We are S & T Aircraft

Humble Beginnings

Our founder, Orville Turner, begin Engine Accessory work at L & H Supply, Inc., located at 4212 West Lovers Lane in Dallas, Texas. The knowledge and experience he gained working along side L. H. Lucky (president of L & H Supply, Inc.), was invaluable as Orville continued his passion. While L & H Lucky, Inc. is no longer in business, it was the first stepping stone in the birth of S & T Aircraft.

Pictured is an aerial photo of West Lovers Lane in Dallas, Texas.

Gaining Experience

Orville left L & H Supply, Inc. in 1956, and joined forces with Ab Orman and John Yur to found Aero Accessories, Inc. of San Antonio. Through the founding of Aero Accessories, Inc., Orville learned what mistakes to avoid and how to create a great repair station where customers come first.

Pictured is the front entrance to Aero Accessories, Inc. located in San Antonio, Texas.

The Founding

In the fall of 1983, Orville left Aero Accessories, Inc and joined forces with Hoyt Smallwood to found S & T Aircraft. Their goal was to provide aircraft engine accessory service and support to the radial engine, vintage aircraft, and agriculture aviation industry. Beginning work from a small 10,000 square foot warehouse, S & T Aircraft rapidly began to grow.

Pictured is Mary, Orville’s wife, standing in front of the main entrance.

FAA Certification

In October of 1984, S & T Aircraft obtained its FAA Accessory Class 2 rating allowing the repair station to expand into the electrical accessory market. This rating provided authorization to perform maintenance on components that depend on electrical energy for its operation such as generators, starters, voltage regulators, electric motors, electrically driven fuel pumps, magnetos and more.

Pictured is a copy of our first FAA Certificate.

New Facilities

S & T Aircraft purchased 3 acres of farm land and built a 12,000 square foot building. While moving our operations from the old Pepsi Co. warehouse, we continued to deliver the quality aircraft components and support that our customers had come to expect.

Pictured is the ribbon cutting at our new building.

Expansion and Growth

Prior to 1996, S & T Aircraft would have to send damaged armatures and fields out to third-party rewind shops, but this caused longer repair times and higher costs for our customers. So we built an addition to our shop, bringing our total building size up to 22,000 square feet, and moved our rewind process in house. While we no longer perform rewinds in house, we still have the ability should the need arise. Rest assured, that we demand the highest quality from our vendors so that your components are perfect.

Pictured is the foundation and framing of our new building.

A Great Loss

Orville passed away in 1998, and it was a great time of mourning, not only for his friends, family and S & T Aircraft, but for many in the aviation industry. At that time, it was almost as if a plane had fallen from the sky. There wasn’t anyone in the radial engine industry, who hadn’t been friends with Orville, or had understood his commitment to service and support. Before his passing, he made sure to teach everything he knew to his wife Mary and his step-son Nathan. Because he passed his knowledge on, he setup S & T Aircraft to press forward and continue his legacy and commitment of service and support.

Pictured is a photo of Orville an Mary.

Parts Production

The radial and agriculture aviation industry was delt a significant blow and much needed aircraft parts were not available. Without these parts, vintage and radial aircraft would cease to operate, and much needed agriculture aircraft would not be available to farmers for aerial crop spraying which would impact the global food availability and pricing.

S & T Aircraft refused to allow this to happen and made the decision to branch out and begin producing parts under Repair Specifications and Parts Manufacturing Approval issued to us by the FAA. Working with the FAA and engineers, we were able to design, receive approval and begin manufacturing in record time preventing the aviation community from feeling the burden that the loss of these parts would have cause.

Pictured is a part produced by our manufacturing facility.

A Period of Mourning

Mary passed away in August of 2023, causing a huge shock to the aviation community, S & T Aircraft and her family. Mary was a frequent feature at many aviation conventions and had many friends in the community who felt the lost. Before her passing, she made sure to pass along everything Orville had taught her to her son Nathan and grandson Thomas. While the lost of Mary is still fresh, Nathan and Thomas have moved S & T Aircraft forward and positioned it for the future while still maintaining the quality and commitment that Orville and Mary had established many years ago.

Pictured is a photo of Mary ant the NAAA convention.

S & T Aircraft Today

Today, S & T Aircraft is considered by many in the aviation industry, to be the authority in vintage, radial and turbine engine accessories. Every day, we strive to accomplish accessory repairs and provide the support that our customers deserve. Whether you’re a one person operation, or a global air operator, we provide you with the personalized support that you need.

Pictured is a photo of S & T Aircraft.