Charlie received his first order for an H-Valve from Learjet. Learjet had forty no bids. ASC was the only company to submit a bid. Because Charlie was a former employee of Learjet, RB Sullivan, Materials Manager, went to management for an exception.  The exception was granted and buyer, Les Weirich, placed ASC’s first order.

Two months after receiving their first order, ASC moved to it’s new home at 5532 W Central, a strip mall with a laundromat, real estate office and a bar.

Incorporation paperwork was filed on February 28, 1969, and on March 1 the first directors meeting was held.

Ken Rix, a coworker from Charlie’s days at Learjet also found himself without a job and was willing to work for an IOU. Ken, his wife Mary Ann and Paul Miller invested a total of $10,000 in ASC to provide capital.

Lyle Koontz was a sales engineer with GE and refused a transfer to the East Coast leaving him unemployed. He and Charlie had worked together on a project together during Charlie’s Beech days.  Lyle joined ASC to market the new farm products. He also worked for an IOU.

A downturn in the aviation market had ASC scrambling for new products. The farm market was strong, so they developed prototypes of an evaporative cooler and fuel transfer pump.  They took those prototypes to the 3i Show and came back with orders and money.

GPI becomes a separate company.

With a need for more products, ASC partnered with Jack Kelly of Value Engineered Products out of California.  VEP brought new product designs. The 506-1, 713-1 and 717 are still active part numbers today.

Demand for solenoid valves was high, and suppliers became  bottlenecked. ASC designed and began manufacturing solenoid 5501 in house.

Big Beech Motor 26501 – Legend has it that this motor was an improved design to replace the GE motor Lyle Koontz sold to Beech when Charlie was designing the air conditioning system for the King Air.

Les Weirich became ASC’s first General Manager.

ASC added in-house machining with the purchase of a Hardinge HC Super Precision Chucker.

The first Environmental Test Chamber was purchased by ASC.  It made it possible for ASC to demonstrate that new products would satisfy FAA certification requirements (environmental extremes) by simulation in the lab before test flight.  

Ken Seaman was hired as Marketing Manager and in 1985, became Vice President/General Manager.  In 1988, Ken was promoted to President/General Manager.

ASC implements its first CAD software, Crossroads. To operate the software required a purchase of an IBM PC at a cost of $7,500.

ASC designed and built its first non-aviation products, Mack Truck pneumatically controlled butterfly valves, part numbers 1405-3, 1406-4, and 1407-7.

The introduction of inventory cycle counting led to the elimination of the need for an annual inventory.

ASC Quality Assurance Department purchases its first Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM).

In an attempt to diversify its product line, ASC introduced a line of specialty seats including these Observer Seats.

ASC received its first AS9100 Certification.

ASC received the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award.

ASC introduced its first pressure regulating shut off valve (PRSOV), part number 1422-1 for the Citation IV.

ASC installed $640,000 in upgrades to its test facilities including an in-line air system, which added air compressor capacity, and the Brown Fired Heater, which allowed for testing at higher temperatures.

ASC Founder, Charles Peer, died.

ASC expanded its machine shop with purchase of a Doosan Multi-Axis Vertical Mill.

ASC designed its first motor operated valve for the Textron Scorpion, part number 1434-2.

ASC further expanded its machine shop with the purchase of a Mazak 5-Axis Integrex CNC.

ASC designed a fuel sender that improved reliability by the use of higher quality components than the incumbent supplier.

Eddie Morrison became President/General Manager