Renowned small aircraft manufacturer to locate in Valdosta

True Flight Aerospace, LLC to make Tiger Aircraft planes, creating 150 jobs and investing $3.8 million

ATLANTA — Tiger Aircraft has landed in Valdosta, where new owners True Flight Aerospace will locate a corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility. The company is expected to create 150 jobs over three years and invest $3.8 million.

"Georgia's aerospace industry has gotten even stronger with this great commitment from True Flight," said Governor Sonny Perdue.  "This year our state is celebrating 100 years of aviation and I am proud to welcome the new manufacturer of Tiger Aircraft to our state."

True Flight plans to build a 60,000 square foot facility on a 13-acre tract adjacent to the Valdosta Airport. The company plans to initially hire 25 employees, reaching full employment of 150 within three years and expects to offer salaries that are considerably higher than the average for Lowndes County.

“Locating in Valdosta will allow us to produce new state of the art aircraft based on the Grumman Tiger at competitive costs while maintaining the quality that our customers prize,” said Kevin Lancaster, CEO of True Flight. “We look forward to becoming a good corporate citizen in Lowndes County.”

Michelle Shaw was project manager for Georgia Department of Economic Development.

 “We are so proud to have True Flight locate in Valdosta,” said Brad Lofton, Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority. “The state, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority, the city of Valdosta and the industrial authority were all flying together in formation to land this great project.”

True Flight Holdings LLC is a privately-held Georgia company that recently acquired Tiger Aircraft, LLC and the rights to the original Grumman designs including the updated AG-5B Tiger, a sporty single-engine model.  True Flight Holdings, LLC also obtained the type certificates and rights to manufacture four models of related aircraft.  True Flight Aerospace, LLC will build the aircraft under license.

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