The Saber Manufacturing Story

You’ve likely heard the classic line, “I liked it so much I bought the company”. For Saber Manufacturing, that is exactly how our second chapter began. Years ago, EAA Chapter 983 member Sam Tilleman nearly lost a prop on his Thorp aircraft due to an incompatible extension and crush plate. After purchasing a replacement set, he was so impressed by the quality of the materials and craftsmanship that he decided to buy the business. At the time, Sam was already a supervisor at the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, but his passion for aviation drove him to take on the enterprise.

The company’s roots go back even further. Judy Saber founded Saber MFG in 1984 as a one-woman operation. The business later relocated to a mountaintop in Arizona when she married Clark Lydich, the manufacturer of Performance Props. Eventually, the combined workload grew to be too much, paving the way for Sam to take the reins—a transition that famously involved figuring out how to carefully haul a mill, a lathe, and a truck full of heavy gear down a gravel, switchback mountain road.

A New Generation of Precision

Today, Saber Manufacturing remains a family-driven enterprise. Sam’s grandson, Caleb Schwartz, has taken ownership, bringing a new generation of technical capability to our Granbury, Texas facility.

Caleb is not just an owner; he is a hands-on machinist and operator. Bringing extensive experience in programming and optimizing industrial Haas CNC mills and lathes, alongside classic manual machines, Caleb ensures every component meets uncompromising standards. Under his leadership, Saber is bridging traditional aviation craftsmanship with modern engineering workflows. From executing structural load and deformation stress simulations on aerospace-grade aluminum to utilizing advanced additive manufacturing for prototyping, the shop is equipped to handle the exacting tolerances required for flight.

Because Caleb is actively involved in engineering conceptual designs for scratch-built and plans-built light sport and STOL aircraft, he understands firsthand exactly what builders need from their components.

Trusted Worldwide

It’s a fascinating business, and it’s all experimental. Saber extensions and crush plates can be found on Formula 1 racers, Continental test stands, and on nearly every homebuilt aircraft utilizing an extension. We supply approximately 90% of the world market for prop extensions and have custom-manufactured parts for everything from biplanes to blimps.

The best part of the business remains the new aircraft programs. When a new experimental plane is taking shape, we get to see it in the design phase, often iterating and manufacturing several extensions as the aircraft’s design morphs and evolves.

At Saber Manufacturing, we don’t just machine parts; we engineer the confidence to fly.