Aircraft Fabric Covering Experts

Raven Aero Service is known throughout the Midwest as the “go-to” company when you own a classic, single-engine airplane that needs work. Whether it’s a simple service request or a complete restoration, Raven Aero excels beyond expectations and delivers work that results in multiple referrals and repeat work. They take special care in making sure all FAA requirements are adhered to and restore the aircraft as close as possible to its original condition. They have perfected the lost art of fabric covering, a skill few restoration companies in the U.S. can achieve with the same results as Raven Aero. Their restored planes are regularly featured in publications and airshows.

Owner Marvin Hornbostel, a 2012 recipient of the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award, has been working more than 50 years as an airframe and powerplant (A&P) technician.  He has held inspection authorization (IA) for 40 of those years.

His passion for airplanes started early.  Growing up during World War II, his dream was to fly B-17s.  Of course, the war didn’t wait for him but when his dad gave him his first rubber band powered balsa model airplane, his future was decided.

He began his career in aviation with the United States Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he received basic aviation maintenance training followed by two years of service in Germany.  After discharge, he worked with a maintenance contractor at Fort Riley, Kansas, performing maintenance on Army aircraft.  Thirty-two years later, he retired as the shop supervisor.

During his years at Fort Riley, Marvin spent his spare time working on general aviation aircraft while learning all he could about fabric covering.  His first complete restoration in 1968 was a 1941 Taylorcraft.  Two of his restored aircraft have been award winners at airshows in Oshkosh and Blakesburg, Iowa.

After retiring in 1990, he continued restoring fabric aircraft at his home in rural Junction City.  Within a short time, his ability to work with fabric covering became widely known and turned into a business.  Marvin, along with his sons Jon and Kurt, own and operate Raven Aero Service, which was formed in 1992.  Raven specializes in antique and classic aircraft restoration.  Shortly thereafter, the business outgrew the facility and was relocated to Junction City’s Freeman Field (3JC).  Raven currently has four full time employees.

Marvin provides summer jobs for students interested in aircraft restoration from Kansas State University’s Aviation School.  He also works with the Junction City High School Guided Study Program to provide hands-on training to students interested in aviation maintenance.  Additionally, he provides work experience and mentorship to Army aviation maintenance technicians to help them transition into civilian careers.

Marvin serves on the Junction City Airport Aviation Advisory Board and is president of EAA Chapter 1364, the “Wing Nuts.”  With a grant from The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, he was instrumental in starting a Youth Aviation Education Program in the local chapter.  The group participates in EAA’s Young Eagles Program, has built a flight simulator, and is presently constructing a Bowers Fly-Baby.

-Some content courtesy of General Aviation Awards.