Jet warbirds represent the créme de la créme within the international warbird community and Air Capitol Warbirds of Wichita, Kansas, has over a dozen kerosene-burners on hand in some phase of restoration. Teamed with Fulcrum Inc. of Ontario, Canada, they're rebuilding and marketing everything from the diminutive A-37 to high-speed macho machines. But if you haven't heard of them, you're not alone.

"It's the best-kept secret in Wichita," says Kirby Duffy, President of Fulcrum Inc. Duffy and his wife Angela established Fulcrum Inc. in 1992 in Ayr, Ontario, as an aviation marketing and management firm. In 1997, Ken Bryant moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Wichita and founded Air Capitol Warbirds to continue the pursuit of his passion — jet warbird restoration. These two companies, half a continent and one national border apart, soon came together to form a dynamic strategic partnership. Duffy says, "We consider Fulcrum Inc. and Air Capitol Warbirds to be sister companies."

Fulcrum handles the marketing, some of the flight operations, assists with aircraft acquisitions, and owns some of the jets scheduled for restoration. Air Capitol provides the restoration experience, facilities, and know-how. To maintain their close-knit cooperation, Fulcrum maintains its US office in the Air Capitol hangar on Wichita's Jabarra Airport.