Duncan Aviation Invites NBAA-BACE Attendees to Participate in 70th Anniversary Celebration

Duncan Aviation is bringing its 70th anniversary celebration to NBAA-BACE 2026 and inviting the business-aviation community to become part of the company’s story.

Throughout 2026, Duncan Aviation has celebrated seven decades in business aviation under the theme "A Passion for Aviation. The Heart of a Family." At NBAA-BACE, that celebration will come to life through a community art project that features individual hand-drawn squares assembled to create large portraits honoring people whose vision, leadership, creativity and commitment helped shape Duncan Aviation’s first 70 years. NBAA-BACE attendees will be among the first to see the completed portraits displayed together in the Duncan Aviation booth. They will also have an opportunity to pick up a pencil and help complete the final art compilation in the series. Those who complete an art square at NBAA-BACE will automatically be entered to win one of ten Garmin D2 Mach 2 Aviator Smartwatches, valued up to $1,499.

“The idea behind this project is really representative of Duncan Aviation,” says Todd Duncan, chairman of Duncan Aviation. “No single person or generation built this company. Thousands of people have contributed something along the way — team members, customers, partners, family members and friends. Just like these individual squares come together to create something much bigger, all of those relationships have come together to make Duncan Aviation what it is today.”

Duncan Aviation’s 70th year has been about more than looking back. The company has continued making significant investments in the people, facilities and capabilities that will support business aviation for years to come.

In Lincoln, NE, Duncan Aviation opened a new $25 million, 32,500-square-foot dual-bay paint hangar designed to accommodate larger aircraft and provide greater flexibility for increasingly complex paint projects. The first aircraft painted in the facility, Duncan Aviation-owned Citation CJ3+ N1RD, provided an immediate demonstration of those capabilities with a bold 46-color design — the most intricate paint scheme Duncan Aviation has completed.

The company also dedicated its newly expanded 36,000-square-foot Turbine Engine Overhaul Shop in Lincoln. The expansion significantly increases engine capacity and supports Duncan Aviation’s designation as a Designated Overhaul Facility for Pratt & Whitney PW300 and PW500 engines.

Together, those investments give operators greater capacity, scheduling flexibility and access to expanded services while helping minimize aircraft downtime. They also reflect the same entrepreneurial spirit that has guided Duncan Aviation since Donald Duncan entered the aviation business in 1956: listen to customers, invest in talented people, embrace new opportunities, and continually look for better ways to support the aviation industry.

“As proud as we are of our first 70 years, we’re equally excited about what comes next,” Duncan says. “We’ve never been afraid to change what we do, but we’ve been very careful not to change who we are. Our people, our relationships and our passion for aviation will continue to guide us into the future.”

NBAA-BACE attendees are invited to visit Duncan Aviation at Booth #2333 to view the completed anniversary portraits, help create the final community artwork, and celebrate 70 years of "A Passion for Aviation. The Heart of a Family."

To learn more about Duncan Aviation’s 70th anniversary and community art project, visit DuncanAviation.aero/70.