Frakes Aviation
Encyclopedia
Frakes Aviation was founded by J. Fred Frakes in the late 1960s, and is currently located in Cleburne, Texas
, United States. When founded, the company's main activity was converting piston-engine airplanes to turbine power. The company continued oporations in this area of aviation into the mid 1980s, converting various airplanes.
Frakes' most significant projects were the re-engining of two Grumman products, the Ag-Cat and the Mallard
, in both cases replacing the original radial piston engines with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A.
The company also converted a number of Aerospatiale Nord 262 airplanes for Mohawk Airways
in the late 1970s. After long usage by Mohawk Airways at least two of these airplanes were exported to Australia
where they were used for a short time before being retired.
In the mid 1980s Frakes Aviation saw a need to diversify their business and ventured into aftermarket exhaust systems for PT6 powered aircraft. As the modification business dwindled the exhaust business began to take hold. Frakes Aviation now holds various supplemental type certificates for exhaust systems on several different airframes.
Further diversifying of their business brought them into the OEM market. Frakes Aviation is now the OEM exhaust on various newly built aircraft, including the Quest Kodiak
and the Epic Dynasty.
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. According to 2007 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population is 29,050. It is the county seat of Johnson County. Cleburne is named for a Confederate General, Patrick Cleburne...
, United States. When founded, the company's main activity was converting piston-engine airplanes to turbine power. The company continued oporations in this area of aviation into the mid 1980s, converting various airplanes.
Frakes' most significant projects were the re-engining of two Grumman products, the Ag-Cat and the Mallard
Grumman Mallard
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Hotson, Fred W. Grumman Mallard: The Enduring Classic. Scarborough, Ontario: Robin Brass Studio, 2006. ISBN 978-1896941448....
, in both cases replacing the original radial piston engines with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A.
The company also converted a number of Aerospatiale Nord 262 airplanes for Mohawk Airways
Mohawk Airlines
Mohawk Airlines was an airline that operated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, primarily the states of New York and Pennsylvania from the mid-1940s until its acquisition by Allegheny Airlines in 1972...
in the late 1970s. After long usage by Mohawk Airways at least two of these airplanes were exported to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where they were used for a short time before being retired.
In the mid 1980s Frakes Aviation saw a need to diversify their business and ventured into aftermarket exhaust systems for PT6 powered aircraft. As the modification business dwindled the exhaust business began to take hold. Frakes Aviation now holds various supplemental type certificates for exhaust systems on several different airframes.
Further diversifying of their business brought them into the OEM market. Frakes Aviation is now the OEM exhaust on various newly built aircraft, including the Quest Kodiak
Quest Aircraft
Quest Aircraft Company is an American aircraft manufacturing company located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Quest was started in 2001 to design and provide aircraft suitable for domestic and international humanitarian applications.-History:...
and the Epic Dynasty.