TURNER – The Youlands are used to building things from the ground up. But now they’re into a project where the sky’s the limit.

Brothers Kurt and Kelvin Youland – familiar faces in the local excavation and construction world – are now co-owners of Twitchell’s Airport with Dale Twitchell. The trio inked a deal back in late March and less than two months later, have already started a host of upgrades.

“I’m happy,” said Twitchell as he smiled at his two partners. “I get to be the boss and give them the headaches.”

Heavy equipment is already at the airport. A project to extend the runway 400 feet to 2,750 should be finished within a month. A few weeks later, they should be done building 12 new hangars, bringing the total to 32. Several old hangars have already been torn down and others are on their way.

The airport’s Web site, www.twitchells3b5.com, and its office have had wholesale upgrades. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

“Our plan for the future is to do some commercial lots,” said Kurt Youland, who has been looking for a new project since selling his interest in K&K Excavation last summer.

On the boards: plans to build a 20-acre industrial park on the east side of the airport and on the left side, a 60-acre residential subdivision for people who want to be near their planes.

“They’re called hangar homes, and they’re real popular in other parts of the country,” said Youland, adding that some people have already expressed interest in owning one here.

They also hope to begin marketing the airport’s seaplane services. The airport offers flight instruction and rentals of float planes, one of the few places on the East Coast to do so and the only one in New England, Twitchell said.

In fact, for the past seven or eight years, there has been a steady stream of customers from Europe who come to Twitchell’s to learn how to fly seaplanes (practicing on the Androscoggin River), or just to rent them for day trips.

“We get 15 or 20 every summer,” said Twitchell of his overseas clients. “They come here and they fly, they fly a lot. They really like the country.”

It’s fitting that Twitchell’s has a seaplane business, since that was the Youlands’ toehold into aviation. The brothers’ father, David, ran a sports camp up in Piscataquis County that was only accessible by seaplane. The boys grew up flying with their dad, who’s pleased with his sons’ new project.

“There were no roads, so I had no choice,” said David Youland of his motivation to fly. “It was a business decision.”

But he loves it, having flown 4,000 hours in a fixed-wing plane and earning his helicopter pilot’s license just last year. He’s often at the airport, flying Kurt’s helicopter or just offering advice.

“Now he’s just hanging out, telling us what to do,” quipped Kelvin.

It’s obvious that there’s a lot of good-natured ribbing among the partners and even extended family. Kurt and Kelvin tease each other about who will get his pilot’s license first. Kurt is studying to fly planes and helicopters, and Kelvin, just planes.

Kelvin’s son, Kyle, is continuing the family tradition. A senior in high school, he should earn his pilot’s license before heading off to Daniel Webster College where his cousin, David Chesley, is already studying aviation.

Twitchell is glad for the infusion of energy. The private, full-service airport has been around since 1945, founded by Twitchell’s dad on 134 acres just off Route 4. The retirement of Dale’s brother is what prompted him to look for new partners.

“It’s a good mix for us all,” said Twitchell. “Our hope is to make it grow.”