Alva Review-Courier -

Alva residents have a long history with aviation. Aircraft have always provided a convenient means to travel among the widespread towns of the state. Locals with an interest in traveling the skies have developed products and established businesses that flourish along with aviation.

This year marks the 35th year of Kinzie/Plane Plastics, an Alva-grown business. The Plane Plastics crew has devoted many hours to next week’s celebration of aviation.

With the help of other local businesses and individuals, they’ve pulled together a welcome to 155 women pilots involved in the annual Air Classic Race on Tuesday, the Young Eagle rides for youth ages 8-17 on Thursday, and a big air show on Friday and Saturday.

Pilots in the Air Race Classic on Tuesday, June 19, are expected to arrive between 9 a.m. and noon. Racing planes will make a timing pass before the official timers to be clocked in. Then they can land for refueling of the planes and themselves. Once they pass the timers, they’re “off the clock” so they can take a little time to visit with people and refresh themselves for the next lap of the race.

The Young Eagle rides will be available at the Alva Regional Airport from approximately 9 a.m. to noon, although the event is weather dependent.

Several tours, exhibits and activities will be available on Friday. Plane Plastics and the Kinzie Museum will be open for tours. The building just north of Plane Plastics will house vendor exhibits and booths. An airplane scavenger hunt for pilots will be from 2 to 4 p.m. The Kids Zone will be open from 4 to 6 p.m. at the north end of the airport by the round top building. A community barbecue meal will be served starting at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. or until the food runs out; bring your own chair for the meal. The Texas T-Cart Aerobatics Show is set for 6:30 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. will be movies under the stars at the north end of the airport (bring your own chairs). Visiting pilots are encouraged to camp out in a designated area at the north end of the airport.

Saturday’s air show kicks off early and will end before the weather gets too hot. There will be food trucks set up all day for visitors from about 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vintage airplane rides will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. just north of the airport terminal. Kids can enjoy activities from 9 a.m. to noon in the Kids Zone by the north round top building.

Plane Plastics tours and visits to the Kinzie Museum will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendor booths will be open 9 a.m. to noon.

The Texas T-Cart Show will start at 1030 a.m. Meanwhile, there will be judging of aircraft with forms to be turned in at noon.

At 1 p.m. the airport and the City of Alva will hold a dedication of the recently renovated turf runway at the airport terminal. An aircraft awards presentation will be held at 2 p.m.

This huge undertaking requires a lot of volunteer time and effort. Those helping with the event will be wearing color-coded neon T-shirts.

History of Plane Plastics

The air show offers the opportunity for visitors to tour a historic Alva business, Plane Plastics, located on the south end of the airport. Here’s some history provided by the company:

Vantage Plane Plastics was originally known as a division of Kinzie Industries, located on the Alva Airport. Kinzie Industries, an FAA approved aircraft repair station was established in 1951. In 1961 they began the first of its kind Hughes Helicopter Repair Station. The repair business soon recognized the challenges of obtaining factory original parts and ventured into the fabrication of PMA and STC components. Some of these components were the plastic fairings for the helicopter.

In 1983 after acquiring a Cessna 207, the Kinzies built their first fixed wing interior replacement components. The Kinzies quickly realized that no single source served the entire spectrum of General Aviation Aircraft for interior plastic parts. Moreover, the OEM’s only provided a limited selection of interior components for their own aircraft at usually inflated prices.

Over a period of years Kinzie Industries acquired and obtained FAA approval for manufacturing over 3500 part numbers. In 1999, the plastics division became a separate entity, as Plane Plastics, Ltd. was incorporated. However, in order to continue growth, Plane Plastics Ltd. required additional technical support and greater financial resources. On Nov. 10, 2000, Vantage Associates, Inc., an ISO approved Aerospace Interior Manufacturer located on the West Coast became the new owner of Plane Plastics Ltd.

Vantage Associates being an employee-owned company established in California in 1984 focuses on precision manufacturing of metal, composite and plastic components and assemblies for a broad range of aerospace, defense and high tech commercial customers. More recently, the company has leveraged its design and processing capabilities on the development of a range of product offerings for general aviation and for high end institutional furnishings.

The company provides contract manufacturing services to aerospace, defenses and commercial markets. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Vantage has been a direct supplier to companies such as Boeing for 30+ years. They are qualified to Boeing Commercial Airplane Quality Standard D1-9000, to military quality specifications and are a certified UL Fabricator as well.

The company’s manufacturing base is centered in two approximately 30,000 square foot facilities. Vantage C and T located in Santa Fe Springs, California, is a center of expertise in the processing of composite and plastic structures and military applications. Vantage MMC, located in National City, California, immediately south of San Diego, is a center of expertise for precision machining and fabrication of sophisticated metal components and assemblies. Both units serve the needs of commercial aerospace and military markets as well as providing support to the company’s product operations.

The company’s product operations are centered in Alva, Oklahoma, and Santa Fe Springs, California. Vantage Plane Plastics, Ltd., located in Alva, Oklahoma, while capitalizing on its central location and the support provided by their headquarters has become the world’s largest supplier of FAA Approved interior components for most all general aviation aircraft. The product line is being expanded to include a broad range of general utility accessories as well as exterior and interior fairings and other structural components. Plant improvements were made, equipment was upgraded, materials were modified, tooling was replaced, and most importantly, the finished parts inventory was increased for faster order fulfillment.

Since its acquisition, Vantage Plane Plastics continues to provide friendly service and quality products at affordable prices. Being a customer driven company has allowed Vantage Plane Plastics to continually expand the product line and offer the best customer service in the industry.

The unifying characteristics of the company’s services and product offerings are a commitment to customer service through dedication to quality and performance. Plane Plastics employs 23 people.