AirCorps Aviation Acquires Dusters & Sprayers Stearman Inventory

NOW HOME TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST INVENTORY OF STEARMAN PARTS

AIRCORPS DEPOT

Dusters & Sprayers Supply Inc., the worlds largest inventory of Stearman parts, has been acquired by AirCorps Depot, under the management of AirCorps Aviation.

The goal of AirCorps Depot is simple: preserve and provide world class parts at a fair price, have proactive solutions, and provide outstanding customer service. We strive to put more into the warbird industry than we take out, to innovate, and keep these iconic aircraft flying safely for future generations.

The AirCorps Depot website has been supporting aircraft and selling parts across the globe for more than 10 years. By acquiring the assets of Dusters & Sprayers under the AirCorps Depot name, we will manage and build this incredible Stearman inventory alongside our P-51 Mustang parts inventory, while also using its capital and network to acquire parts vital to the warbird industry.

We couldn’t have turned this dream into a reality without the support of the Dusters & Sprayers owner George Hector, the dedicated Dusters & Sprayers team, passionate supporters of the warbird industry who have recognized our capabilities, continue to support our work, and encouraged us to make this acquisition.

N2S-1 Bush Stearman Restored by AirCorps Aviation

This particular Stearman N2S-1 Bureau Number 3347, Serial Number 75-1124 is one of five known to still exist that were flown by President George Herbert Walker Bush as a cadet in the Navy. He flew 3347 in training in the cold Minnesota winter at Wold- Chamberlain Airfield, Naval Air Station in Minneapolis.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN & QUESTIONS

NOW WHAT?

We are thankful for, and excited to work with George, Kay, Laci, and Tim during this transition to keep parts available and to serve operators and maintainers. The Dusters & Sprayers team has carried the torch from it original American Dusting Company in the 1940s. We know from experience the amount of work behind the scenes it takes to serve operators and it takes dedicated people to keep airplanes operating safely.

WHEN WILL YOU MOVE THE INVENTORY?

We will be packaging all the parts throughout June at Dusters & Sprayers.

You might think really, that incredible inventory is huge, no way you can do that. Our prior move of the P-51 Mustang inventory from Chino California closed on February 10th, we packaged, loaded and had the entire inventory in Bemidji, MN shipping our first order from the acquired assets 26 days from closing.

CAN I STILL ORDER?

Yes. During this pre-move period continue to order parts through the Dusters & Sprayers main line and email.

We will announce a final day for order fulfillment prior to initiating the move. Until we announce the move or tell you to do otherwise, continue to do business as usual. We want to keep you operating and flying safely.

WILL PRICES GO UP?

That is the first common comment and perception we’ve heard in the past with these changes.

We have a team of nearly 70 at AirCorps Aviation ready to serve. Our PMA quality system will take on and absorb the over 400 PMA approvals that Dusters & Sprayers held.

Our team is also made up of operators, owners, maintainers, fabricators and restorers. We know the marketplace, and we recognize the importance of price, quality and the balance of having parts you need in stock.

When we received the P-51 Mustang inventory we moved more prices down than we moved up. We continue to strive to control prices while also ensuring stock.

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Aligning our AirCorps team, FAA Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA), fabrication and engineering services, and component shop with this inventory will allow us to respond to and meet the needs of Stearman owners, operators and shops.

Erik Hokuf

General Manager - AirCorps Aviation

There are often moonshots while building a business. Goals so big that you can’t achieve them until you grow into the business that can. Twelve years ago, in the early days of AirCorps Aviation, with just four partners who were working on the road, without a shop, running up warbirds in the parking lot of a former beer distributorship, the idea of buying legacy warbird inventories was a moonshot.

The quote from Henry Ford comes to mind “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

The success and support of AirCorps Depot over the past 14 months after acquiring the world’s largest P-51 Mustang inventory has been incredible. That support allows us to do more of what we love. That work is gratifying beyond words, but not always as glamorous as it seems from the outside. We still have much to learn, but working for great people, and with great people, has been a key to turning the moonshots into reality.

WHY WE PURCHASED THE DUSTERS & SPRAYERS INVENTORY

BELIEVE

We believe in the warbird industry, and will provide the best support we can to operators and maintainers.

TEAM

We have the experience, personnel, knowledge, and resources, as well as the space to manage this inventory.

PROVEN

We serve the warbird market by providing parts, services, knowledge, & resources to support the industry.

potential

The inventory compliments our abilities to repair, overhaul, and develop new parts through our quality systems.

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We are excited to manage the responsibility of this inventory not with the sole intent of depleting it, but instead to build, replenish, maintain it. Most importantly we will listen to the industry and proactively respond to what the Stearman market needs.

Eric Trueblood

VP - Sales / Marketing - AirCorps Aviation

AirCorps Aviation has gone from 4 partners running engines in a former beer distributor parking lot, to a thriving shop of nearly 70 employees who serve both the warbird and broader aerospace markets. AirCorps Depot, our active FAA PMA Quality System, and component shop are regularly producing, shipping and overhauling parts to serve operators globally. Strategic investments have resulted in AirCorps being one of only 120 companies globally to be accepted into the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Among our proudest achievements is that our first warbird customers have continued to return to AirCorps again and again for the world class restorations we are now known for.