STOP PRESS

We are delighted to announce to all our customers, old and new, that Thruster Air Services' business is being sold to Thruster Aircraft LLP, partners: Stephen Turley and Gerald Cooper. The sale ends recent uncertainty and ensures production and support for Thrusters well into the future. Production has already commenced and new orders are now being taken.

The sale will allow Gordon Pill to take partial retirement, though for the immediate future contacts remain the same, with production and support at the existing base at Ginge in Oxfordshire, whilst sales enquiries can be made to sales@thruster.co.uk

Stephen and Gerald are partners in the ownership and operation of Wickenby Airfield, a historic wartime base in North Lincolnshire, to where production will move once CAA approval for the new faculties has been completed.

The new owners are excited to be involved in production and support of the Thruster. It is a delightful owner-operated aircraft, the most popular training Microlight in the UK (nearly 1/3 of all schools using Thruster). 'The Thruster has an exceptional safety and serviceability record, and is well known for its low operating costs and overall ease of operation: qualities right at the heart of Microlight flying'

Stephen Turley is a farmer in the Wickenby area and has flown for many years, and uses his Thruster Sprint to travel to Wickenby. As a Licensed Engineer, PFA Inspector and Commercial Pilot, Gerald Cooper has aviation very much in his blood. He runs a well established aircraft operating and maintenance business at Wickenby. He is also one of the UK's top aerobatic pilots, and highly respected as an International competitor.

For more information please contact Gordon Pill on 01235 833305, Stephen Turley on 01673 862756 or Corinne Dennis on 01757 289800.

The Thruster TST was introduced in the mid 1980s and was the first viable conventional control two seat and three axis microlight aircraft on the British market. The T300 was a later development and was built under license in the UK, but production ceased in the early '90s.

Gordon Pill, a long time Thruster enthusiast, obtained the rights to the design and formed Thruster Air Services with one of Thruster's ex-employees to produce the aircraft from his facility in the U.K.

Gordon completely revised the design of the T300 in line with customer suggestions, and the T600 was the result. It is available in taildragger or the nosewheel configuration with open or enclosed cockpit. A range of two and four stroke engines is available.

The latest Thruster variant is the T600 Sprint, which is powered by a Jabiru engine and has a fully enclosed fuselage.