John Jewell Aircraft celebrates 30 years


Thursday, May 31, 2007
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John Jewell Aircraft celebrates 30 years

Photos by Garrie Colhoun

Jewells honored
(From left) Linda and John Jewell receive the Outstanding Service Award from Janice Pelletti.

A leader in the aviation industry, located right here in Marshall County, recently celebrated 30 years of providing quality products and services.

Festivities were held at John Jewell Aircraft Inc. on May 19 with approximately 200 in attendance from Holly Springs and surrounding communities and as far away as Louisiana.

A highlight of the day came when Janice Pelletti, manager of the Flight Standards District Office, Jackson, presented John Jewell with an Outstanding Service Award for three decades of dedicated service.

Longtime pilot
George Bishop, who had the first business at the Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport and gave many in the county their first airplane ride, enjoyed the open house.

“Over the years you have provided the general aviation community with your experience, dedication and integrity in maintaining aircraft, aircraft engines and other services for general aviation,” wrote Janice Pelletti, manager of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, in a congratulatory letter. “During those years, you have built a strong company with professional employees who share your passion for aviation safety.”

Customers traveling the farthest were Jackie and Anita Hathorne of Lecompte, La., and Jimmy and Tonya McDonald of Glenmora, La. Guests also included friends, customers, vendors and colleagues. They came from places like Memphis, Tenn., Germantown, Tenn., Collierville, Tenn., Moscow, Tenn., Jackson, Tenn., Olive Branch, Hernando, Southaven, Como, Senatobia, Philadelphia, Lexington, Oxford, Greenwood, Cleveland, and Hati, Mo.

Over 25 aircraft flew in – various makes and models, including Cessna, Piper, Beech, homebuilt and experimental.

Some of the vintage aircraft included a 1944 Howard DGA-15P and a 1946 Piper J3 Cub.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Johnny and Nancy Boone provided vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet made with their five-gallon ice cream machines, powered by a 1920 John Deere “Hit & Miss” engine.

Dr. Joe Johnson served the attendees lunch all afternoon.

Mid-afternoon visitors were entertained by impressive fly-bys courtesy of Dave Robinson, Pitts 12 “Sweetie;” John Bailey, Pitts 12; and Steve Stires, RV4. The trio was returning from a dedication service, re-naming the Iuka Airport.

After landing, visitors were able to admire Dave and Ellyn Robinson’s “Sweetie,” which won “Best Homebuilt Bi-plane” at Sun-n-Fun in 2004 and 2006. “Sweetie” has also been featured in Sport Aviation magazine.

A new 2007 C182 with the Garmin G-1000 “glass panel” and equipped with the new G-700 auto pilot was on display courtesy of Bob Fennell, Tony Iacobucci and Jerry Christian of New South Aviation, Memphis, Tenn., an authorized new Cessna aircraft dealer.

John Jewell Aircraft also had its Cessna C182-300 STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) on display. This is one of John Jewell Aircraft’s STCs which modifies Cessna 182 aircraft from carbureted 230hp to fuel injected 300hp. Shawn Jewell demonstrated the performance of this aircraft to one of JJA’s customers.

John Jewell Aircraft family
John Jewell Aircraft employees and family members pose for a group photo during the recent celebration.

Also on display was a new STC in process by John Jewell Aircraft. JJA has begun research and development (R & D) on a new Hartzell propeller to install on Cessna 206, 207, 210 models. This propeller is expected to provide better climb, cruise and quieter operation. Flight testing is scheduled to begin next week.

The custom engine overhaul and cylinder repair facilities were open for tour. Visitors were able to view the facilities JJA uses to overhaul engines from teardown to assembly and cylinder barrel honing, seat and guide removal and replacement.

Lunch was provided in the main hangar that is primarily used for airframe repair and modification, engine removal and replacement.

Company history

1966: John Jewell began in aviation, Mena, Ark.
1970: Relocated to Ottawa, Kan.
1977: John and Linda Jewell began engine overhaul business in Arlington, Tenn., under the name of Jewell Aircraft Engine Overhaul; and incorporated in 1978.
1980: Jewell Aircraft Engine Overhaul Inc. was named a Teledyne Continental Motors distributor and service center.
1983: Jewell Aircraft Engine Overhaul relocated operations to Holly Springs. Jewell Aircraft Engine Overhaul expanded services to include airframe repair, annual inspections, and the name was changed to Jewell Aircraft, Inc.
1985: Jewell Aircraft Inc. expanded its parts distribution to include Textron Lycoming, Rapco, McCreary, and many others. Jewell Aircraft expanded to include parts distribution to the Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana region.
1991: John Jewell Aircraft, Inc. was added and named an FAA authorized repair station. Cylinder repair was added initially to the repair station, and airframe was added approximately one year later.
2000: John Jewell Aircraft Inc. expanded its operations to include C182 and C210 STCs.
2006: John Jewell Aircraft Inc. was named an authorized Cessna service center.
2007: 30 Years!..........

Current staff includes:

John Jewell, president – custom reassembly of all JJA engines. Engine and airframe maintenance and repair, R & D of new STCs, oversees all operations. Over 42 years in general aviation maintenance.
Charlotte Jewell-Saunders, vice president – customer service, marketing, cost accounting, job quotation and scheduling, R & D of new STCs. Over 25 years in general aviation industry.
Shawn Jewell. (Olive Branch), IA (inspection authorization). Pilot, sheet metal services, R & D of new STCs. Over 20 years in general aviation industry.
Jayme Miller (Holly Springs), office manager – customer service, billing and payables, job quotation and scheduling. Employed with JJA for 20 years.
A.D. Payne (Holly Springs), cylinder maintenance technician – performs cylinder honing; seat and guide replacement; installation of pistons, rings and internal cylinder parts. Employed with JJA for nine years. Previous aviation background includes 25 years in agriculture aviation.
Joe Norris (Moscow, Tenn.), IA (inspection authorization). Performs engine and airframe maintenance, annual and 100-hour inspections. Employed with JJA for five years. Previous experience includes 15 years in general piston and turbine aviation as well as four years Air Force.
Rocky Humphrey (Holly Springs) general maintenance technician – performs engine removal from aircraft, engine and cylinder disassembly, engine test-cell set-up. Previous aviation experience includes 15 years at Covington Engines, a Pratt & Whitney overhaul company.
Carol Artherton (Harmontown), receptionist – she welcomes customers to JJA by phone and visits. Just celebrated one year anniversary.

The aviation industry is experiencing change and John Jewell Aircraft is ready for the challenges ahead, according to Saunders.

“Technology is improving and JJA intends on keeping on top of these changes so that we can offer the best, most cost effective, safest products and services to our customers,” she said. “This includes already existing engine overhaul, cylinder repair, airframe inspections and repair, and STC modifications. This also leads JJA to always strive for better ways to maximize performance through additional engine, prop and airframe modifications.

“With the ongoing changes in the regional and local aviation maintenance needs, as well as the anticipated expansion of the Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport infrastructure, JJA is prepared to provide additional services as the need and opportunity arises.

“John Jewell Aircraft is proud to have been in business for 30 years, and to have been located at Holly Springs for 24 years. John Jewell Aircraft Inc. owes thanks to professional and dedicated staff, wonderful friends, quality vendors and loyal customers.”

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