Oxford Aviation News

Oxford Aviation Set to Create 28 New Jobs in Oxford

Press Release

December 8, 2011

Oxford, ME - Oxford Aviation's modest beginnings 25 years ago at the Oxford County Regional Airport started with one employee and a 4,000 square foot building. Today Oxford Aviation employs 45 people and operates out of a 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. A spokesperson for Oxford Aviation states, "We all have worked hard throughout this difficult recession, and business has been growing steadily. Today, we find ourselves in an exciting position allowing us to create 20 new positions over the next 30-60 days." In the last 30 days, Oxford Aviation has created 8 additional jobs within the company. At Oxford Aviation, nearly 100% of the revenue generated originates outside Maine, including every state in the US as well as South America, Europe and beyond. Many of their aviation clients are Fortune 500 company aircraft, and high-profile celebrities, most who prefer that we protect their privacy. As a result of choosing Oxford Aviation, these same clients use local ground transportation, make lodging reservations locally, eat in local restaurants, and shop locally. Aviation industry studies have shown that for every job created at an airport, three additional jobs are created in the airport's community. According to these findings, the 28 jobs being created could potentially create 84 new jobs in the Oxford County area. Experience in aviation is not necessary to be considered for these new jobs. Oxford Aviation is looking for skilled craftsmen who have experience in auto body painting, woodworking, cabinetry and sewing upholstery; and most of all who take pride in their work and are enthusiastic to learn about aviation. In exchange, the people who join the Oxford Aviation team will be offered above average pay, a great benefits package and the opportunity to be a part of a nationally awardwinning team. Oxford Aviation is proud of the reputation they have earned in the international aviation industry, and the difference is the experience and dedication of their talented people. From mechanics to paint specialists, cabinetry craftsman to upholstery experts, the team at Oxford Aviation is dedicated to producing the highest quality work in the marketplace. Oxford Aviation has consistently been named as one of - if not the best aircraft refinishing company in the United States, and has been featured on the cover of over 50 national publications.

Top of Page     Back to Home Page

---

Oxford Aviation Transforms The Vegas Viper

The 'Vegas Viper' makeover

May, 2011

Oxford Aviation has done it again! Featured on the cover of AOPA's May 2011 and a full feature article about the complete makeover of the Vegas Viper a 1964 Piper Comanche. Heres an exerpt.

"Really it's our fault. David Lessnick of Las Vegas was perfectly happy with his 1964 Piper Comanche 250 until he saw AOPA's 2008 sweepstakes airplane." (Also completed by Oxford Aviation) "He paid $80,000 for the Comanche in 2005 and was quite happy with it. It was in perfect condition with a mid-time Lycoming O-540 engine. Then he went to AOPA Expo a few years ago (before the the event was renamed AOPA Aviation Summit) and sat in our sweepstakes Piper Archer with it's shiny glass cockpit and luxurious interior." "I was blown away. I climed in it and sat in those seats, and I was like, 'Wow, this is what it is supposed to be like,' Lessnick said."

"David Lessnick spent 200 hours on the internet researching the best of the best, from paint to interiors - and the best paint and interior shop to do the work. He ultimately picked Oxford Aviation in Oxford, Maine."

- AOPA

Top of Page     Back to Home Page

---

Oxford Aviation to refinish the AOPA 2008 Sweepstakes Aircraft

January 2008

Oxford Aviation's state-of-the-art facility has been providing premium aircraft painting and scheme design services, interior refurbishments, custom cabinetry and maintenance & avionics for close to 20 years.

Oxford Aviation were already a known quantity, having painted AOPA’s first redone sweepstakes, the Good as New 172 in 1993, and the Spirit of Liberty, a Socata Trinidad GT that the Air Safety Foundation auctioned off in 2002.

The 2008 AOPA "Get Your Glass" Sweepstakes project is already underway and is causing a stir among the many members of AOPA, The interior of the Piper Archer/Cherokee will be totally refurbished and refitted with a state of the art glass cockpit, while the Oxford Aviation Paint department will address the exterior of the aircraft, providing it with a totally new custom paint scheme.



CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SUN N FUN VIDEO.

Top of Page     Back to Home Page

---

Oxford Aviation featured in Aircraft Interiors International Magazine

Article published March 2007

Piper produced most of its Cheyenne series turboprops during the 1970s and early 1980s, with production ending on the series in 1994, and the interiors were reflective of the period: awful earth tones, dingy brown leathers and fabrics, and dark wood accents that looked like they came out of a bad basement self-remodelling job. Cheyennes are very efficient aircraft because of their relatively narrow passenger compartments, but the dark décor on the original aircraft simply exacerbated and amplified this aesthetic claustrophobia.

Aesthetics aside, the aircraft are great value and the Model II series can often be obtained for less than US$600,000. They have better range and payload than the new generation of very light jets, are only marginally slower on hops of 300 miles or less, and cost between US$1 million and US $3 million less. Although long since out of production, a small network of service providers has sprung up to service the fleet, and one refurbishment centre in particular, Oxford Aviation, located in Oxford, Maine USA, has gleaned a reputation as an expert refinisher of the type.

Oxford was founded by Jim Horowitz after a career in the boat refurbishment business. Horowitz has steadily grown the business, with more than 4,000 projects over the last two decades, and later this year will be working on a new 125,000ft2 jet facility in Sanford, Maine. Oxford gutted the interior of the 1981 Piper Cheyenne II XL and replaced the dark brown leather and dark sidewalls. The seats were rebuilt with multidensity premium Skandia foam, sculpted with built-in lumbar and covered with sand-coloured Spinneybeck leather, with matching sheepskin covers for the pilot and co-pilot seats. Seatbelts were rewebbed to match, with new plating on the hardware. Redesigned sidewalls and headliner were installed in front of new soundproofing insulation that quieted the cabin considerably. A new custom carpet, carpet runners and curtains were also added. Oxford redesigned and built the cabinetry and gave it a high-gloss Rosewood finish. This included the pilot and co-pilot bulkheads, tables fitted with Corian sandstone tops, and the pyramid cabinets between the aft seats. A rear-cabin cabinet and aft bulkhead cabinet were also added.

The entire project was completed in six weeks.

Article courtesy of Aircraft Interiors International 2007

Top of Page     Back to Home Page

---

Article in Atlantic Flyer

March 2007

"Over the course of its 20-year history Oxford Aviation, located in Oxford ME (81B) has refurbished over 4,000 aircraft. The “Oxford Difference” is found in the commitment of the company’s Maine craftsmen and women to quality, a characteristic found in a State known for cultivating some of the country’s leading artisans. Over the years, Oxford Aviation’s superior work has earned the company a loyal and satisfied client base. Their refurbished planes have been featured on the covers of over 50 national and industry-related publications with numerous clients benefiting from an Oxford Aviation refurbished aircraft by winning hundreds of prestigious awards. Oxford Aviation strives to make every aircraft refurbishment project worthy of being titles “Queen of the Fleet,” and the company’ history of success is a testament to having achieved such high standards of excellence. It is the satisfaction of their clients that has resulted in Oxford Aviation’s consistent ranking as one of the best U.S. refurbishment shops, including Aviation Consumer Magazine recently naming Oxford Aviation as a “top shop” and “one of the few can’t go wrong” facilities."

-- Excerpt from Atlantic Flyer, March 2007. View full article...

Top of Page     Back to Home Page

---

From Aviation Consumer’s December 2006 Issue on Finding a Good Paint Shop

“Oxford Aviation in Maine continues to draw rave reviews from customers.”

“Oxford Aviation…on our short list of “you can’t go wrong” facilities.”

“In our estimation it could be worth flying some distance to a well established shop that’s been doing first rate work for years…Oxford Aviation in Maine.”

Top of Page     Back to Home Page

---

Oxford Aviation Has Been On 50 Covers And Featured In Over 35 National & Trade Magazines. A Sampling of Comments...

AOPA PILOT MAGAZINE 2003… Spirit of Liberty The name sets the theme of the paint job, though calling it a “paint job” is a misuse of the term. Maaco does paint jobs; this is a work of art. The art is a creation of Oxford Aviation, of Oxford, Maine. Long renowned for the quality of their work, The Spirit of Liberty proves that Oxford’s president, Jim Horowitz, and his crew of experts is fully capable of rising to any challenge.”

AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY MAGAZINE 2003… “We researched the Northeast and one name – Oxford Aviation – kept coming up best.”

MONEY MAGAZINE 1994… “Their facility is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best.”

ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE 1993… “Most of Oxford’s business comes from out of state with many plane owners flying to this tiny town solely to have their planes painted by the Oxford Crew.”

SHOWCASE MAGAZINE 2000… “Horowitz’s meticulous work soon gave rise to an increasing word of mouth business, and he started Oxford Aviation in 1988. He now employs over 50 restorers who work on planes ranging from small piston-engine aircraft to midsize jets-and the occasional helicopter-and draws clients from as far a field as Australia, Brazil, and Sweden.”

LIGHT PLANE MAINTENANCE 1991… “About half the respondents rated Oxford a “9” – the rest put “10” for the happiness index…All, however had praise for Oxford’s conscientious service and high quality standards.”

---

Top of Page     Back to Home Page