Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company is a specialist aviation supplier providing aircraft parts, construction materials, tools, equipment, and homebuilt-aircraft plans.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company is an American specialist supplier serving general aviation, aircraft construction, aircraft maintenance, restoration, modification, and recreational flying. The company is best known not as a manufacturer of complete aircraft, but as a distributor and retailer that brings together the materials, components, tools, technical products, and reference resources needed by aircraft builders and maintainers. The business began in 1965 when Bob and Flo Irwin established Aircraft Spruce after previously founding Fullerton Air Parts. Its initial offering was narrow: aircraft-grade spruce lumber used in aircraft construction and restoration. Over time, the company broadened its range and adopted the name Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company, reflecting a transition from a single-material supplier into a comprehensive aviation-products business. Its assortment has included aircraft parts, hardware, raw materials, avionics and electrical products, maintenance tools, safety equipment, books, plans, and kits for homebuilt aircraft. Aircraft Spruce has served both professional and amateur aviation communities. Its customers include aircraft mechanics, repair stations, kit-aircraft builders, restoration specialists, flight schools, experimental-aircraft owners, and individual pilots. The company has also held rights to distribute plans and kits for a wide selection of homebuilt aircraft, reinforcing its role in the experimental and recreational aviation sector. The company historically relied on aviation catalogs, mail-order distribution, branch operations, and later electronic commerce. This model allows customers working on different aircraft types and construction methods to source specialized products from one supplier rather than purchasing each item from a separate manufacturer. Its catalog-oriented identity is particularly important in homebuilt aviation, where projects may require numerous small components and materials with specific technical or dimensional requirements. Aircraft Spruce was based in Fullerton, California, from its founding until 1997, including a period in a former citrus-packing facility. It subsequently moved its western headquarters to a 62,000-square-foot facility in Corona. The company expanded through regional facilities and acquisitions, including operations in Georgia, Canada, the Midwest, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Australia. By 2025, its reported network included locations in Corona, Chandler, Roanoke, West Chicago, Middletown, Peachtree City, Alaska, Brantford, and Keysborough. Leadership passed within the Irwin family. Jim Irwin, the founders' older son, became involved in kit programs while in college, acquired the company in 1978, and became president in 1980. Publicly available material provides limited information about the company's current ownership and executive structure. Aircraft Spruce remains active as a privately held aviation-products supplier with an international customer and distribution footprint.
History
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company traces its origins to 1965, when Bob and Flo Irwin founded Aircraft Spruce after establishing Fullerton Air Parts. The original business was highly specialized and sold aircraft-grade spruce lumber, a material used in the construction and restoration of wood aircraft. As its customer base and assortment expanded, the company added other aviation products and adopted the name Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company. The Irwin family remained central to the company's development. Jim Irwin, Bob and Flo's older son, became involved in aircraft-kit programs while attending college. In 1975 he managed programs connected with the Vari-Eze kit. Jim acquired the company in 1978 and became president in 1980, overseeing its evolution from a focused materials supplier into a broad aviation-parts and equipment distributor. From 1965 through 1997, the business operated in Fullerton, California, including from a former citrus-packing house that became associated with its early identity. In 1997 it moved to a 62,000-square-foot facility in Corona. The larger site supported the company's growing catalog, warehouse, and distribution activities and became its principal western base. Aircraft Spruce expanded through regional facilities and acquisitions. Aircraft Spruce East moved to a new 52,000-square-foot facility in Peachtree City, Georgia, in 2004. A Canadian operation opened in Toronto in 2006 and later moved to Brantford, Ontario; a new 20,000-square-foot Canadian facility became operational in 2016. In 2019, the company added a 50,000-square-foot Midwest operation in West Chicago, Illinois, and an Alaska operation in Wasilla. Later location descriptions identify the Alaska branch with Palmer, Alaska. Acquisitions and integrations broadened the company's commercial scope. Alexander Aeroplane Company, founded by Ron Alexander, was purchased and integrated in January 1996. PilotShop.com became part of the business in August 2014, and the Aviation Book Company was purchased later that year. The company also acquired the estate of Paul Poberezny in 2017 and A.E.R.O. in Stock in September 2018. These transactions complemented its existing focus on experimental aviation, pilot supplies, technical information, and aircraft construction. The more recent expansion has emphasized distribution capacity and geographic reach. Aircraft Spruce opened a 35,000-square-foot distribution center in Middletown, Pennsylvania, in 2023. Eastern Aero Supply was acquired in 2024, and the company announced a 20,000-square-foot branch in Melbourne, Australia, during the same period. Wag-Aero was also acquired in 2024. On 8 March 2025, Aircraft Spruce and Aero Performance opened a 38,000-square-foot location in Roanoke, Texas. The company sells parts, hardware, aircraft-building materials, tools, avionics and electrical products, pilot supplies, publications, and plans or kits for homebuilt aircraft. Its catalog and online operations serve both commercial aviation professionals and individual builders and owners. Public sources do not establish detailed current ownership, financial results, or a complete list of present executives; accordingly, those matters remain unspecified.
- 2025
Roanoke, Texas location opens
[1]Aircraft Spruce and Aero Performance open a 38,000-square-foot location in Roanoke, Texas, on 8 March.
- 2024
Eastern Aero Supply and Wag-Aero acquisitions
[1]Aircraft Spruce acquires Eastern Aero Supply and Wag-Aero as part of its continuing network expansion.
- 2023
Middletown distribution center opens
[1]A 35,000-square-foot distribution center opens in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
- 2019
Midwest and Alaska facilities open
[1]Aircraft Spruce adds a Midwest facility in West Chicago, Illinois, and an Alaska facility in Wasilla.
- 2018
A.E.R.O. in Stock is acquired
[1]The company acquires A.E.R.O. in Stock in September.
- 2017
Paul Poberezny estate is acquired
[1]Aircraft Spruce acquires the estate of Paul Poberezny.
- 2016
Canadian facility becomes operational
[1]A new 20,000-square-foot Aircraft Spruce Canada facility comes online at Brantford, Ontario Airport.
- 2014
PilotShop.com and Aviation Book Company become part of the business
[1]Aircraft Spruce integrates PilotShop.com and purchases the Aviation Book Company, expanding its pilot-supply and publication offerings.
- 2006
Canadian operation opens
[1]Aircraft Spruce opens a Canadian operation in Toronto.
- 2004
Aircraft Spruce East relocates to Peachtree City
[1]The eastern operation moves to a new facility in Peachtree City, Georgia.
Products and positioning
A broad-line specialist supplier for professional aircraft maintenance, experimental-aircraft construction, restoration, and recreational aviation.
Aviation components
Aircraft parts and hardware
Aircraft Spruce distributes parts, hardware, fittings, fasteners, replacement items, and other components used in aircraft construction, inspection, repair, restoration, and modification. The assortment is intended to support multiple aircraft types and project categories rather than a single proprietary airframe.
Aircraft-building materials · 1965
Aircraft construction materials
The company's original product area was aircraft-grade spruce lumber. The broader construction-materials range supports wood, composite, metal, and other aircraft-building methods with raw materials and associated consumables used by professional and amateur builders.
Experimental aviation
Homebuilt-aircraft kits and plans
Aircraft Spruce has rights to sell plans and kits for a broad selection of homebuilt aircraft. These offerings serve the experimental-aircraft community by providing project documentation and kit-related products alongside the materials, hardware, tools, and equipment required for construction.
Aviation tools
Aviation tools and maintenance equipment
The company supplies tools and workshop equipment for aircraft assembly, inspection, servicing, and repair. This line is aimed at aircraft mechanics, repair organizations, builders, restorers, and owners who perform some maintenance or fabrication work themselves.
Aircraft electronics
Avionics and electrical products
The catalog includes aviation electronics and electrical products used in aircraft installation, instrumentation, communication, navigation, power distribution, and related systems. The company functions primarily as a specialist distributor rather than as the original manufacturer of these products.
Pilot equipment and information · 2014
Pilot supplies and aviation publications
Pilot-oriented products and aviation books complement the technical parts business. The integration of PilotShop.com and acquisition of the Aviation Book Company expanded the company's ability to serve pilots, builders, maintainers, and aviation enthusiasts with equipment and reference material.
Brand decisions
2024
Continue expansion through aviation-supply acquisitionsM&ABackground
Aircraft Spruce continued consolidating and extending its specialist aviation distribution footprint.
Action taken
The company acquired Eastern Aero Supply and Wag-Aero and announced an Australian branch.
Aftermath
The company expanded its product, location, and international distribution platform.
2019
Increase regional distribution capacityStrategyBackground
Customers across the United States required regional access to a wide range of aviation products.
Action taken
The company opened a Midwest facility in West Chicago and an Alaska operation.
Aftermath
The expanded network improved the geographic reach of Aircraft Spruce's specialist distribution system.
2014
Expand into pilot retail and aviation booksM&ABackground
The business sought to broaden its specialist aviation assortment beyond parts and construction materials.
Action taken
Aircraft Spruce integrated PilotShop.com and acquired the Aviation Book Company.
Aftermath
Pilot supplies and aviation publications became more closely integrated with the company's existing catalog and distribution model.
1997
Move the principal western facility to CoronaStrategyBackground
The company had outgrown its long-standing Fullerton base and required additional space for its expanding distribution business.
Action taken
Aircraft Spruce moved to a 62,000-square-foot facility in Corona, California.
Aftermath
Corona became the company's principal western operating base.
1965
Begin as a focused aircraft-lumber supplierStrategyBackground
The founders established the business around demand for aircraft-grade spruce used in construction and restoration.
Action taken
Aircraft Spruce initially sold aircraft-grade spruce lumber before broadening its catalog.
Aftermath
The focused materials business became the foundation for a much broader aviation-parts and specialty-products operation.
Recent events
- 2025
Aircraft Spruce and Aero Performance open Roanoke location[1]
Other
Aircraft Spruce and Aero Performance opened a 38,000-square-foot location in Roanoke, Texas, described as a new central operating site.
- 2024
Aircraft Spruce acquires Eastern Aero Supply[1]
M&A
Eastern Aero Supply was acquired as part of the company's continuing expansion of its aviation distribution network.
- 2024
Aircraft Spruce announces Australian branch[1]
Other
The company announced a 20,000-square-foot branch in Melbourne, Australia, expanding its presence beyond North America.
- 2024
Aircraft Spruce acquires Wag-Aero[1]
M&A
Wag-Aero was acquired, adding another established aviation-parts and supplies business to the company's portfolio.
- 2023
Aircraft Spruce opens Pennsylvania distribution center[1]
Other
The company opened a 35,000-square-foot distribution center in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
- 2019
Aircraft Spruce opens Midwest facility[1]
Other
A 50,000-square-foot Midwest facility began operating in West Chicago, Illinois, strengthening regional distribution capacity.
- 2018
Aircraft Spruce acquires A.E.R.O. in Stock[1]
M&A
The company acquired A.E.R.O. in Stock, extending its aviation-supply activities.
- 2017
Aircraft Spruce acquires the estate of Paul Poberezny[1]
M&A
Aircraft Spruce acquired the estate of Paul Poberezny, a figure associated with the homebuilt-aircraft and experimental-aviation community.
- 2014
Aircraft Spruce integrates PilotShop.com[1]
M&A
PilotShop.com was integrated into the company's business, broadening its aviation retail and pilot-supply operations.
- 2014
Aircraft Spruce acquires the Aviation Book Company[1]
M&A
The company purchased the Aviation Book Company, adding aviation publications to its specialist product portfolio.
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