Boob had been promoted to president when AVCO was absorbed by Textron. I do not know what the long-term plans for the plant are or if AlliedSignal still plans to shutter the facility. There have been several congressional inquiries into the shuttering with at least one concluding that it would cost far more to shutter the plant than originally estimated. In the 1970s, Lycoming made significant capital investments in its plant at Williamsport. Primary among them was the installation of a huge, computerized, multi-spindle crankcase milling machine.
Crankcases ride automated cars between stations as they are finished.
Other expenditures included a semi-automated connecting rod line and crankshaft manufacturing equipment. Employment at Williamsport peaked at nearly 2,000, running three shifts, in the 1970s. However, massive layoffs began in the 1980s as company's business collapsed along with the rest of piston general aviation. Attempts were made to shift some turbine production, from Stratford, to Williamsport. What originally seemed like a good idea, the production of small LTS-101 turbine powerplants at Williamsport, turned into a management and quality control nightmare.