About

ABOUT US

History

Hershey Flying Service was established in 1949 by Pete and Floyd Rouche as an aerial application business. Pete and Floyd would start the season in the southern states and eventually find their way back to Nebraska providing aerial application along the way.

In 1969 the brothers purchased their first Ag Cat and fell in love with the aircraft. In 1974 Pete and Floyd decided to retire from the aerial application business and go strictly into rebuilding aircraft. The plane of choice was of course the Grumman Ag Cat. They were responsible for building all their jigs and fixtures for the aircraft, a skill they both learned working in California at the aircraft bomber factories during World War II. Pete worked on B-17's and Floyd worked on A-25's.

Today Hershey Flying Service is responsible for 14 STC modifications for Ag Cats along with holding numerous PMA replacement parts to support the fleet. Hershey also has developed a new wire cutter STC for Air Tractors and is currently working on a new wind shield for ag aircraft to help against bird/drone strikes, as well as a PMA replacement tail spring for Weatherly and Piper Braves. Hershey has become the premier repair facility for Ag Cats with a customer base made up of the US, Canada, and numerous countries throughout the world.

On March 25, 2011 Hershey Flying Service was sold to Jared Storm of Storm Flying Service Wahoo, Nebraska. Storm is looking to expand Hershey's capabilities concentrating on supporting the Ag Cat fleet, but also looking to support other ag aircraft models. Hershey Flying Service truly is “Everything Ag Cat…..and More.” In November of 2016 Hershey Flying Service moved to its new location at the David City, Nebraska airport.

In July of 2017 the name was changed to Storm Aeronautics (DBA).

Sutter-Butte Dusters N657Y
Taken on a strip off Highway 20 near Acacia Road South East of Sutter, California April 30, 1966
Photo By: William Larkins, California.

Who We Are

Jared Storm

Owner of Storm Aeronautics

 

In 1972 my father, Vernon Storm, started Scott County Spraying Service in Scott City, Kansas with a new A model Ag Cat he had purchased. My first memories as a child involved aerial application and all the sights and sounds that go with this unique lifestyle. By the age of 12 I was working at the spray business in the summers doing various tasks from mixing chemical, washing airplanes, to flagging for my father.

For my high school graduation my parents asked me what I wanted as a gift. I responded with "I would like to learn how to fly" with the ultimate goal of becoming an ag pilot. So in the spring of 1989 I began my flight lessons. In the fall of 1989 I accepted a track scholarship to Kansas State University and started taking classes. I spent the next 5 years at K-State and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology while also obtaining my commercial pilot's license. Intent on going back to Scott City and following in my father's footsteps I soon realized that my father was still going strong and I would need a better backup plan to supplement my aerial application aspirations.

In the fall of 1994 I enrolled at Fort Hays State University to pursue a K-12 Physical Education/Health degree. The goal now was to teach and coach in the winter and aerial spray in the summer. One year of teaching in Kansas City made me realize that aerial spraying was all I truly wanted to do so I accepted a job in Wahoo, Nebraska as the full time pilot for the local aerial applicator. I spent the next 7 years working with a couple local aerial applicators as well as helping my father at times in Kansas.

In 2004 I started my own business in Wahoo calling it Storm Flying Service. My first aircraft was a 1968 Cessna Ag Wagon that I purchased from my father. In 2007 I purchased a turbine Ag Cat which is still my primary ag aircraft that I fly during the summer. I still fly the Cessna for smaller jobs as well as hanging on to it as a back-up.

 

 

I have always had a love for the Ag Cat and for years I have had a desire to keep the Ag Cat a viable option for ag aircraft owners.  In 2011 I purchased Hershey Flying Service located in Hershey, Nebraska. Hershey has a very long association with the Ag Cat and I would venture to say that there probably isn't an Ag Cat flying in the world today that doesn't have at least one Hershey part in it. In the last four years since I have owned Hershey we have made great strides in producing better quality parts as well as diversifying our capabilities and producing parts for other ag aircraft. Such parts would include our new wire cutters (Storm Cutters) for Air Tractors, and we are currently in the process of finalizing a new and improved center wind shield (Storm Shield) for Thrush and Air Tractor aircraft . In November of 2016 Hershey moved into a new 22,000 square foot manufacturing facility in David City, Nebraska. This will increase Hershey's potential as we continue to move forward with the Ag Cat program.

I am married to a wonderful woman, Colleen, of twelve years. We have six children, Hannah (18), Matthew (10), Luke (9), Sarah (7), Elizabeth (6), and Jacob (2). My hobbies include hunting, especially waterfowl, and spending time with family.

 

New Facility

Storm Aeronautics is currently located in a new 22,000 square foot manufacturing facility in David City, Nebraska. We are looking to hire qualified and talented individuals with a great work ethic. We have available positions for licensed A & P and IA mechanics, sheet metal workers, Tig welders, and a parts manager.

Hershey Flying Service is a one of a kind aviation repair facility specializing in agricultural aircraft. Hershey Flying Service is unique in the fact that we rebuild Ag aircraft from the ground up and this takes talented workers with many different mechanical skills. We offer competitive wages and paid holidays for full time employees.

So if you are up for a challenge and would like to be part of a unique industry mail your resume to: Storm Aeronautics 3370 MN Road David City, NE 68632 or give us a call at 402-367-3213.

 

Timeline

1949

Hershey Flying Service was established by Pete and Floyd Rouche primarily as an aerial application business

1969

Pete and Floyd purchase their first Ag Cat

N10200 Grumman's first production Ag Cat during its test flight on October 17, 1958 with Schweizer test pilot Clyde Cook

1973

Hershey receives STC to install 15.5 gallon fuel tank in each upper wing

1974

Pete and Floyd retire from aerial application and focus their attention on servicing Ag Cats

1975

Hershey receives STC to install elevator servo tab

1982

Hershey Flying Service becomes a FAA approved repair station

1985

Receive STC to align vertical control surface with centerline of aircraft

1986

Hershey Fat Cat receives FAA STC #SA2254CE

1987

Receive STC to put Model B wings on Model A frame
Hershey wing tips receive FAA STC #SA2254CE

1992

Receive STC to install aileron servo tabs
Hershey receives STC to build stainless steel belly skins

1995

Hershey receives STC to replace the Ag Cat main landing gear

1997

Hershey receives STC to replace the Ag Cat tail landing spring

1998

Receive STC to install rudder servo tab

2011

Hershey Flying Service sold to Jared Storm of Storm Flying Service in Wahoo, NE

2014

Storm Cutters for Air Tractor 500 series receive FAA STC #SA01745WI

2015

Storm Cutter STC amended to incorporate all Air Tractor models

2016

Hershey Flying Service moves into a new 22,000 square foot facility in David City, NE

2017

Hershey Flying Service now operates under the name Storm Aeronautics (DBA)

2017

Storm Aeronautics developed the Storm Shield STC#SA01845WI.  A center piece windshield designed to protect the pilot in both Air Tractor and Thrush aircraft.