News

Randy Plunkett, Test Cell Supervisor and Production Lead

Randy Plunkett started at Mint Turbines nearly 23 years ago with no experience after the 1999 tornado destroyed the grocery distribution facility he worked at. Since then, Randy has touched all aspects of the engines at Mint Turbines from disassembly and assembly to now serving as the Test Cell Supervisor and Production Lead. Read more about Randy in the Q&A below.

What do you do at Mint Turbines and how long have you worked here?
I am currently a Test Cell Supervisor and Production Lead. In June, I will have 23 years on.

The Test Cell is the last place the engine goes – it has to be in great shape or it’s not leaving.

How did you get started in aerospace and at Mint Turbines?
I worked as a grocery distributor in Stroud that was blown away by the 1999 tornado before getting hired at Mint Turbines. I didn’t have any experience but had friends here that helped get me on. I was trained and started out in the disassembly and tear down area.

How have you grown at Mint Turbines?
I started in disassembly before moving to assembly where I learned how to build engines. In 2011, I moved to the Test Cell. I like to be able to do a little bit of everything, so I still build engines and sometimes go tear them down, too. I like to be well rounded.

What is your favorite thing about working at Mint Turbines?
Not a lot of people work on aircraft engines, it’s a really big deal to me. It’s a job I don’t mind coming to everyday.

Tell us about a memorable time at Mint Turbines in your nearly 23 years.
I think seeing the company grow is a big deal – we’ve been through growth with the T53 line and have built our Test Cell from the ground up. It was neat watching that all come together.

What are you doing when you’re not at Mint Turbines?
I have a wife, three kids and three grandkids and I love to hunt deer. I also work part-time doing drywall when I’m not hunting.

Any final thoughts?
I just really think this is a great place to work. I mean, if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have stayed here 23 years.

The second week in February, Charlie Bacon conducted a T53 Engine 40-Hour Initial FAA Accepted Inspection Authorization Renewal Course. This hands-on refresher training course, taught at our facility, focused on many different areas, including Basic Turbine Theory, Trouble Shooting Analysis, Design and Output Capabilities, Engine Components, Fuel System, Scheduled Maintenance, Unscheduled Maintenance, Minor Repairs, Service Bulletins and Airworthiness Directives.
Mint Turbines’ T53 Engine 40-Hour initial training offers skills and knowledge that relate to the initial T53. This training has specific goals of improving one’s capability, capacity, productivity and performance. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content set forth by the aviation industry. In addition to the basic training required to maintain the T53 Engine in the field, it also offers training that may be continued beyond initial competence to maintain, upgrade and update skills throughout working life.
The course has been conducted throughout the industry and around the world. This includes training provided to several different foreign militaries, local, state and federal governments that operated T53 Engine-powered aircraft and equipment.
By providing this training, Mint Turbines believes it is providing the basis to keep a sustained and safe operating environment in the rotary wing community. Mr. Bacon has more than 35 years of helicopter and fixed wing, airframe and powerplant expertise with the majority of his experience focused on turboshaft engines.
Applications: T53 engines became Federal Aviation Administration certified with the T5307 series and continuing with the T5309, T5311, T5313 and T5317 series. The T5307 and T5309 models are no longer in use. T5311 series, T5313B and T5317 series engines are installed in Bell Helicopter Models 204 and 205 series and the Kaman Aerospace K-1200 Helicopter. These aircraft are operated in the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Central America, South America and the Middle East.
This course is conducted at our facility in Stroud, Oklahoma or it can also be conducted on-site around the world.

On November 3, 2021, Mint Turbines LLC, Stroud, Oklahoma, was awarded an $11,445,755 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the T-53 depot-level engine maintenance. The contract provides for maintenance, repair and overhaul repairs of the T-53 engine. Work will be performed in Stroud, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2031. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition in which three bids were received. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,625 are being obligated at the time of award under task order FA8124-22-F-0002. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8124-22-D-0001).

Gov. Stitt at Mint Turbines for the announcement of a new GE contract for Mint Turbines that will expand the company in Stroud, OK. STEPHEN PINGRY, Tulsa World

https://tulsaworld.com/video/business/mint-turbines-announcing-new-expansion/video_b3e86742-0535-5406-83bd-d13216b226e2.html

Article from Industry Today

July 6, 2020

Stroud, Oklahoma based company utilized grant money to position themselves to come out of the pandemic crisis strong.

Oklahoma’s Department of Commerce (ODOC) reached out to Mint Turbines, a 30 year old company who specializes in engine MRO services and engine repair/maintenance, to inform them that due to their industry sector, they can qualify for a grant from the Manufacturing Reboot Program that Governor Kevin Stitt rolled out. Under the Reboot Program, companies apply for a grant that is intended to assist in either retooling to develop products to help combat COVID-19 or to allow the company to expand current capabilities.

Located halfway between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Mint Turbines is facilitated in Stroud where they operate as an turbine engine maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. “The state is very proactive in helping business grow here in Oklahoma,” said Chris Van Denhende, CFO of Mint Turbines. Van Denhende always stated that within 10 short days of applying for the grant, they were notified of acceptance.

As an awardee of the grant money, the company received $150,000. Additionally, a coordinate-measuring machine, typically known as CMM equipment, was sought after. CMM machine, typically weighing in at an astonishing 20,000 pounds, uses smart technologies to decrease measurement cycle time. A single CMM cost around $250,000 and with $100,000 of the Reboot funds going to this important purchase – $50,000 is left to be assigned to employee growth. With 45 current employees, Mint Turbine expects to see their employment double within the next three years. With labor intensive hands-on roles needing to be fulfilled, a pipeline of highly skilled individuals are sought after. The CMM machinery will also allow Mint Turbine to bid for work.

Furthermore, the funds allow Mint Turbines to expand on their product offerings while simultaneously boosting the quality of life in their city by filling numerous positions at the manufacturing facility.