Our History

The current companies of Avtask Inc and Avion Manufacturing Inc. originated from Avion Inc. Avion Inc was founded in 1992 by Norm Beachum, Joe Buckel and Gary Donald to provide engineering services to the Army Aviation Command ( AMCOM) which at the time was located in St louis Mo. One of the first task this new company focused on was tracking and balancing CH-47 Main Rotor Blades (MRB). The Team developed a 3-point balance fixture to obtain data on the weight and Center of Gravity of the Main Rotor Blades. This original 3-point scale evolved into the present day Universal Static Balance fixture (USBF) and Virtual Master Blade (VMB). A US Patent was applied for in 1996 and granted in 1998 (US5824897A).

 
After the balance fixture was developed Avion Inc focused on CH-47 Main Rotor Blades ( MRB) absorbing water. The water absorbed through the thin fiberglass skins and pooled into the honeycomb core causing track and balance issues. Avion Inc solicited the help of Jim Kern at Task Research in Ardmore Ok. to study the problem of removing water from the CH-47 MRB. A Prototype drying machine was made in the Task Research Ardmore Ok. Facility. A US patent was applied for in 2000 and granted in 2002 (US6361276B1).

In January 2000, AvTask ( Limited Partnership ) was formed by Donald, Beachum, Buckle and Kerns. In 2002 Avion Manufacturing Inc. was formed. In May 2004, AvTask moved from Ardmore OK, to the new “AvTask and Avion” shared facility in Wright City, Missouri. In 2008, Mr. Beachum’s sold his stock in Avion Inc., which now does business As Avion Solutions, Inc. in Huntsville Alabama providing Engineering support services to  Army Aviation.  Mr. Beachum purchased the remaining stock of Avion Manufacturing, Inc. and AvTask, Inc making him 100% owner of both companies. In 2008 Beachum sold 50% of AvTask Inc to Employees, in 2019 the remaining 50% was purchased making AvTask Inc and its subsidiary Avion Mfg Inc 100% employee owned.

In 2017 AvTask began repairing commercial CH-47 rotor blades for Columbia Helicopter which led to other CH47 operators like Billings Flying service, Construction Helicopters and PJ Helicopters.

 
Today Both AvTask, Inc. and Avion Mfg, Inc. are located in a shared 52,000 SQ FT building in Wright City Mo. AvTask, Inc. ‘s  main focus is on CH47 Blade Repair and Avion, Mfg Inc. designing and fabricating Helicopter Rotor blade balance equipment.