Franklin Aircraft Engine USA - BORN AGAIN

[mountainmatt]

Just read this email from Susan, sounds like things are pointed in the right direction. This is great news for us Stinson owners and I'm proud to see they are keeping things American made. I will give them my full support!

We have formed a new company! Franklin Aircraft Engines, USA, LLC! Must Read!!

Over the last year huge events have been quietly unfolding for us at Franklin Engine Company; we didn't want to release any details until we were certain the time was right. We have been silently piecing together a Franklin "dream team" and have formed a new company which is incorporated out of North Carolina called Franklin Aircraft Engines, USA, LLC. We have formed this company with two gentlemen from North Carolina, they are both exceptional individuals, we are very proud to be working with them, and welcome them to the Franklin family!

The president of the company is Kelly Bartlett, he is currently a senior commercial pilot for a major airline, an entrepreneur in addition to being a private pilot. The vice president of the company is George Gillespie, he is a financial analyst, mortgage broker and private pilot. Both have been key players in organizing the new U.S based company and believe that the Franklin engine has the potential to be a leader in the industry!

What the future holds
As a new company we are currently working with the state of South Carolina on securing a 40,000 sq ft. facility to house the new company, which is a turnkey facility and includes a machine shop, inventory warehouse, office buildings, and overhaul shop. We also have secured various financial investors, which has given us key working capital. This has allowed us to purchase the two remaining companies that associated with Franklin parts; in doing so we acquired the major STC's needed to install a Franklin engine in various planes as well as large Franklin spare parts inventories! Also we have been working with the FAA and other crucial parties to secure Franklin's technical data and drawings that are needed to produce the original US versions of complete engines and spare parts.

Franklin Aircraft Engines, USA, LLC has merged with our original company Franklin Engine Company, based in Texas, and we plan on moving our inventories and business from Texas to South Carolina in the near future. The company is proud of being 100% USA owned and funded and will only deal with US vendors keeping everything as local as possible. We are also planning on developing a line of Franklin engines that are more modern, these designs will feature engines with more horse power along with today's modern technology. Our mission is to build a company that will revitalize the Franklin engine in addition to placing the complete engine back into production for years to come.

If you have any questions, or want to know more, please contact Susan or April at our normal contacts for now at 903-626-5210 or susan@... or april@...

Plus we will be at Sun-N-Fun with the members of our new team at booth NE 16!!

If you see Susan or April at Sun N' Fun, give them a big ol' "Well Done and Thank You"!

I'll keep this thread updated as I find out more.

[robw56]

Sweet! My 170 needs a 220 in it!

[Tadpole]

I didn't think to share that here. I got the email and been following them on Facebook as well. Here's something of note dealing with that vanishing PZL guy April posted yesterday.

I’m sure that you all have heard of Roman Sadowski by now and if not I’m sure you will. He is the owner of the Franklin PZL Polish TC’s, which are only legally accredited by EASE, not the FAA! For years he has been making promises of production, only to disappear for months at a time, not responding to e-mails, phone calls, nothing, and then shows back up in the US making more promises, which yet again never come to pass. Well he has surfaced again…I honestly am not sure what his agenda is by promising false hope to my customers and have begun to take it very personally! I have represented Franklin everyday for years and our company has been the only one actively supporting the engines with NEW PMA’d spare parts, keeping the majority of engines out there running. We don’t represent false hope and do not want the Franklin name tarnished by someone trying to turn a fast dollar! I guess I’m just trying to warn all of you, please do not buy into his hype! You can rely on us now and trust us to carry you into the future. I know this is pushing the line of professionalism but Franklin is more than a job for us, it’s our passion, we are dedicated on a personal level, and I feel like I have a personal obligation to each of you. I know the facts very well as well as the legal obligations with the FAA. We are set up at Sun-N-Fun, booth NE16! Questions or comments? Always here for you! Thanks, April

I'll share whatever else comes out this week. April hinted at some more information coming soon. Great news for Franklin owners and lovers. Gives me more confidence on buying another Stinson.

[Stol]

I hope this finally works out for all the Franklin owners. I wanted one of the 220 Hp motors for my plane and tried to buy a new one from the dealer guy who was in Denver back in 2001... What a dog and pony show that operation was......

The press release about this on the same day as the opening of Sun & Fun is interesting. Also unusual is the forming of a Corp /LLC in North Carolina and building a plant in South Carolina... There must be some advantages to this but it seems they would have pulled the trigger using the same state for the LLC and home office.....

I wish them well and hope they can make a go of it...

Ps. And bad mouthing that Roman Sadowski guy on web forums might get them into legal hot water.... The last thing they need to be doing is spending money on lawyers instead of tooling up for production. IMHO

[Tadpole]

I hope this finally works out for all the Franklin owners. I wanted one of the 220 Hp motors for my plane and tried to buy a new one from the dealer guy who was in Denver back in 2001... What a dog and pony show that operation was......

The press release about this on the same day as the opening of Sun & Fun is interesting. Also unusual is the forming of a Corp /LLC in North Carolina and building a plant in South Carolina... There must be some advantages to this but it seems they would have pulled the trigger using the same state for the LLC and home office.....

I wish them well and hope they can make a go of it...

Their email and post on Facebook about the new company came out Sunday, the PZL post I shared was yesterday. They've been letting it known for at least a year they were working towards this with emails to the Stinson club and posts on their facebook page. A few months ago they finally secured some financing they were needing, and pressed on. I know their business plan was in place several months ago. As for the NC LLC, no idea, but for SC, they're not building a plant but trying to move into an existing place that is already set up, a turnkey operation. The Franklin Engine Company (been the place for parts for some years in Texas) is moving east as part of this. I'm assuming FEC will be absorbed by the new Franklin Aircraft Engine USA, LLC as they also bought the STCs and another Franklin company or two in this process. Basically consolidating it all.

[Tadpole]

Good timing as I'm going this Sunday to look at a Stinson

[EZFlap]

In addition to the 220, they had or have a 180HP engine, which should easily be retro-fittable to several airplanes of interest to this demographic if it isn't already. Combine this with the (hopefully) upconing 180HP driver's license deal, and all those inexpensive straight t ail 172's and 175's... could be pretty good. If they concentrate on weight, get Klaus Savier's LSE electronic ignition approved on their engine, and take advantage of a few materials and processes, they could have a real winner.

[Trooperdad]

I wonder how the establishment of biz ops in South Carolina is going to affect Southern Aero in Thomasville, NC who does Franklin engine rebuilds. Been to their shop. Very nice people and very knowledgeable.

[Jaerl]

If anyone gets a chance to talk to them a Sun & Fun, ask if they plan to sell the 125hp 4 cylinder? I would think that engine would be a real money maker for them since it is set up to bolt right on a Cessna 150 Motor Mount. They weren't certified before but the price was only around $8,500 new. I'll bet every C150 would have one in the next 10 years if they could get it legal.

[c172tw]

hopefully they become a successful company over the next few years. i would love to upgrade my 145hp o300 in about 5 years to a modern 180hp or 220.

[Rhyppa]

Hope they make it go. In a lot of ways the Franklin engine was and still is ahead of the Lyc and cont. I had the F220 in my Stinson and absolutely loved the motor. Tremendous power to weight, economical fuel burn, great sounding smooth running motor. The 125 hp motor would also be a great alternative for a lot of the light kit builds. The 220 turns the 170/172/175 series into real screamers. I suspect the 180 would do the same. The downside of the 220 was the high compression which required 100LL. Maybe they will look at a different piston and recertify for auto? Anyway its all good, and best wishes to them.

[172heavy]

As many of you know I fly a 172 with a 220HP Franklin, most of the bad press that the Franklins have gotten in the past is due to poor maintenances and repair practices, it’s true that the 220hp engine requires 100LL, but then it also produces more HP and weighs less than any comparable aircraft engine. I run 148mph true @ fl 8500and burn less than 9 gph on a two hour leg I think that this type of performance outweighs the ability to run mogas, High altitude Performance is also impressive 300fpm + @ 13500, making it an ideal re power for any Cessna 170,172,175 and others.
I talked with April Jones Susan’s daughter and business partner, my understanding is that they have received the funding and purchased the STC rights and inventory from the Colorado based Franklin supplier and another large inventory in Oregon, this represents several hundred thousand dollar investment, they are planning on being the central parts source for Franklin, this is in addition to the 40,000 sqft manufacturing facility that they are planning to acquire. This should be interesting.
What was the logo again? Oh Yea,,, Franklin, against all odds. Fitting isn’t it? You GO GIRLS!!!

[whee]

I hope they have great success. I've always lusted after the 220 frank. Time to start shopping for a M4 or a super Stinson.

[c170pete]

Whats a 220 Franklin weigh with accessories?

[c170pete]

found it.

297 without accessories. My cont io-360 is 294 with the alternator. bout the same.

[courierguy]

And, for the lightweights: the 125 hp. 4 cy. weighs 206 lbs without accessories. If the prices stays at 8 or 9 K, (??) that could be made to work. Saving 10 k or so over the much lighter Rotax.....the money saved could be stashed in the tail to make the weight and balance work out

[Chazdevil]

I hope it works out for sure! Hundreds of hours behind the silky smooth 165 and 220 in the old -3. Loved those engines. Having a good supply of parts will allow these fantastic motors a whole new fan base.
Find it really interesting how much zippier the 220 M4's seem, compared to the M5's.
No doubt my Franklin affinity coloring my experience eh?
Chaz

[vaughans]

Good news indeed , I am currently flying my 2nd M-4 220C and the thought of not having to scrounge for parts if needed really offers peace of mind! They are a great powerplant! Have to go Turbine to get much smoother. I think most of us flying Franklins have dealt with Susan at some time and I wish her all the luck in the world & am glad she gets to be in the deal from the ground up as I think the potential foundation for a great comeback may just be unfolding. GOOD JOB YOU GUY'S!!!

Vaughans

[Tadpole]

They are a great powerplant! Have to go Turbine to get much smoother.

I think that's about the best way to say it!

[dirtstrip]

And, for the lightweights: the 125 hp. 4 cy. weighs 206 lbs without accessories. If the prices stays at 8 or 9 K, (??) that could be made to work. Saving 10 k or so over the much lighter Rotax.....the money saved could be stashed in the tail to make the weight and balance work out

How could a company in start up mode be able to produce an engine for 8 or 9k with US labor, how is that possible?
Won't they face the same costs as other engine manufacturers? I really hope it works. I always heard good things about Franklins.