Duncan Aviation has completed a stunning interior refurbishment on a Global 5000 at its full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. The transformation reflects quiet luxury, bold textures and bespoke functionality. This aircraft now exudes modern sophistication through expert craftsmanship and richly layered design details.

Every element, including seating, soft goods, veneers, plating, countertops and flooring, was updated or replaced.

The project began with a clear and inspired vision from the owner, who provided Duncan Aviation designer Jaime Blanken with colour preferences and reference imagery to guide the creative direction. To ensure the vision aligned with the material selections, senior completions and modifications sales representative Matt Spain personally travelled to meet with the customer, presenting Blanken's curated palette.

Seeing a new trend of monochromatic schemes in aircraft cabins, Blanken skillfully achieved harmony through the thoughtful layering of complementary textures, luxurious dark veneers and refined satin platinum plating. The result is a striking interior that commands attention, delivering an immediate and memorable visual impact upon entering the cabin.

At the heart of the cabin are custom-fabricated seat coverings that blend plush, wool-blend fabric and leather, an innovative approach that offers more comfort and creative design flexibility than traditional all-leather seating.

“It feels more like an upscale living space and gives the aircraft a different feel,” says Blanken. “The angled armrests add a modern edge while enhancing functionality and style.”

It's not just about looks, these combinations help the seat breathe better, hold up longer in high-use spots and just give the space more personality. It adds depth and makes the whole design feel more custom and unique.

The lower sidewalls were finished in an embossed tipped leather, adding a tactile dimension, while the upper sidewalls, PSU and headliner remained a classic, lighter grey to brighten the space. A subtly patterned carpet and stone-replicating luxury vinyl tile flooring in the galley tie the interior together.

The Duncan Aviation team introduced a sleek, modern redesign of the main entry door steps. Expertly crafted by Duncan Manufacturing Solutions (DMS), the new one-piece modular stainless-steel step treads feature a custom Duncan Aviation design with precision-machined neoprene rubber inlays. Each step was meticulously machined, assembled and installed to deliver a refined, durable finish that reduces slipping and enhances the aircraft's entry experience.

Because the sink in the crew lavatory had a unique size and shape, there were virtually no off-the-shelf options available to purchase.

“Once Jaime located a suitable Corian colour, automated systems master specialist Kevin Jones developed a 3D model and used his extensive experience with Corian to bring the concept to life,” explains Duncan Aviation interior cabinet shop/CNC team leader Nick Dahlberg.

The sink is constructed from several layers of Corian that were glued together and then machined to form the bowl. Once the bowl was completed, it was bonded to the main countertop.

“This was a method the team has been considering for some time, and given that the aircraft was originally configured this way, it felt like the right opportunity to move forward with this method,” he goes on. “The team nailed it and provided a custom, one-off product for the customer.”