King Aerospace Growth Leads to Facility Expansion
King Aerospace has outgrown its four hangars’ 200,000 square feet of space at the 2,900-acre Ardmore Industrial Airpark, northeast of Ardmore, OK, and is finalizing plans to build a new hangar that will add 90,000 square feet, a 45 percent increase. The additional footage will accommodate multiple large aircraft and shop facilities that will support large aircraft interior projects. Construction could take a year to 15 months.
The Dallas-based, worldwide provider of corporate and military aviation services has enjoyed consistent year-over-year growth in its services, which include maintenance, avionics, paint and interior refurbishment.
The company has also enjoyed its presence at the airpark, part of the Ardmore Municipal Airport (ADM), since 1993. Founder Jerry King was especially attracted by the two runways. The longest, at 9,000 feet, accommodates commercial airliners and ultra-long-range business jets. The other, at 5,300 feet, serves turboprop planes and light-to-midsize jets. A BNSF railroad spur, solid utilities and the benefits of a rural location were also advantages.
His son, company president Jarid King, says the relationship with the city of Ardmore has only grown over the years. “We appreciate the city’s ongoing improvements to infrastructure and commitment to help companies like King Aerospace grow,” says Jarid King. “Our city partners are always there for us, helping in ways large and small.”
The airpark started life as a World War II-era U.S. Army base. Ardmore continues to invest in the airpark, including a reconstructed control tower that opened in 2018. To accommodate clients from around the world, King Aerospace developed and opened its own restaurant concept, JAKE’s Joint, named for Jerry Allan King-Echevarria (JAKE). The menu offers a mix of chef-prepared, gourmet cuisine and old-style, country favorites. “The level of food served reflects our overall commitment to excellence,” says King. “We like our clients to leave satisfied in ways large and small, and they almost always do. We live by our motto, ‘No excuses.’”
Ardmore sits between DFW International (Dallas) and Will Rogers World Airport (Oklahoma City), 90 miles from each. King Aerospace’s corporate aircraft division supports VVIP aircraft, specializing in the Boeing Business Jet, and serves as a primary subcontractor for the company’s military/government aircraft division. The Ardmore location acts as a full-service maintenance and modification depot facility. It is AS9110C-certified, is an FAA- and EASA-certified repair station, and offers avionics, interiors, modifications and paint.