Bomhoff Limited in Tucson, Arizona, was a new exhibitor at the National Business Aviation Association’s recent Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition show, and they just happened to draw the attention of the Robb Report with an executive desk that sold for $150,000 and took 1,000 hours to produce.

The executive desk, which the report said was a “monument” in airplane parlance, is built on a subtly curved composite frame, with quarter-sawn American-walnut veneer and five coats of proprietary finish. It also featured leather-lined drawers and hidden door tracks on the sides.

The company was previously featured in WoodworkingNetwork.com’s story, "Jet interior company opens in Arizona," last October. 

“The details are what I really enjoy about this work,” said Russ Bomhoff. “On a Rolls-Royce, the interior’s all about the curves. Even on a $90 million jet, where the interior costs a million, you typically get a cookie-cutter floor plan that’s all straight lines. We started this business to give owners a clean slate.”

According to the Robb Report, aircraft furniture is more complicated than home or even yacht decor. Weight, down to the ounce, is critical, as are strength, stability and the precise fit necessary for a pre-configured cabin. Each piece must also comply with the FAA’s regulations regarding structural integrity and flammability.

“It’s a labor-intensive, expensive process,” Bomhoff says. “Even latches have to be FAA-certified to meet specific load requirements, unlike typical furniture hardware.”

The 1,000-plus man-hours needed to build the desk are reflected in the $150,000 price tag, as is the FAA certification. 

In addition to a woodworking shop, Bomhoff’s Tucson facility has a CNC router, composite oven, industrial sewing machines, metalworking shop, laser cutter and paint booth. “Without the technology, it would take us twice the time,” Bomhoff told the Robb Report. “But when you’re dealing with inlays only a few hundredths of an inch long, you need someone with a pair of tweezers working many hours.