Ravn Aerospace

Ravn Aerospace developed from the company known as AirUSA. Its publicly described history is centered on the operation of former military aircraft and the delivery of specialized aviation services to U.S. defense customers. The company acquired its first reported aircraft, a Czech Aero L-39 Albatros, in 1994. Two years later it purchased two Mikoyan MiG-29s from Kyrgyzstan. These acquisitions established a fleet based on ex-military aircraft rather than newly manufactured commercial aviation equipment and supported the company’s role in military flight training and dissimilar-aircraft operations. The company later acquired BAE Systems Hawk 67 aircraft formerly operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force. The Hawk fleet became associated with two accidents during the AirUSA period. The second accident killed a person on the ground and led to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. The investigation identified weaknesses in operational procedures, including deviations from the approved flight manual and inadequate stores clearance involving a SUU-20 stores dispenser. Following the accidents and findings, the United States Marine Corps prohibited further use of the Hawk in close-air-support contracts. The aircraft were stored for a period and were subsequently reactivated in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Combat Air Force Contract Air Support program. In October 2019, AirUSA received one of seven indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity awards under the U.S. Air Force Combat Air Force Contract Air Support program. The award placed the company among the contractors eligible to provide contracted aviation support, including training and related services, when ordered by the government. Ravn Aerospace’s reported capabilities include adversary-air operations, close-air-support training, Joint Terminal Attack Controller training, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training. A major procurement episode followed in 2020. Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry announced that up to 46 retired Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets, together with spare parts and test equipment, would be sold to AirUSA. The proposed transaction was later uncertain, and Australian Defence Magazine reported in December 2021 that its status was unknown. The arrangement eventually lapsed in December 2023 without any of the aircraft being transferred to Ravn Aerospace. Beyond its defense-contracting work, the company briefly operated the World Aerospace Museum at Quincy Regional Airport in Illinois. The museum reflected the organization’s connection with historic and former military aircraft, but its core identity remains that of a specialized defense aviation contractor. Publicly available reference material does not establish a detailed founding account, ownership structure, executive roster, financial profile, or a complete current fleet beyond the aircraft types identified in the supplied material.

• 2023

  Australian Hornet sale lapsed

  [1]Ravn Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed sale agreement expired in December without any former Australian Hornets being transferred.

• 2020

  Proposed acquisition of former Australian F/A-18s announced

  [1]Ravn Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  Australia announced a proposed sale of up to 46 former Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets and related equipment to AirUSA.

• 2019

  Awarded Combat Air Force Contract Air Support contract

  [1]Ravn Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  AirUSA was one of seven companies selected for a U.S. Air Force indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract supporting the Combat Air Force Contract Air Support program.

• 1996

  MiG-29 aircraft acquired

  [1]Ravn Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchased two Mikoyan MiG-29s from Kyrgyzstan.

• 1994

  First reported aircraft acquired

  [1]Ravn Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchased a Czech Aero L-39 Albatros, its first reported aircraft.

A specialist provider of military aviation training and contract air support using former frontline and trainer aircraft.

• Military training aircraft · 1994

  Aero L-39 Albatros

  The Aero L-39 Albatros was the company’s first reported aircraft acquisition. This Czech jet trainer forms part of the former-military-aircraft fleet used in specialized aviation operations and training support.

• Military training and contract-support aircraft

  BAE Systems Hawk 67

  Former South Korean Air Force Hawk 67 aircraft were operated by AirUSA in military support roles. Following two accidents and an NTSB investigation, the United States Marine Corps prohibited their use on close-air-support contracts. The aircraft were later stored and reactivated for Combat Air Force Contract Air Support support.

• Adversary and dissimilar-aircraft training aircraft · 1996

  Mikoyan MiG-29

  The company acquired two MiG-29 fighter aircraft from Kyrgyzstan in 1996. Their acquisition expanded the organization’s collection of high-performance former military aircraft and supported its broader adversary-air and specialized training identity.

• Defense aviation service · 2019

  Combat Air Force Contract Air Support

  This U.S. Air Force contracting program provides access to commercial aviation companies for combat-air-force training and related support. AirUSA was selected as one of seven eligible contractors in 2019.

• 2020

  Proposed purchase of former Royal Australian Air Force HornetsM&A

  Background

  Australia planned to dispose of retired F/A-18 Hornets and associated support equipment, creating a potential opportunity for a contractor operating former military aircraft.

  Action taken

  Australia announced that up to 46 aircraft and related inventory would be sold to AirUSA.

  Aftermath

  The proposed transaction remained uncertain, and the contract lapsed in December 2023 without any aircraft being transferred.

  Source

• 2019

  Participation in the Combat Air Force Contract Air Support programStrategy

  Background

  AirUSA sought and received eligibility to provide aviation support to the U.S. Air Force through a multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract.

  Action taken

  The company became one of seven contractors selected for the program.

  Aftermath

  The award provided a framework for the company to support U.S. Air Force training and related contract-air-support requirements.

  Source

1. 1Ravn Aerospaceen.wikipedia.org