King Aerospace completed routine maintenance, avionics work and paint and interior refurbishments on 40 Boeing Business Jets, Boeing 737s and Boeing 757s and 45 corporate aircraft last year at its facilities in Ardmore, Oklahoma. In 2018, it completed work on 29 Boeing aircraft and 44 corporate aircraft.

“Our growth reflects a stronger economy, of course, but also a growing awareness of our many advantages, from doing the job right the first time to delivering on time and on budget,” says president Jarid King. “Customers have come to trust and rely on us, and they're spreading the word to others.”

King's Ardmore facility includes four hangars offering 200,000 sq ft of space. In addition to VVIP and corporate aircraft, it also provides depot services for military and government aircraft. The Dallas-based, worldwide provider of corporate and military aviation services has enjoyed a presence at the Ardmore Municipal Airport (ADM) since 1993. Founder Jerry King was specially attracted by the two runways. The longest, at 9,000 ft, accommodates commercial airliners and ultra-long-range business jets. The other, at 5,300 ft, serves turboprop planes and light-to-midsize jets. A BNSF railroad spur is another advantage.

Ardmore sits between DFW International in Dallas and Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. Each is 90 miles away. King Aerospace's corporate aircraft division supports VVIP aircraft, specialising 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, is AS9110C certified, is a FAA and EASA certified repair station and offers avionics, interiors, modifications and paint. On any given day, walking through the Ardmore facilities, it is possible to see everything from a head-of-state aircraft getting an interior upgrade to a business magnate's BBJ undergoing engine maintenance and repair.

The Ardmore Industrial Airpark started life as a World War II-era U.S. Army base. The city continues to invest in the airpark, including a reconstructed control tower that opened in 2018. To accommodate clients from around the world, King Aerospace has developed and opened its own restaurant concept, Jake's Joint, named after Jerry Allan King-Echevarria (JAKE). The menu offers gourmet cuisine complemented by old-style, country favourites. Chef Larry Core, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has worked in high-end kitchens, aircraft and yachts worldwide. Meals at Jake's are served on vintage china personally sourced by Jerry King.

“The level of food service reflects our overall attention to details and commitment to excellence,” Jarid King continues. “We like our clients to leave satisfied in ways large and small, and they almost always do.”