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Jim Austin - 715-323-3588
Managing Director, Targeted Content Inc.
Mike Schweiss - 507-426-8273
Owner, Schweiss Doors
Texas hangar owner provides Schweiss with repeat business
HECTOR, Minn., March 6, 2025 – When it came time to order a door for his new hangar in Godley, Texas, Mike Wagner didn’t hesitate to order a Schweiss Doors bifold liftstrap autolatch door.
The 40-foot by 14-foot bifold liftstrap door has an automatic latch system and remote opener. It was painted red at the factory for Wagner’s new 42-foot by 84-foot hangar.
This marks the second time Wagner placed an order with Schweiss Doors. The first was in 2006, when he purchased a 50-foot by 16-foot bifold strap door with manual latches for his excavation company.
Wagner decided to get back into flying after starting up his own installation business, which took him all over the country. Now his flying is strictly for pleasure in his Mooney M2J.
“I got my license in 1993 and was flying a lot until 2006, working as an installation contractor for Home Depot for 15 years,” Wagner says.
His new hangar sits on his “back 40” farm property with an adjacent grass airstrip. The outside of the bifold door is clad with metal R-panels.
“I found the airplane before I got the hangar done and rented a hangar nearby for a brief time,” Wagner says. “Over time, I should be money ahead, but it’s more for convenience than anything. Hangar rentals are still pretty cheap, running about $400 a month. It’s one of those things you just have to justify.
“I first learned about Schweiss Doors while hanging around airports. This is the second strap door I’ve installed. It turned out perfect and matches my airplane. I loved the first door ever since and never had a single problem with it. I literally never had to adjust it or do anything to is, so I decided to go back to a Schweiss door again. I like how quiet the door is and how nice it looks. I like my new strap latch system without all the cables and springs. There are fewer moving parts.”
Wagner says the installation went off without a hitch.
“The instructions and drawings are very professional and top notch,” he says. “If somebody can’t figure out the instructions, there is a problem.”
Wagner says the people he talked to at Schweiss Doors were very helpful. When he asked for longer bolts and red touch-up paint, they sent it right to him. He said the door arrived in good shape and everything he asked for, Schweiss followed up on.
About Schweiss Doors
Schweiss Doors is the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bifold liftstrap doors. Doors are custom made to any size for any type of new or existing building for architects and builders determined to do amazing things with their buildings, including the doors. Schweiss also offers a cable to liftstrap conversion package. For more information, visit www.bifold.com.
Photo Captions
Wagner1: Mike Wagner’s Mooney M20J fits nicely in his new 42-foot by 84-foot hangar equipped with a 40-foot by 14-foot Schweiss Doors bifold liftstrap door. When opened the bifold door provides a shaded canopy for the hangar.
Wagner2: Mike Wagner’s hangar and bifold door are well insulated against the intense summer heat of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. This was the second bifold door from Schweiss purchased by Wagner. The inside of Mike Wagner’s well-lit hangar sparkles from top to bottom and matches the colors on his airplane.
Wagner3A and Wagner 3B: Placing the bifold doorframe to the clear opening of the hangar was easily accomplished with Mike Wagner’s John Deere tractor and forklift.
Wagner4: Mike Wagner installed the bifold door himself and said the instructions and drawings were easy to follow. He said he also liked the new automatic strap latch system with less moving parts and how quietly the door opens.
Wagner5: The 14-foot tall bifold door gives Mike Wagner more than enough headroom for his Mooney.
Wagner6: Mike Wagner built his hangar 84-feet deep, which enables him to also store farm equipment inside.
Wagner7: The bifold door blends in nicely with the rest of the hangar and gives Mike Wagner 14 feet of headroom, more than enough for his Mooney M20J.
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Images (from top left): Wagner1.jpg; Wagner2.jpg; Wagner3A.jpg; Wagner3B.jpg; Wagner4.jpg; Wagner5.jpg; Wagner6.jpg; Wagner7.jpg (NOTE: Photo captions are at the end of the release.)
