Cheers to Years
A family-owned and operated business , Kenmore Air ’ s humble roots and people-first mentality can be felt to this day .
FIVE ACRES OF SWAMP
LAND . One airplane . A single hangar . It ’ s not a combination one would expect to become the largest and most respected seaplane operation in America . But that ’ s exactly what Kenmore Air became .
Three high school friends — Bob Munro , Reg Collins , and Jack Mines — founded Kenmore Air without much time to ponder the future . As Munro explained : “ Other than Jack ’ s ideas about a hotel we didn ’ t have much of a plan other than Reg and I would fix planes and Jack would give flying lessons . We just assumed it was going to work .”
There were many anxious moments in Kenmore ’ s infancy . From re-zoning the shingle mill site to a commercial seaplane base to petitioning the Kenmore community for support , it was a struggle at times to keep the Air Harbor afloat .
The work was grueling — often requiring the men to work 16 hours a day , seven days a week . Not to mention the unpredictable spurts of Mother Nature ’ s fury which frequently had them scrambling from bed at odd hours to tie down planes .
However , their people-first mentality and do-anything work ethic helped the
business grow . Seventy-five years later , Kenmore continues to operate under those same key principles .
A Growing Reputation
Initially , Kenmore chartered passengers throughout the Pacific Northwest and repaired small aircrafts . By the ’ 50s , the expanded operations also included selling Seabee and Cessna planes .
However , it was in 1966 that Kenmore added the first de Havilland Beaver to its fleet — the model that ’ s earned them an international reputation for restoration and modification excellence . As of 2020 , the company had either restored or modified 150 Beavers . In fact , the restoration program is so well respected , that planes refurbished by Kenmore are fondly dubbed ‘ Kenmore Beavers .’
Still Home on Lake Washington
Today , Munro ’ s son , Gregg Munro ; his daughter , Leslie Banks ; and one of Munro ’ s grandson , Todd Banks , continue Kenmore ’ s rich tradition of high-quality service and skip-the-roads sense of adventure .
It remains homebased at northern tip of Lake Washington — a tiny airport that uses picnic tables for waiting rooms and greets many a passenger by name . The company ’ s check-in lounge is tucked within its humble administrative building and ringed by active maintenance hangars . And while waiting passengers hop on the free WiFi , don ’ t be fooled . Many are headed to remote docks , for adventures that tend to be a little slower and a whole lot more unplugged .
Kenmore ’ s year-round service flies from Seattle to the San Juans . ( As the Canadian border reopens , it plans to resume service to Victoria and beyond .) Its maintenance department and restoration program are thriving . So too is the company ’ s parts manufacturing department and its wheeled plane division — which now includes a Pilatus PC-12 NG . This new charter plane offers a long-range , luxurious option for those who want an intimate , flexible travel experience .
Where ’ s Kenmore headed from here ? The sky ’ s the limit .
In addition to Beavers , Kenmore ’ s fleet now includes de Havilland Beavers , Cessna Caravans , Cessna 180s , Piper Super Cubs , and a Pilatus PC-12 NG . kenmoreair . com
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