NEW CENTURY, Kan. — Business aviation veterans Tim and Dianne White have acquired Kansas Aircraft Corp., an aviation sales and consulting firm headquartered at the New Century Air Center (IXD) in the Kansas City area.
Kansas Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1990 by Michele Stauffer, who will remain active in the business following the acquisition.
“I am very excited about this announcement,” said Stauffer. “Tim and Dianne have outstanding reputations in the industry and share my core beliefs of integrity, trust and doing what’s right for the customer. They are passionate about aviation, both personally and professionally, and will no doubt build upon our solid success to take the company to even higher levels.”
With the new ownership, the firm will continue to focus on new Cessna single-engine, high-end piston, heavy twins, and turboprop aircraft.
Kansas Aircraft Corp. sales and support staff will continue under the new ownership, making the transition virtually invisible to customers, company officials said. Stauffer, as well as the company’s long-time sales executives Amy Heaven, Conrad Jones, Terry Blake and Steve Wilson, will continue to provide sales and counsel. The company will remain at the New Century Air Center (IXD) in the Kansas City area.
“As aviation enthusiasts and advocates, Kansas Aircraft is a dream opportunity for Dianne and me to work with the aviation segment we know best, the owner-pilot,” said Tim White, Kansas Aircraft CEO and Owner. “Michele Stauffer has built an amazing track record and reputation in the marketplace. Our goal is to build on this strong base through our experience and insight in the turbine, owner-flown market.”
Tim White comes to Kansas Aircraft Corporation with OEM knowledge and perspective after a successful sales leadership career at Cessna Aircraft. After a serving in a number of diverse sales roles, he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Sales for the Americas. As an officer and senior leader of the company, he oversaw the sales of Citation, Caravan and single-engine aircraft for North, Central and South America. In 2012, he joined Bombardier Aerospace in a sales leadership role for the Global, Challenger and Learjet product lines, providing him experience in the heavy jet market sector. He is a multi-engine, instrument pilot and holds a Citation 525 type rating.
Dianne White had a 14-year career as Editor in Chief of Twin & Turbine Magazine, a monthly publication devoted to the owner-pilots of heavy twins and turbine aircraft. In addition, she held editor roles at a number of other aviation magazines, including CJ Magazine, Cirrus Pilot, King Air Magazine, and the International Comanche Society. She also served as Vice President of Corporate Communications at Cessna Aircraft Co. She is a multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot.
For more information: KansasAircraft.com
(Above: Dianne White, Tim White, Michele Stauffer)
Passion for aviation — this describes Tim and Dianne White; and, passion for aviation is a certain quality that’s really needed right now in general aviation. It was a privilege to work with the Whites at Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, and to write for Dianne at Twin and Turbine. Their success will continue …
Dianne White has served her editorship at Twin and Turbine exceedingly well. Her leadership there caused us to advertise in every issue, every year for the past decade; and it’s paid off. Dianne – good luck in your new endeavor! James Raisbeck