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.
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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
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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...
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Oxford Aviation Breaks New Ground with Sanford Jet Division
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.
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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.”
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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.”
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AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY MAGAZINE 2003…
“We researched the Northeast and one name – Oxford Aviation – kept coming up best.”
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MONEY MAGAZINE 1994…
“Their facility is probably one of the best in the world, if not the best.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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