First Class Air has invested in and partnered with Vertical Aerospace, bringing the Bristow, Oklahoma-based repair specialist into its aviation aftermarket platform and expanding capabilities in structural MRO, engineering and fabricated parts manufacturing. Vertical Aerospace will remain at its 226,000-square-foot facility in Bristow under founder and general manager Tray Siegfried.
The move adds in-house capability in complex aircraft structural repair, helping First Class Air support maintenance work across a wider range of aircraft components and reduce turnaround time for customers. Vertical Aerospace works on commercial, cargo and military aircraft, with experience in nacelles, thrust reversers, flight control surfaces, composite and metallic structures, cowlings, ducts and exhaust components.
First Class Air, based in Louisville, has been building a broader aviation aftermarket network that spans parts distribution, repair, manufacturing, teardown, exchange programmes and supply-chain services. Vertical Aerospace strengthens that platform with processes including non-destructive testing, heat treatment, welding, laser tracking and specialised fabrication, while keeping existing operations in place at the Bristow site. Financial terms were not disclosed.