All About Hart Aero

Doug Hart has been involved in aviation all of his life. He completed flight school in 1989. He attended Carl Sandburg Community College in Galesburg Illinois for Aviation Business Management. He served us proudly in the US Army as a warrant officer and helicopter pilot, during Desert Storm. After the Army he attended the University of Illinois receiving an A+P certificate/Aeronautical Science degree, also completing Aeronautical Engineering courses as well as Human Factors in Aviation. He received 1st Graduate Honors.

In my humble opinion, his education sounds like he could be designing the SR-71's replacement.

Now, since graduating, he has been employed as an A+P at the Air Combat Museum at Springfield Illinois, Maintenance Base Manager for United Express/Great Lakes, Director of Maintenance For Capital Aircraft, Regional Aircraft Maintenance Manager for Evergreen Air Center and employed as Corporate Aircraft maintenance Lead for Air Evac EMS.
During his employment he specialized in structural repair and modifications as well as working on Pratt & Whitney PT6 series engines. During this time he has done main wing spar repairs on a King Air 1900 and a medical bar modification on a Bell 206L3. He converted a PT6-67A Starship engine for use on agricultural aircraft in Australia. Additionally, He has attended quite a variety of training schools and has received several awards from past employers as well as the FAA.


He said,"Over the years I have been heavily involved in the ultralight and experimental aircraft hobby away from my full time jobs. I have owned and built several aircraft from a Weedhopper to a Early Bird Jenny(s). I have also performed many, many experimental conformity inspections over the years."

He just recently finished his MBA last year(2007). In his words,"This was a huge self accomplishment and a long time goal for myself."

"On a personal note, I am married and have 2 sons, ages 3 and 7. My family fully supports and helps with my passion for the light aircraft."



About Hart Aero:

Hart Aero, was newly formed last year, 2007.

The aircraft have been in private development since 1995.

He, with the help of his family in one way are another, has built and flown 18 ultralight and experimental aircraft since 1990.

He has a perfect track record regarding safety in structural design and personal injury or fatality.

The 5 aircraft he currently has on the website have undergone extensive testing and some are in the third or more generations of type.

He moved into his new shop in the fall of 2007. He says it's a small shop located behind his home, and that it houses all of the production phases from start to finish. "We have learned very quickly to be very efficient at utilizing our limited space to it's full potential!"

Despite that, he will be starting construction in the next couple of weeks on a dedicated fabric shop and paint booth. He also has plans to add another building this spring for storage of materials and parts.

All of the fabrication and construction is completed in house by trained and highly skilled personnel (most have an A+P license or repairman certificate or have the experience in homebuilding necessary).

The staff includes 2 full time and 4 part time people. Each specialize in one or two phases of each aircraft and assist as needed with all other phases.

In remark about the money behind the venture, he said,"I have used my own money from ground up on all our aircraft and facilities. We never have spent more than we have had available. This has slowed our development, but has eased the pressure to push kits to make bank loan payments or investor payments and is true to our plan of keep it simple, keep it strong and keep it affordable. The end result is that we have proven aircraft at an affordable price and most important to me is that we make these aircraft because we want to, not because we have to."

"I do have several other designs that I have not built as yet, but plan to in the near future as time allows."

"The positive response to our aircraft is overwhelming. We have had visitors from all over the USA and have customers from all over the world. On average we receive at least 100 emails a day and at least 2 to 3 dozen phone calls a day from people wanting more information about us and our aircraft."

At this point I would like to go through the questions posed to Doug in our correspondence.

Donnie Watson: What do you hope to accomplish with this endeavor?

Doug Hart: Fun factor and affordability are very high on the priority list. We hope that by offering affordable aircraft that we can awaken the kid in everyone that has dreamed of flying and make it a reality for those that really want to fly and for those older pilots that can no longer fly general aviation.

Donnie Watson: How has this impacted your family and life as of late?

Doug Hart: It has consumed me and my family! But we all enjoy it very much. My boys are always around "helping daddy build airwings". My wife likes it that I'm happy doing something I really like. With all my previous jobs, I was gone a lot and always had erratic schedules. Even though I'm working harder and longer than ever, I have more time with my family now than before. It helps ALOT that our shop is behind the house! :-)

Donnie Watson: How many plane designs do you have now?

Doug Hart: On paper I have designed well over 30 aircraft. Mostly powered ultralight type, a few sailplanes and a few 2 place. I hope to build prototypes for a few of them. Most were drawn up more for exercise than anything else, but each and everyone has produced ideas for the next or previous.

Donnie Watson: There has been mention of you designing a tow plane for your gliders. Would you speculate as to when you might start on that?

Doug Hart: A glider tug will most likely be a modified Aero Sport or Aero Trainer. A one off design for a UL glider tug just doesn't make sense at this time for us. The Sport and Trainer already have the basic qualities needed for such an application and I know with a little modification can complete the task quite well.

Donnie Watson: Has the growth of the company surprised you?

Doug Hart: The growth and interest has overwhelmed us. We are
currently at least 3-4 month lead time on new orders. There truly is a need for what we do and offer.

Doug, I hope that I speak for all in this, We wish you well in this business and hope that you will be blessed with success in it.