Univ. of Wyoming Research Airplane is Avcon’s Most Complex Certification
OLATHE, KANSAS, May 5, 2025 – Avcon Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Butler National Corporation (OTCQX: BUKS), a leading manufacturer and systems integrator for special mission aircraft modifications, announces Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certificate (STC) approval of the National Science Foundation – University of Wyoming Environmental Research King Air model B300 airplane with a complex integration of structural and electrical modifications.
Avcon received Federal Aviation Administration STC SA04749NY for the installation of the Avcon King Air Nose Extension with sensor mounting provisions, wing tip or outboard hard points, also referred to as provisions for external stores, with significant sensor shapes, dual downward and dual upward camera ports, lower fuselage hardpoints with pylons for large external sensors, side-fuselage hardpoints for sensors, upper fuselage hardpoints for sensors on the King Air Model B300 or Model 350 airplanes. The Avcon FAA STC allows for various combinations of sensor deployment. The STC expands the options of Avcon Industries products available for installation. The generic shapes mounted to the various hard points during flight testing gives Avcon customers the opportunity to adapt Avcon products to specific mission requirements.
“First, congratulations to the University of Wyoming and the National Science Foundation for their commitment to research and in appreciation for selecting Avcon to work the special mission airplane project. Avcon accepted the University of Wyoming Next Generation King Air research airplane project as a significant challenge. The modifications sought were integrated, complex and had multiple configurations. Approximately five years after starting the project, Avcon achieved the FAA STC.” Commented Marcus Abendroth, President of Avcon Industries, Inc. “From a business perspective, Avcon made a significant engineering commitment to the University of Wyoming King Air project. We believe our investment will yield a foundation of engineering for new product sales and development opportunities in the future.” Added Chris Reedy, President and CEO of Avcon’s parent company, Butler National Corporation (OTCQX: BUKS).
“We appreciate the relationship and commitment of the Avcon team to the University of Wyoming in integration and certification of our King Air research airplane. The scale of this project was huge and this aircraft is unique amongst atmospheric research aircraft,” said Jeff French, Professor and Head of the Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming. Dr. French continued, “The University of Wyoming and its partners are committed to innovative environmental research. The NSF UW research King Air is an essential platform to continue and expand the university’s research mission and to serve national research needs. The special mission modified King Air brings tremendous flexibility and adaptability with the multitude of configurations made available with the FAA-certified airplane.”