“In the aircraft sales business, I meet a lot of interesting people”, states John Armstrong of Dominion Aircraft Sales. “My typical clients are successful business owners and professionals and I specialize in helping each of them evaluate the best aircraft for their needs and interests. I was pleased to add to my client list recently, Mr. Craig Fuller, the President of Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Craig’s story is one of a life long passion for flying and an interest in exploring all aspects of this unique pursuit.  It is my pleasure to share a bit about this sale with you here.” …

If you were the President of AOPA, the largest General Aviation association and advocacy group, what plane would you fly for your own personal enjoyment?

Well, if you are Craig Fuller, you are now flying around in your bright yellow and black taildragger enjoying grass strips and the super STOL performance of an Aviat Husky.

Craig is a life long pilot and long time owner of a Beech Bonanza he bought new in the early 2000’s. When he joined AOPA he got type rated in their Cessna Citation jet and has had extensive experience aviating  in support of his various leadership roles in business and government.

Unfortunately up to this point in his flying career, Craig had not had the opportunity to extensively experience the joys of grass roots traildragger flying yet and He got to thinking the solid Aviat Husky might just be the right plane to explore this aspect of flying fun.

Craig inquired and I had the opportunity to share with him my passion for this aspect of aviation and the great Husky aircraft. I sent him my usual email barrage of Husky articles and info that usually keeps most of my prospective clients up half the night dreaming of buying a new airplane. Since Craig would be using this next plane purely for pleasure and it would be Craig’s second aircraft he would own, he wanted it to be well equipped but within a reasonable budget so we took a look at the 1998 A1-A model I has just listed for a client. I think it was love at first sight. And what’s not to love? The plane is beautiful, in outstanding condition and represented a great value in the Husky lineup.

The story behind the aircraft and why it is so pristine is worth telling as well. N24HU was built in 1998 and flown regularly until 2001 at which point the owner prepared it for storage with only 264 hours on it.  It came out of storage in 2008 and was sold to a friend of mine in Raleigh NC in 2009. He kept it on the idyllic grass strip, NC81 Bobby Cox Field, and flew it for another 200 hours. Unfortunately, my friend died in February of 2011 and I was engaged to sell the plane for the family. The seller is thrilled the plane will be going to such a good home.

We decided to make the delivery process for the aircraft fun. Craig took the day off and we chose to meet on a Friday at Triangle North Airport (KLHZ) which is rapidly becoming one of my favorite airports due to their low fuel prices and the outstanding management of my good friend Steve Merritt the new manager there. I had engaged Rick Pahnke of Plane Design based at KLHZ to perform the pre-purchase inspection. Craig brought his expert pilot and tail wheel instructor, Dave Hirschman plus a Caravan Pilot that served double duty as photographer for the proceedings. The check-out flight went without a hitch, all systems working fine and Dave giving the tumbs up on what he called a sweet flying well balanced aircraft.

Then it was time for the fun. I felt that it would only be fitting for us to make the trip to where the bird had been many times, so I invited Craig and his crew to fly down to the Pik N Pig located south of Raleigh on Gilliam McConnell Field (5NC3). This place is simply the most unique fun fly-in eatery I know of and I wanted to share the special experience with Craig.

Craig and Dave jumped in his new steed and we followed in the Grand Caravan to snap some great arial shots on the way there. The best part of all this of course was I got to fly the Grand Caravan which was a first for me. The simple description of “it feels like a very tall and heavy 182″ is not a perfect description but close enough to give the idea of what its like. The power and smooth sound of the turbine is something I could definitely get used to!  Mark Evans showed off some super short field landing technique and I was suitably impressed.

The crowd at the Pik N Pig came out to photograph the Caravan and then when they learned who was doing those high speed passes in that beautiful Husky they lined up to greet Craig like arriving royalty.

Roland Gilliam the owner of the airfield enjoyed meeting Craig and having the opportunity to show him the newly installed monument for James McConnell, the World War I fighter Ace from Carthage NC that died flying as a volunteer with the French. Roland lobbied the town for several years to gain agreement to move the monument out to the airfield from downtown Carthage to provide a more fitting presentation and venue.

Craig and his crew enjoyed the authentic hickory smoked barbecue while watching the planes come and go from the covered patio. Craig commented later that it was a real treat for him to sit there enjoying lunch and looking out over his lovely new bird sitting there on the grass. “It just doesn’t get any better than that.” he said.

As mentioned at the beginning of this report, I have the pleasure of delivering aircraft to many talented, successful and interesting people. With aircraft involved, we quickly transition from or roles as buyers and sellers and enjoy the special bond as flyers and friends.  I always try to make delivery day a special and memorable one. Based on the continuous smiles, I think in the case of Craig Fuller, that objective was achieved with the delivery of his new Husky.

Craig, I wish you many wonderful hours in your Husky. Keep your cards, letters and photos coming.

Happy Landings!

John Armstrong