Aircraft Sales and Parts

{{Short description|U.S. kit aircraft and parts manufacturer}} {{Infobox company | name = Aircraft Sales and Parts | logo = Aircraft Sales and Parts (logo).png | type = | genre = | foundation = 1988 | founder = Brent Holomis | location_city = [[Sealy, Texas]] | location_country = [[United States]] | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = [[Aerospace]] | products = [[Homebuilt aircraft]], [[Ultralight aircraft]], [[aircraft part]]s | services = | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = John and Kim Couch | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = * Summit Powered Parachutes * Steel Breeze Powered Parachute * ppccanopies.com * ulparts.com | homepage = {{URL|https://aeroplanemanufactory.com/}} | footnotes = | intl = }}

'''Aircraft Sales and Parts''' (ASAP) is an American [[homebuilt aircraft|kit aircraft]] and parts manufacturer, founded in [[Vernon, British Columbia]] and moved to [[Sealy, Texas]] in 2013 and renamed the '''Aeroplane Manufactory'''.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pages B-9, B-70 & B-72. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="ASAPHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultralight.ca/asaphistory.htm |title=ASAP History |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=ASAP |year=2002 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601024508/http://www.ultralight.ca/asaphistory.htm |archivedate=2009-06-01 }}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2007">Downey, Julia: ''2008 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 37. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 105. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 89. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="olgultralight">{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroplanemanufactory.com/ |title=Aeroplane Manufactory Maker of B |publisher=Aeroplane Manufactory |date=January 2015 |accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref> In 2023 the Aeroplane Manufactory sold its inventory and aircraft production rights to Legacy AIR1.<ref name=":0" />

ASAP produced a line of single and two place ultralight kit aircraft, powered parachutes and parts though the parent company and also through its divisions Summit Powered Parachutes, Steel Breeze Powered Parachutes, ppccanopies.com and ulparts.com.<ref name="ASAPDivs">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultralight.ca/corpdivisions.htm |title=Corporate Divisions |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=ASAP |year=2002 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601023419/http://www.ultralight.ca/corpdivisions.htm |archivedate=2009-06-01 }}</ref>

==History== The company was founded by Brent Holomis in 1988. Holomis owned a [[Birdman Chinook|Birdman Chinook WT2S]] two-seat ultralight and when [[Birdman Enterprises]] went out of business in late 1987 it left Chinook owners without a source of parts.<ref name="ASAPHist" /><ref name="JohnsonJan08">{{cite web|url = http://www.bydanjohnson.com/index.cfm?b=3&m=5&i=15|title = Lightplane Offerings From Canada|accessdate = 2009-08-12|last = Johnson|first = Dan|authorlink = |date = January 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708110501/http://www.bydanjohnson.com/index.cfm?b=3&m=5&i=15|archive-date = 2011-07-08|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Initially the company was started to provide Chinook parts, but Holomis proceeded to redesign the Chinook with assistance from Dr David Marsden at the [[University of Alberta]], who had been involved in the first Chinook design. In 1989 ASAP unveiled the improved [[Birdman Chinook|ASAP Chinook Plus 2]]. With the acquisition of ''Canadian Ultralight Manufacturing'' in [[St Paul, Alberta]] who had manufactured the earlier [[Birdman Chinook|Chinook WT11]] and WT2S, the Chinook Plus 2 was placed into production.<ref name="ASAPHist" /><ref name="JohnsonJan08" /><ref name="AULA">{{cite web|url =http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/general/CCARCS/advancedullist.htm|title = Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA) |accessdate = 2009-08-05|last = [[Transport Canada]]|authorlink = |date=May 2009}}</ref>

In 1992 [[Spectrum Aircraft]] of [[Surrey, British Columbia]], the manufacturer of the [[Spectrum Beaver]] aircraft line, went out of business and the following year ASAP began making parts for the existing RX-28, RX-35 and RX-550 Beaver fleet. In 1996, after a similar development program to the Chinook Plus 2, ASAP introduced an improved two-seat Beaver, designated the RX-550 Plus. In 2000 ASAP introduced the [[Spectrum Beaver|Beaver SS]] (single seat) to replace the RX-28 and RX-35 single seat Beavers that had gone out of production with Spectrum's 1992 demise.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="ASAPHist" /><ref name="JohnsonJan08" />

ASAP at one time owned GSC Propellers who made a line of wooden blade, aluminum hub, ground adjustable propellers for the [[ultralight aircraft]] market. Founded in 1984 GSC Propellers initially operated from the ASAP Vernon facility. The company was sold in 2000 and, while still located in Vernon, changed its name to [[GSC Systems]] in 2004.<ref name="GSCHist">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultralightprops.com/gsc_systems/gscsystems.htm|title = The Evolution of GSC Systems|accessdate = 2009-08-10|last = GSC Systems|authorlink = |date = n.d.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090409112441/http://www.ultralightprops.com/gsc_systems/gscsystems.htm|archive-date = 2009-04-09|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="COPA">[[Canadian Owners and Pilots Association]]: ''The COPA Guide to Ultralights - 11th Edition – October 2008 ''.</ref>

In the late 1990s ASAP decided to develop a line of aluminum-framed [[powered parachute]]s. These were developed and manufactured in-house at ASAP, but marketed by a separate division, ''Summit Powered Parachutes International''. The models presently consist of the two place [[Summit 2]] and the single-seat [[Summit SS]]. The company is now called ''Summit Aerosports Inc'' and is located in [[Yale, Michigan]].<ref name="SummitModels">{{cite web|url=http://www.summitppc.com/specifications.htm |title=Summit Specifications |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=Summit Powered Parachutes International |date=n.d. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509214846/http://www.summitppc.com/specifications.htm |archivedate=2009-05-09 }}</ref><ref name="SummitHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.summitppc.com/history.htm |title=Some Summit History |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=Summit Powered Parachutes International |date=n.d. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413062925/http://www.summitppc.com/history.htm |archivedate=2009-04-13 }}</ref><ref name="SummitAero">{{cite web|url = http://www.summitaerosports.com/contact.htm|title = Contact Us|accessdate = 22 March 2012|last = Summit Aerosports|date = 2012}}</ref>

ASAP also designed two welded steel tube-frame powered parachute models especially for the [[United States|US]] market. These are manufactured by ASAP and marketed by another corporate division, ''Steel Breeze Powered Parachutes''. This division offers two models, the [[Summit Steel Breeze]] two-place and the United States ultralight category [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']] compliant [[Summit 103 Mini Steel Breeze]]. As of 2012 Steel Breeze was a line marketed by ''Summit Aerosports Inc'' of Yale, Michigan.<ref name="JohnsonJan08" /><ref name="SBPPwho">{{cite web|url=http://www.steelbreeze.ca/about.htm |title=Steel Breeze...Who Are We? |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=Steel Breeze |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227152305/http://www.steelbreeze.ca/about.htm |archivedate=2009-02-27 }}</ref><ref name="SBPP2">{{cite web|url=http://www.steelbreeze.ca/steel_breeze.htm |title=Steel Breeze Features |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=Steel Breeze |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304165615/http://www.steelbreeze.ca/steel_breeze.htm |archivedate=2009-03-04 }}</ref><ref name="SBPP103">{{cite web|url=http://www.steelbreeze.ca/mini_breeze.htm |title=103 Mini Steel Breeze |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=Steel Breeze |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227130451/http://www.steelbreeze.ca/mini_breeze.htm |archivedate=2009-02-27 }}</ref><ref name="SteelBreezeContact">{{cite web|url = http://www.steelbreezeppc.com/contact.htm|title = Contact Us|accessdate = 22 March 2012|last = Summit Aerosports|date = 2012}}</ref>

The corporate division, ''www.ppccanopies.com'' (now called ''ASAP Canopies'' based in Yale, Michigan) sells powered parachute and [[powered paraglider]] canopies, while ''www.ulparts.com'' provides engines and ultralight parts. ASAP itself provides parts for the legacy [[Birdman Chinook]] and [[Spectrum Beaver]] aircraft fleets.<ref name="ASAPDivs" /><ref name="JohnsonJan08" /><ref name="ASAPFAQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultralight.ca/general_faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2009-08-10 |last=ASAP |year=2002 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526095945/http://www.ultralight.ca/general_faq.htm |archivedate=2009-05-26 }}</ref><ref name="Canopies">{{cite web|url=http://www.ppccanopies.com/contact.htm |title=Welcome to ASAP Canopies |accessdate=22 March 2012 |last=Summit Aerosports |date=2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224034419/http://www.ppccanopies.com/contact.htm |archivedate=24 December 2011 }}</ref>

In 2013 the company was sold to John and Kim Couch, moved to [[Sealy, Texas]] and renamed the Aeroplane Manufactory [[Limited liability company|LLC]]. Initially producing just parts, by May 2016 the company had commenced Chinook Plus 2 kit production.<ref name="olgultralight"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroplanemanufactory.com/ChinookPlus2.html|title=Chinook Plus 2|author=The Aeroplane Manufactory|work=aeroplanemanufactory.com|accessdate=6 May 2016|archive-date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521022120/http://aeroplanemanufactory.com/ChinookPlus2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2023 Aeroplane Manufactory LLC was sold to [https://www.legacyair1.com/post/legacy-air1-update-chinook-aircraft-kit-progress-and-future-plans Legacy AIR1.]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=noelgiger |date=2024-05-21 |title=Legacy AIR1 Update: Chinook Aircraft Kit Progress and Future Plans |url=https://www.legacyair1.com/post/legacy-air1-update-chinook-aircraft-kit-progress-and-future-plans |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Legacy Air1 |language=en}}</ref>

== Aircraft == {| class="wikitable" align=center style="font-size:90%;" |- |+ style="text-align:center; background:#bfd7ff;"| '''Summary of aircraft built by ASAP''' |- style="background:#efefef;" ! Model name ! First flight ! Number built ! Type |- |align=left| '''[[Birdman Chinook|Chinook Plus 2]]''' |align=center| 1989 |align=center| |align=left| Two-place fixed wing ultralight<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /> |- |align=left| '''[[Spectrum Beaver|Beaver RX-550 Plus]]''' |align=center| 1996 |align=center| |align=left| Two-place fixed wing ultralight<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /> |- |align=left| '''[[Spectrum Beaver|Beaver SS]]''' |align=center| 2000 |align=center| 10 (2007) |align=left| Single-place fixed wing ultralight<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2007" /> |- |align=left| '''[[Summit 2]]''' |align=center| 2000 |align=center| |align=left| Two-place powered parachute<ref name="Cliche" /> |- |align=left| '''[[Summit SS]]''' |align=center| |align=center| |align=left|Single-place powered parachute<ref name="SummitModels" /> |- |align=left| '''[[Steel Breeze Two Place]]''' |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Two-place powered parachute<ref name="SBPP2" /> |- |align=left| '''[[103 Mini Steel Breeze]]''' |align=center| |align=center| |align=left| Single-place powered parachute<ref name="SBPP103" /> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|http://www.aeroplanemanufactory.com/}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090808023452/http://www.ultralight.ca/ Former location of ASAP website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.ultralight.ca ASAP website archives] on [[Archive.org]]

[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of Canada]] [[Category:Companies based in Vernon, British Columbia]] [[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of the United States]]