Poplar Grove Airport

What Poplar Grove Airport does

Poplar Grove Airport (legal entity Poplar Grove Airmotive, Inc.) is a privately held, family-owned general aviation airport (FAA identifier C77) and full-service Fixed Base Operator located at 11619 Route 76 in Poplar Grove, Boone County, Illinois, less than one hour's drive from O'Hare International Airport. Founded in 1972 by Dick Thomas on 288 acres of former farmland and operated since 1994 by Steve and Tina Thomas, the airport hosts over 400 based aircraft across 202 hangars and serves the Northern Illinois, greater Chicago, and Southern Wisconsin general aviation community, with a 4,000-foot hard-surface runway with GPS approach and two 2,500-foot grass runways.

The company's core offering is aircraft engine and airframe service through Poplar Grove Airmotive, an FAA Certified Repair Station (YYBR664L) operating a 20,000+ sq.ft. facility that houses dedicated Airframe, Engine, and Accessory/Avionics Shops. The flagship product, the PGA Overhaul, is a multi-phase new-limit engine overhaul process for Continental and Lycoming engines involving disassembly, Zyglo and Magnaflux inspection, repair, assembly, and test-cell run, backed by a two-year or 500-hour warranty. Adjacent services include cylinder overhauls (active since 1993), Continental/Bendix and Slick magneto 500-hour inspections and overhauls, VFR/IFR avionics certification and transponder/altimeter services with 30+ years of expertise, and a parts department stocking Lycoming, Continental, Superior, and exchange components shipped daily via UPS domestically and internationally to Guam, Indonesia, Korea, and other countries. The company also operates an FAA-certified flight school with five full-time certified flight instructors offering private pilot through certified flight instructor ratings, supported by a rental fleet of Cessna 152 and 172 trainers, Piper J-3 Cub and Cessna 140 taildraggers, and a Piper Arrow III complex aircraft.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: hourly aircraft rental (Hobbs-meter usage-based billing), flight instruction, engine and component overhaul labor, parts sales, and — distinctively — long-duration real estate income from Bel Air Estates, an 180-acre residential fly-in community (100 homes with taxiway access, sold out within four years), and Bel Air North, a newer 50-lot hangar-home development. Pricing is publicly disclosed, ranging from $80 introductory flights up to $1,500 dual magneto overhauls and $350 IFR certifications. Customer acquisition relies on community-led channels including an annual fly-in event, the on-site EAA Chapter 1414, Ray Aviation Scholarships, and a website, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest presence rather than paid marketing.

Name

Poplar Grove Airport

Legal name

Poplar Grove Airmotive, Inc.

Website

https://poplargroveairmotive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Poplar Grove Airport is a family-owned general aviation FBO in Boone County, Illinois offering FAA-certified flight training, aircraft rental, piston-engine overhauls, avionics, parts, and fly-in residential real estate to pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation lifestyle residents across the Midwest and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

General Aviation Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (48819)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parts Distribution & Spares Management (Aftermarket) (IMABALAK), Ground Handling (Ramp, Baggage, Turnaround) (THABAIAC), Engine Control, Fuel & Ignition Systems (FADEC/Accessories) (IMABADAK)

Keywords

• General aviation services
• Flight training school
• Aircraft engine overhaul
• FAA certified repair station
• Fixed base operator

Headquarters

HQ city

Poplar Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Rental: Hourly rental rates based on Hobbs meter usage in 1/10th hour increments. Fleet includes Cessna trainers, tailwheel aircraft (Cub, Cessna 140), and complex aircraft (Piper Arrow)
2. Flight Training: Instruction from 5 full-time certified flight instructors, includes ground school and computerized testing for FAA written exams
3. Engine Overhaul: New limit engine overhauls for Continental and Lycoming engines with comprehensive repair and testing
4. Parts Sales: Airframe and engine parts inventory including Lycoming, Continental, Superior, and exchange programs. UPS shipments until 5:00 PM daily
5. FAA Repair Station Services: Airframe, engine, and accessory maintenance and overhaul services under FAA Certified Repair Station YYBR664L

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Poplar Grove Airport operates as a full-service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) providing FAA-certified aircraft engine overhauls, airframe maintenance, avionics installation, parts sales, flight training, and aircraft rental from a 20,000+ sq.ft. facility. The business combines traditional general aviation services with two adjacent residential fly-in communities (Bel Air Estates and Bel Air North), serving pilots and aircraft owners from Northern Illinois and internationally through engine and parts shipments.

Product overview

Poplar Grove Airport operates as a comprehensive general aviation community centered around its FAA-certified engine overhaul facility, Poplar Grove Airmotive (Repair Station YYBR664L). The core product portfolio centers on aircraft engine services including the flagship PGA Overhaul service, which delivers new-limit engine overhauls through a rigorous multi-phase process. Supporting services include cylinder overhaul, magneto services, avionics installation, airframe maintenance, and a parts department. The airport also operates an active flight school with 5 full-time instructors and a rental fleet of Cessna trainers and taildraggers. Adjacent real estate developments include Bel Air Estates (residential fly-in community) and Bel Air North (hangar home lots). Additional offerings include a pilot shop and EAA Chapter 1414 scholarships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bel Air Estates: A residential fly-in community located on 180 acres adjacent to the primary runway with 140 home sites, 100 of which have access to the airport via segregated taxiways.
• Bel Air North

Products and services

• Engine Shop (FAA Certified Repair Station YYBR664L) Aircraft engine overhaul and maintenance services performed by FAA-certified technicians in a 20,000+ sq.ft. facility, providing new-limit overhauls to factory specifications for Continental and Lycoming engines.
• PGA Overhaul Flagship engine overhaul service that follows a multi-phase process including disassembly, Zyglo and Magnaflux inspection, repair, assembly, and test-cell run to deliver engines at new-limit factory specifications.
• Cylinder Overhaul Service Cylinder overhaul services for Lycoming and Continental Motors (CMI) cylinders, overhauled to factory-new specifications and warranty-backed for 6 months or 240 hours.
• Magneto Overhaul and 500-Hour Services Magneto inspection, overhaul, and certification services for Continental/Bendix and Slick magnetos, including 500-hour inspections and an exchange program for various aircraft magnetos.
• Avionics Services Avionics installation, inspection, and maintenance services across a wide range of airframes, including VFR and IFR certification, transponder service, altimeter service, and troubleshooting.
• Poplar Grove Airmotive Airframe Shop Airframe maintenance and repair services handling everything from oil changes to major inspections and repairs, including metal-working and antique/vintage aircraft expertise.
• Poplar Grove Airport Flight School FAA-certified flight training with five full-time certified instructors offering private pilot, instrument, commercial, and certified flight instructor ratings, using Cessna trainers, Piper J-3 Cub, and Cessna 140 taildraggers.
• Aircraft Rental Fleet Fleet of rental aircraft available by hourly Hobbs-meter usage, including Cessna 152 and 172 trainers, Piper J-3 Cub and Cessna 140 tailwheel aircraft, and Piper Arrow III complex retractable gear.
• Parts Department Aircraft parts inventory featuring new and serviceable parts for Lycoming and Continental engines, including starters, alternators, carburetors, tires, batteries, and cylinders with UPS shipping until 5:00 PM daily.
• Pilot Shop Retail pilot supplies including log books, headsets, books, hats, T-shirts, jackets, hoodies, and gift certificates.
• Bel Air Estates Residential Fly-In Community 180-acre residential fly-in community adjacent to the primary runway, with 140 home sites of which 100 have direct access via segregated taxiways; development began in 1994 and home sites sold out within four years.
• Bel Air North Hangar Home Development Aviation lifestyle development featuring 50 small lots for hangar homes with living space ranging from 1,000-3,000 sq.ft., adjacent to grass runways and the 4,000-foot hard surface runway with GPS approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 aircraft based at the airport with 202 hangars
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EAA Chapter 1414coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site EAA chapter operating at the airport with demonstrations of running aircraft engines (Curtiss OX-5), shop tours, and educational programs. Chapter supports scholarship opportunities through Ray Aviation Scholarships program.
• Bel Air EstatescoreOthersResidential fly-in community adjacent to the airport featuring 100 homes with runway access via segregated taxiways. Community began in 1994 and sold out in four years. Managed by the airport owners with no HOA challenges.
• Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels MuseumminorOthersAviation museum located on airport property with land donated by the Thomas family. Offers outreach programs, flight camps, and scholarships.
• Bel Air North DevelopmentminorOthersNew aviation lifestyle development featuring 50 small lots for hangar homes with living space ranging from 1,000-3,000 sq ft. Pre-sale lots priced from $61,000.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Million Air: Multi-site FBO chain providing fueling, hangar, and concierge services to general and business aviation. Comparable FBO service mix to Poplar Grove's on-site offerings, though at national scale.
• Signature Flight Support: Global FBO chain with extensive MRO and flight services. Comparable to Poplar Grove's full-service FBO offering (fuel, maintenance, hangar) at a much larger scale, serving overlapping piston/turbine general aviation customers.
• Atlantic Aviation: Largest US FBO network with 100+ locations, offering fuel, hangar, maintenance, and flight training-adjacent services. Comparable because Poplar Grove operates as an independent full-service FBO competing for the same general aviation customer base, albeit at a single location.

Others

• Lycoming Engines: OEM of Lycoming piston engines with authorized overhaul centers. Comparable as Poplar Grove is a Lycoming overhaul specialist in their authorized service ecosystem.
• Continental Motors: OEM of Continental piston engines and authorized service network. Comparable because Poplar Grove's overhaul service is built on Continental engines and parts supply chain.

Direct peers

• Airmark Components: Specialized magneto and ignition components overhaul for Continental/Bendix and Slick magnetos. Direct overlap with Poplar Grove's Magneto 500-hour inspection and overhaul service.
• Air Repair: Specialized Continental and Lycoming engine overhaul shop. Directly competes with Poplar Grove Airmotive for the same piston-engine owner market nationally.
• Eagle Creek Aviation: Independent FBO at Eagle Creek Airpark (KEYE) in Indianapolis offering flight training, aircraft management, MRO, and fly-in residential community. Closest direct peer to Poplar Grove, combining identical FBO + training + residential airpark model.
• Yankee Pacific: Piston engine overhaul specialist serving Continental and Lycoming operators, similar in customer overlap to Poplar Grove's PGA Overhaul service.
• Modern Aero: Independent FBO/MRO at Washington-Wilkes County airport offering engine overhauls and flight training. Comparable as a single-site independent competing in piston-engine MRO and training alongside Poplar Grove.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvNG1eoU7GwXfcUYlw5iy_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/poplargroveairportC77
• Pinterestpoplargroveairmotive.com/photos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poplar-grove-airport

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Poplar Grove Airport