The others are FAA-PMA Parts, installation Services, custom Avionics and propeller STCs.
Who are Air Plains's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Tamarack Aerospace, Power Flow Systems and General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI). Others are SureFly Aerospace, Hartzell Propeller and Garmin International. Broad incumbents are Lycoming Engines and Continental Aerospace Technologies. Direct peers are Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies and LoPresto Aviation.
Does Air Plains have an API?
No public API is recorded for Air Plains.
What industry is Air Plains in?
Air Plains's product category is Aviation Engine Upgrades and Modifications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAAAI, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Conversion & Modification (STC/Completions), with a secondary code of TLAKAJAI, Modification, Retrofit & Engineering (STC, Avionics Upgrades, Conversions). Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3728.