News

Mint Turbines traveled more than 36 hours to Africa to support an engine change during a UN peacekeeping mission.

Mint Turbines ventured to a remote area in Africa to help a UN peacekeeping mission by replacing a twin pac engine. Robert H. and Gilbert P. led the expedition, taking them 36 hours to get to the aircraft used for patrol and medical missions. Throughout their trip, they offered nothing but support and kindness to our customer and the African community.

The 36-hour trip there included plane rides, multiple car rides and even a boat ride to get to this remote location. Robert and Gilbert spent 12 days aiding UN soldiers in replacing the twin pac engine. There are also many entities in the area that include the Chinese, Russian and other government agencies.

While in the area, the Mint Turbines employees noticed several children in need and wanted to do something about it. Together, they pulled money together for a local orphanage where they donated supplies.

Children celebrate receiving donations from our Mint Turbines employees.

Robert and Gilbert exemplified our company’s dedication to not only customer service, but to the community around you. We are proud to have extraordinary clients, employees and friends.

Watch a timelapse video of our engine change in the UN via our Facebook Page here.

Mint Turbines attended HAI 2022 held in Dallas and it didn’t disappoint! Being able to see and connect with our customers is always a great time. Our diverse customer base allows us to support clients from all over the world in many different aspects. Attending HAI and other shows throughout the year allows for crucial one-on-one meetings and conversations that in turn helps ensure we are offering top-notch customer service as well as the best quality they can get for their product.
On Tuesday morning, the T53 team attended the OZARK Symposium on T53 engines. Ozark has acquired the Type Certificate for the T53 from Honeywell. They had a lot of changes to discuss as the new TC holder and a new system to access manuals was introduced. Our very own Charlie Bacon presented at the Restricted Category Symposium on Wednesday morning. After meeting customers, we ended the day with a Customer Appreciation Happy Hour on Wednesday. We filled our booth up with customers and friends; we appreciated everyone stopping by to say hi and have a drink with us. We closed the last day out on Thursday with more customer meetings.
HAI 2022 was one of the best on record. We got to see our customers in person, make new connections and see the market thriving again as it was before COVID-19 shut it down. The meetings seemed to have more detailed content and there was a relief on everyone’s face that we could be out in public, meeting and shaking each other’s hands. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2023 at HAI. We are truly grateful for each of our customers and look forward to being able to continue to offer support for the many opportunities ahead. Mint Turbines has the best customers in the world, and we are very eager and excited for our future and all of the great things to come!

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