Vashon Aircraft moves to Arlington Municipal Airport – Puget Sound Business Journal – Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

Vashon Aircraft, the maker of the Ranger R7 light-sport plane, plans to move production from Woodinville and Everett to the Arlington Municipal Airport.
The company said the move will enable a 50% increase in production to more than 30 aircraft in 2022 and consolidate its team of 25 employees in one location.
Vashon Aircraft is currently manufacturing out of a 28,000-square-foot facility in Woodinville, and parts are then transported to Paine Field for assembly and delivery. With non-towered operations and less commercial traffic, Arlington also makes it easier for customers to receive delivery of the aircraft, General Manager Scott Taylor said.
Vashon Aircraft said it expects to finish the move and return to full production by mid-September. Taylor said the decision has been in the works for the last four years.
“We’ve outgrown our space, so we’re expanding there to meet our customers’ needs,” Taylor said.
Demand for light-sport aircraft has ramped up as airlines confront a shortage of pilots.
“Our aircraft is perfect for flight schools for training airplane pilots,” he said. “It’s designed specifically for recreational and for training. There are not a large fleet of aircraft available for pilots to train on, so a lot of airlines are purchasing brand new aircraft that are a good fit for that market.”
The company has also seen growth in its Mammoth Overland business, which designs off-road trailers for camping and outdoor recreation.
Research and development operations will remain in Woodinville for another year and a half, before consolidating in Arlington. With a lower cost of living and a workforce catering to Tier 1 aerospace companies, the city offers Vashon Aircraft opportunities to grow its workforce and for employees to find housing, Taylor said.
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