Our story begins in a small town in Hungary where the founder of Heizer Aerospace, Charles K. Heizer (pictured to the right) was born.  His father was a blacksmith and owned one of the first machine shops in the area. It was here that Charlie learned “tricks of the trade” and began his extraordinary journey. Charlie raced motorcycles and designed one of his own. He also worked on engines of all sizes, from small to very large diesel engines in factories.  Charlie received his Mechanical Engineering Degree with a Masters in Internal Combustion Engines from the world-renowned Budapest Institute of Technology.

To put these experiences in context, there was a war going on, creating many struggles and hardships that most of us can only imagine. During these times, he helped on projects like making lighters from shell casings to sell and trade for necessities. He also salvaged damaged, abandoned half-tracks, modifying them to create working tractors for plowing.

Fearing for his life, he fled Hungary on foot making his way to a port; then, on a ship to America where he started a new life.  He worked for various companies including Carter Carburetor, designing the first Float-less Carburetor. Charlie also contributed to the medical field through his work on the development of one of the first heart/lung pumps for Med-Science Electronics that would not damage blood cells.

Ever the entrepreneur, Charlie, with a Mill, a Lathe and a few tools, began machining parts in his basement. He went on to establish an aerospace company in 1963 that would become Heizer Aerospace, Inc. Throughout the years the company has learned from and contributed to the technical aerospace industry. We have grown in manpower, real estate and equipment, gaining the knowledge and expertise we have today.