This year marks Waco-based Blackhawk Modifications' 20th year in business, a milestone the company is celebrating with a facility expansion that doubles its Waco, Texas hangar and office capacity. Blackhawk has also announced the alignment of several mutually owned aviation-based companies under one umbrella that will be branded as Blackhawk Aerospace: Blackhawk Modifications, Blackhawk Composites, Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions (formerly known as Vector-Hawk Aerospace) and Blackhawk Aircraft Sales. This change will include newly designed logos, websites, graphics, collateral, marketing materials and streamlined consistency between the companies.

Blackhawk recently purchased an adjacent 10,000 sq ft hangar and offices to house its growing sales and marketing teams. The new facility doubles Blackhawk's footprint on the Waco Regional airport and will showcase aircraft for sale that have been refurbished under the popular Phoenix by Blackhawk programme.

“Blackhawk Aerospace represents the culmination of each company's core competencies coming together to make a sum that is greater than the parts,” says Blackhawk president and CEO Jim Allmon. “This physical expansion and brand unity is a milestone that successfully positions us for the next 20 years. I take great pride in celebrating with our dedicated employees, dealers and our growing list of satisfied customers who utilise the Blackhawk advantage every flight.”

In 2006, Blackhawk moved its headquarters to Waco and opened up the first new hangar constructed on the airport since the 1950s. Six years later, it built a new east wing that doubled its office space to give room for its expanding engineering/research and development department.

In its 20-year history, it has engineered, certified and offered the turboprop aircraft market over 30 individual supplemental type certificates (STCs). These STCs are authorisations from the FAA that allow technological advancements in engine design and other ancillary products to be incorporated onto older aircraft that were placed into service decades ago.

Blackhawk's line of XP Engine+ upgrades deliver improved efficiency and more available horsepower, which in turn lowers operating costs and improves safety. To date, there are over 800 customers worldwide who are flying with one of the many Blackhawk XP Engine+ upgrades. Every Blackhawk operator has the flexibility to save dozens of flight hours and tens of thousands of dollars year after year from flying with the advanced engine technology.

The success of the Phoenix by Blackhawk programme is the primary driver for the need for more hangar space. This total aircraft refurbishment programme incorporates new paint, interior, avionics, Blackhawk XP Engine+ upgrades and other airframe improvements that make the aircraft better than new in many cases, at a more favourable price point. Having a Phoenix aircraft pre-built saves customers money and months of time that is required to complete the refurbishment and upgrade process.

Blackhawk Aerospace Composites is located in Morgantown, Kentucky and offers capabilities to design, prototype and build composite components for aerospace applications, including customer solutions to meet specific performance objectives. Its certifications include FAA/PMA approvals, FAA Composite Manufacturing Facility, NIAR Qualified Processes and an AS-9100 Rev C certification (listed as Blackhawk Composites Incorporated).

Finally, Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions, located in Huntsville, Alabama, provides turboprop engine performance solutions to keep government and military operations fully effective despite aging fleets and shrinking budgets. Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions is AS-9100 Rev D certified.

The Blackhawk Aerospace brand will create an all-encompassing aircraft upgrades, modifications and performance enhancement company.