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.

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 u p 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

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...

Sanford, Maine. November 1, 2006. One of the nation’s leading providers of aircraft refurbishing is expanding to meet the needs of the business jet market when Oxford Aviation and the Town of Sanford, Maine break ground today for the new Sanford Jet Division. The new facility will employ up to 200 people at the Sanford Regional Airport. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the project site with Maine Governor John Baldacci, Congressman Tom Allen and, community leaders and clients of Oxford Aviation in attendance.

The Sanford Jet Division represents the next logical evolution in the business life of 19-year old Maine company that has earned a worldwide reputation for the quality of its comprehensive aircraft refurbishing. By offering superior and consistent quality, the company has refinished over 4000 aircraft and become one of only a select few group of companies with the ability to service all of the needs of an aircraft owner under one roof.

Oxford Aviation provides custom paint & interior refurbishments including cabinetry, as well as avionics and minor and major maintenance on private aircraft, business, government and corporate fleets. The aircraft refinishing business is a significant growth area, however, the less than 3000 foot runway at the company's current base in Oxford has inhibited the company from effectively marketing its services to owners of larger aircraft. “Our expansion to Sanford with its 5000 and 6000 foot runways addresses our need for a new facility with a runway to accommodate both larger aircraft, and room to expand into new aircraft customization,” said Jim Horowitz, company owner and President.

The $7 million project includes demolition of existing buildings, reconstruction of apron space and a taxi-lane, and the construction of a new 70,000 square feet, state-of-the-art aircraft hangar and workshop facility, that will include the company’s new corporate office and design center. The refurbishing bays in the facility will be capable of handling aircraft up to the size of a Gulfstream V or a Global Express. The Company will continue to operate its facilities at the Oxford County and Fryeburg, Maine airports.

The Company’s future expansion plans at the site include a separate hangar for new aircraft customization and completions. Oxford Aviation has consistently been rated as one of the top aircraft refurbishing facilities in the United States, and looks forward to applying this experience and commitment to quality at its new facility.

“We are extremely proud to have a world class company like Oxford Aviation expand into our community”, stated Sanford Economic Affairs Director Les Stevens. “Oxford Aviation is in the vanguard of the next global aviation frontier including the rise of general aviation, the packaging of cutting edge technologies, the advantages of point-to-point vs. hub-to-hub aviation, and the rapid changes of the micro jet revolution. Both Sanford and Oxford Aviation are positioned to take advantage of an exciting and dynamic new frontier.”

For more information contact: Jeff Callahan, Oxford Aviation at 207-539-4779, x 232, or Les Stevens, Town of Sanford at 207-324-9155.

Oxford Aviation, located in Oxford, Maine, is an industry leader in the refurbishment of aircraft. Oxford Aviation’s current 40,000 square foot facility employs 60 craftsmen and craftswomen. Considered the authority on aircraft refinishing, over its 18 year history, Oxford Aviation has completed close to 4000 aircraft. While the new facility in Sanford will serve as the company’s corporate headquarters once complete, the company intends to keep its current facility in Oxford open where it will continue to refurbish and service smaller planes and helicopters, in addition to maintaining its fixed-based operations and maintenance facility in Fryeburg, at the Eastern Slopes Regional Airport.

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.”

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.”