Model Airplanes

Staff Report

TANGERINE — Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534, based at the Leesburg International Airport, recently visited Jim Kimball Enterprises to check out current aircraft restoration projects.

The business was started by Jim Kimball many years ago, but after Jim retired, it was taken over by his son, Kevin, who is the president of the company and runs the day-to-day operations.

Jim Kimball Enterprises cut its teeth with Stearman restorations. Originally restoring a Boeing World War II vintage Stearman for the family’s use, others saw how well it turned out and wanted the company to restore theirs. For years, they worked on this type of aircraft and collected parts from all over the country.

The next major endeavor was to secure the rights to build the Pitts Model 12 biplane. Jim Kimball Enterprises became the exclusive manufacturers of the kit for this aircraft. They would either sell the kit so people could build them or put it together for customers.

“We have sold around 125 Pitts Model 12 kits, with around 78 having been completed and flown,” Kevin said.

Jim Kimball Enterprises sold the Pitts Model 12 part of the business and decided not to take on any new restoration projects.

Kevin and his son, Kal, instead began working full time doing research and development for Indmar Marine Engines. These are powerful inboard boat engines for ski-type watercraft.

Kevin said the only aircraft restorations that will be done will be on family projects. Kal is currently restoring another WWII-era Boeing 1940s vintage Stearman.

EAA

Article source: http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20180304/leesburg-eaa-chapter-visits-vintage-aircraft-restorer

TOKYO—Japan’s reputation for flawless manufacturing quality and efficiency transformed the country’s postwar economy, changed business practices world-wide and spawned a library’s worth of management manuals and business advice books. Now, the model is cracking.

Kobe Steel Ltd., Mitsubishi Materials Corp. and Subaru Corp. have all admitted in recent months to manipulating quality inspections, though all say no safety problems emerged. Takata Corp. declared bankruptcy last year after admitting to supplying more than 50 million…

Article source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-everywhere-copied-japanese-manufacturing-now-the-model-is-cracking-1517771142

In response to a questionnaire from The Sunday Guardian, Boeing Commercial Airplanes gave the following replies. Excerpts:

Q: What is Boeing’s footprint in India?

A: Boeing has been a part of India for more than 75 years. Our partnership with India has grown over the decades and now includes growing a supply chain in manufacturing, aerospace infrastructure, engineering services and skills. We are also partnering with India to deliver on common goals of growth and supporting the Prime Minister’s “Make in India,” “Skill India,” and “Startup India” visions.

To date, Boeing employs over 1,200 people directly in India. For decades, Boeing has been working with suppliers in India in manufacturing, IT and engineering servicesvvv and employs over 7,000 people on dedicated supply-chain jobs. Some examples include:

Boeing works with over 160 suppliers to provide parts and assemblies covering aerostructures, wire harness, composites, forgings, avionics mission systems, and ground support equipment.

Our supplier network in India is delivering on complex work packages for commercial and defence aircraft such as the 777, 787, P-8, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-15, and CH-47 Chinook.

Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) facility in Hyderabad became operational in 2017 and will be the sole producer of Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages globally.

In 2014, Boeing set up a production line at Dynamatic Technologies to produce ramp and pylon-aerostructures for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

Boeing opened a C-17 Training Center in July 2016 to provide

Article source: http://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/12961-boeing-partnering-india-deliver-common-goals-growth