The stillness of the cool Alaska morning vanishes in a puff of white smoke as an aircraft motor comes to life. Moments later, a bright blue Piper PA-18 Super Cub is taxiing along the rough, remote airstrip, its engine purring lazily. The pilot points her aircraft into the wind and advances the throttle. The bush plane quickly picks up speed, stands up on its main landing gear, and takes to the sky. The propeller pulling it up there is made by Sensenich Propeller Company, and they’ve been crafting them for almost one hundred years. Want to know something else? They make them right here in Plant City.
That’s right — located just down the road from Plant City Airport is their headquarters and advanced composite manufacturing facility. I have always had a special place in my heart for aviation, and my eyes look skyward, searching, each time I hear an aircraft passing overhead. When I learned that this industry leading company was located right here in town, I made a phone call. I wanted to find out more.
Amazingly, Managing Partner Steve Boser, invited me over for a chat, and tour of their operation. Sensenich (pronounced Sen-sen-ick) manufactures propellers from aluminum, carbon fiber composites, even wood. Each type requires its own vastly different manufacturing process and equipment, and Sensenich does it all right here…