Heli-Trade Corp.

Our History…

Heli-Trade traces its roots all the way back to 1957. That was the year Birger Sterner founded the Swedish aviation company known as Siljansflyg. The company, which was initially intended as an instructional facility, later became Sterner Aero AB with the addition of Sterner’s brother, Bo.

Sterner’s list of services expanded to include commuting, air taxi, forestry and agricultural operations. Its fleet of 25 fixed-wing craft and helicopters operated in Sweden, Norway, Holland, Germany and Africa.

In 1976 the Weyerhaeuser Company offered a three-year contract to Sterner to fertilize forests in Oregon and Washington, a partnership that resulted in the founding of the companies Heli-Trade and Heli-Jet a year later. Weyerhauser’s Rod Kvamme became a part owner in both companies, overseeing the expansion into a Bell Customer Service Facility and the build up of a fleet of Bell 205A-1 helicopters.

In 1987, Kvamme’s Heli-Jet split from Heli-Trade to focus on fleet operations. Heli-Trade continued with its Bell Service Center, while also offering the sale of aircraft, engines, parts and after-market improvements through its Heli-Conversions division.

In 1991, Vaden Francisco, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who had fought in Vietnam and served as product manager of the Army’s largest helicopter fleet, was hired as vice president of Heli-Conversions. His task was to strengthen sales by offering a wider range of aftermarket improvements.

In 1998, Birger Sterner retired from the companies he founded and Francisco took the helm of Heli-Trade and Heli-Conversions. The two companies became one a few years later when Heli-Conversions became a division of Heli-Trade Corp. In 2000, the company relocated to the Eugene airport and Francisco began to expand Heli-Trade’s capabilities and services.

In 2006, Vaden Francisco Jr., was named president of Heli-Trade. He has carried on his father’s legacy, maintaining the company’s commitment to excellence in service and performance upgrades.

Vaden Francisco, Sr. with grandson, Vaden, III

In Memoriam

Vaden Francisco, Sr., proudly served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, completing two tours of duty and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross award for heroism during the Vietnam war. As much as he enjoyed flying and serving his country, he loved his family above all else and considered earning the rank of “Papa” to be among his greatest achievements. After retiring from the military, Vaden put his considerable skills to work as a vice president at the company now known as Heli-Trade. In 1998, he took the helm of two divisions of the company, merging them in 2000. His passion for helicopters and his belief that they could be made to fly better are two of the pillars of the company he helped shepherd into the future. Vaden passed away in February 2006 but his enduring spirit still soars at Heli-Trade.