The J85-5 engines are serviced exclusively at StandardAero’s Port San Antonio facility, which spans more than 810,000 square feet and supports five major MRO programmes for both military and commercial customers. StandardAero also operates an Aviation Mechanic Training Program at the site, training over 200 mechanics annually.
The company commemorated the 1,000th delivery with a ceremony at the Tech Port Center in Port San Antonio, led by J85-5 Program Manager Greg “Chappy” Chapman and attended by production team members, support organisations and guests. “Supporting the USAF pilot training mission is a tremendous honor,” said Rick Pataky, Vice President and General Manager of StandardAero’s Military Division in San Antonio. “Delivering 1,000 engines in such a short timeframe is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our entire team.”
Marc Drobny, President of StandardAero’s Military, Helicopter, and Energy Division, added: “This milestone reflects the strength of our partnership with the USAF Propulsion Program Office, Air Education and Training Command, and the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing. Together, we’ve built a resilient and transparent value chain that supports the entire J85-5 fleet, flight line and national security.”
The GE Aerospace J85-5 engine was originally designed in 1954 and is expected to remain in U.S. military service until at least 2040. In addition to powering the T-38 Talon, the J85 has supported various military platforms including the GAM-72 Green Quail decoy and the N156F Freedom Fighter (F-5), while its commercial variant, the CJ610, powered the Lear Jet from 1963.
StandardAero’s Stockton, California facility services other J85 engine variants and has provided component repair support to the USAF J85 MISTR system since 2013. It also supports the J85-21 engine for the United States Navy and Foreign Military Sales programme customers.
Alongside its military work, StandardAero also supports the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines from its San Antonio site as a CFM LEAP Premier MRO provider. Since March 2024, the facility has scaled up operations to support global operators with increased throughput and efficiency.
