The new Weatherly emerges

by Bill Lavender

McCLELLAN PARK, CA — From a huge cloud generated by its smoker, the turbo prop Weatherly 620-BTG dramatically emerges from its 360° rotation on the ramp, its TPE331-1 engine whining, as the Argentine pilot taxis forth after an aerial display at a Brazilian ag pilot convention; time line August 2002. October 2002, serial number 1656, Weatherly 620-B is delivered to the Banana Fruit Growers of Belize. January 2003, Weatherly President, Gary Beck, announces Weatherly Aircraft is back in business.

It is almost like a fairy tale coming true. From the first time that venture capitalist, Gary Beck, visited Weatherly Aviation in Lincoln, California in 1998 until today, an uphill struggle has come to fruition. With set backs that would discourage any astute businessman, Beck has finally positioned Weatherly Aircraft to become a deciding factor in the new ag-aircraft marketplace. The five-year trek has not been easy, but now the foundation is laid to bring ag-aviation worldwide a viable and affordable ag-aircraft.

The last Weatherly aircraft delivered by Weatherly Aviation was serial number 1655 in December 1999. It was a 620-B sold to Beck. He used it to display at the NAAA show to get feedback about the viability of the aircraft from operators. At that point, the "old" Weatherly Aviation company went into receivership and no longer was able to support the sale of new aircraft and its 200-plus worldwide fleet. Quietly, in steps Gary Beck, who recognizes a company with a viable product in need of professional managing (see side bar, Gary E. Beck).

After a long struggle, it took Beck two years to finally acquire the assets of Weatherly Aviation. He renamed the company Weatherly Aircraft Company, a completely new company with a core of eight longtime Weatherly Aviation employees. The acquisition included the Weatherly brand name, logo, Weatherly FFA Type Certificate, all the manufacturing jigs and spares. From this, Beck has launched an entirely new company with a new name and new management for a tried and true ag-aircraft built by loyal employees dedicated to the resurrection of the 620 series Weatherly ag plane.

Six months pass while Beck moves the now new Weatherly Aircraft from the Lincoln facility to its new home in McClellan Park, California. Another six months and 2001 passes during the set up of the factory, making improvements in the production line, listening and paying heed to advice from the core employees. In 2002, the first Weatherly is built and delivered to Belize.

It takes 1900 shop hours to manufacture a Weatherly. Of these, 1100 are spent in fabrication of parts, while the remaining 800 hours are for assembly. In depth analysis of these hours has produced an efficient reduction of shop hours and improvements in the manufacturing process. Beck's ultimate goal is to out source much of the 1100 hours to high-tech aerospace companies for sheet metal stamping, further improving the quality and efficiency of the production of the Weatherly aircraft.

Today, with an inventory of 10 aircraft part groups, a Weatherly can be delivered to a customer within 60 days of receipt of a deposit. Already, the first Weatherly Aircraft 620-B (s/n 1656) has been delivered (Belize, October 2002). An order for a 620-BTG is being completed that will be delivered to South America before mid-2003. Serial number 1657 is 57% complete and is destined for Mid-Continent Aircraft Corp. Weatherly Aircraft is now actively taking deposits for the delivery of new Weatherly aircraft in time for the 2003 spray season.

The management of the Weatherly Aircraft Company may be new and bold, but the skilled, core trades people who have built the aircraft for over 20 years are still in place, virtually guaranteeing the customer the quality the Weatherly name was built upon. Director of Manufacturing is 20+ year veteran Carl Large. Starting with John Weatherly in the beginning years of Weatherly, he is now at the helm overseeing the big picture of building a Weatherly.

Others who persevered and remained loyal to the Weatherly name include the dramatic aircraft painter, David Creel, with his intriguing trademark Acry Glo Polyurethane paint schemes, "anything but yellow" (but the customer can have that as well).

Gloria Burns, the "mother hen" of the company heads up administration, as well as shipping and receiving. David Lasich is responsible for Research and Development, noted for his design of the turbo prop version of the Weatherly with its 355-gallon hopper. Venezuelan, Miami-based Pierantonio Galligani is Director of Technical Services, an aeronautical engineer who thrives working on an aircraft engine. Fernando Torres, Supervisor of Subassembly, and John Yelm, Supervisor of Final Assembly, working together with co-supervisor of Final Assembly, Paul Trammell, crossing areas of expertise and training newcomers.

Many of these names are well-remembered by Weatherly owners, as they are the core personnel of Weatherly. They have a vested stake in the company and its success, as each are owners, i.e. stock holders. Each has made sacrifices for the company in the last few years, working for a common goal, the resurrection of the Weatherly ag-plane.

Where is Weatherly Aircraft Company going, in a slow new aircraft marketplace? It is most certainly not a "ship at sea without a chart". If there is one thing Beck is good at, it is constructing a business plan. The goal of the new Weatherly Aircraft Company is to capture one-third of the ag-aircraft market, worldwide, particularly for low-volumn applications, within five years. This may be a lofty assumption, but it won't fail because there was not a "plan". Beck has brought into the Weatherly fold key people capable of making this happen. One of those individuals is Ray Bolduc.

Bolduc is not a pilot. He is not agriculturally inclined. But, he understands distribution and setting up international networks for companies. Based in Miami, with an extensive Latin background, Bolduc's job as Vice President of International Marketing is to build Latin American distribution, along with providing assistance in establishing a network of sales and support for the Weatherly throughout the U.S.

As part of his plan, Beck contracted with a significant "strategic partner", Tulsa Aircraft Engines. Every new 620-B Weatherly will come standard equipped with a Tulsa R-985 engine, an uncontested premium, overhauled radial engine. However, the customer can provide their own engine, or request a different overhaul facility.

Although the ink is not on the documents, Beck is promoting the concept of strategic partners by aligning Weatherly Aircraft with such notables as SATLOC and Mid-Continent Aircraft Corp. There are other such alliances in the making, providing the Weatherly to the customer in the most favorable manner.

Weatherly representatives are already in place in Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil and other countries, with more forth coming. There are currently four U.S. authorized service centers and more will be added as the company expands. Weatherly Aircraft Company's near-term focus is to provide reliable support for its current customer base of 200+ aircraft with FAA-certified parts and exceptional service. Its long-term plan is to sell new ag planes. As the current economical parameters of the ag-aviation industry become more entrenched, and the attrition of older aircraft progresses, the sales prospects of a less expensive, highly productive new ag plane improve. In some fashion, a certain number of the no longer built Cessna 188 series, Ag-Cats and Pawnee aircraft become in need of replacement. And, with the expanding Latin ag-aviation market, Weatherly Aircraft is aggressively positioning itself to be the "go to guys" of ag-aircraft.

Beck's financial plan promises a minimum of one year in the marketplace without any new aircraft sales. However, with each sale that timeline is extended, along with continued sales of parts and service. The resurrection of Weatherly has arrived. The key is providing the marketplace with an on demand quality product. With new aircraft sales, Weatherly Aircraft Company will be a major player and a viable consideration whenever a new ag plane is sold.

For more details about the new Weatherly Aircraft Company, visit their web site at: www.weatherlyaircraft.com.