Aviation Sales, Inc. reps Matthew Rule (left) and Jed Johnson displayed a Pilatus PC-12 distributed by their company throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Look for the “E” model with new avionics in March 2008.
By Reggie Paulk
Centennial Airport (APA), just south of Denver, is known for business jets on the ramp and fast cars in the parking lot. In keeping with that image, the Porsche Business Aircraft & Jet Preview was hosted on the ramp and in the main hangar of Centennial’s Denver jetCenter on August 9.
More than 1,500 invited guests were treated to a dazzling array of aviation products and services. For pilot/owners ready to step into a jet, ATG, Cessna and Diamond had their respective prototype, certified airplane and mock-up on display. ATG is developing the Javelin, a two-seat tandem, certified twin-engine jet that resembles the T-38 fighter trainer. Cessna Aircraft Co. had a Citation Mustang Jet on display. Diamond Aircraft Industries, Inc. exhibited a mockup—sans wings—of their single-engine jet now in development.
Aviation Sales, Inc., the regional representative of Pilatus and Piper, displayed a single-turboprop PC-12 and a Piper Saratoga. Look for the updated “E” model PC-12 next March, with a totally new avionics suite. The Embraer Legacy 600, with its transatlantic range and unsurpassed luxury, seems like a bargain at $8 million less than a comparable Gulfstream.
Adam Aircraft reps Tom Wiesner (left) and Bob Shank (red shirt right) showed off the cabin-class pressurized Adam A500 push-pull twin. The A700 light jet, based on the same airframe, is in flight-test.
For those pilots who want to fly their own airplane without the financial burden of sole ownership, there were fractional shares in the offing. Both ShareWest Aviation and Sky Shares offer different flavors of fractional ownership in the new Cirrus SR-22 G3.Avantair offers fractional ownership in the super quick Piaggio Avanti twin turboprop, while Wiens Aviation is selling one-quarter shares in their Premier I light jet. From Mayo Aviation’s charter and maintenance offerings to Hillaero’s aircraft painting and modification services, there was something for almost any stage of aircraft ownership and use. If you receive an invitation to the next preview, make sure to attend; you won’t be disappointed.
Porsche was well represented at the Preview by their local representatives, Porsche of Boulder, Prestige Imports and Stevinson Imports.
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- Lisa Neifert, president of Advanced Aviation Simulators, demonstrated an array of simulator solutions and hinted at exciting news her company soon expects to announce.
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- Porsche of Boulder, Stevinson Porsche and Prestige Imports exhibited fine examples of their products including this black Carrera S.
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- The Columbia 400 sizes up a Cessna Grand Caravan displayed by Aerotrans International.
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- A Porsche Carrera convertible fits right in next to Embraer’s Legacy 600 midsize business jet.
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- Doug Meyer, marketing manager for Columbia Aircraft, demonstrated the features of his Columbia 400 aircraft.
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- Di Freeze, Airport Journals editor, and Jim Jeppesen, son of aviation pioneer Elrey Jeppesen, admired ATG’s Javelin.
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- Linsey Lips (second from left), Airport Journals, visits with, from left, John Brackney, president of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce; Robert Olislagers, Centennial Airport director; and Julie Frey, SMDC executive director of corporate relation
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- Diamond Aircraft and US Aero had a large presence, including the D-Jet display.
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- Jim (in Semper Fi t-shirt) and Sean Carter of the Perfect Landing served a great lunch for all the attendees.
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- Finn Moller, Jet Fleet International president, told people about the company’s offerings.
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- John Risi and Anthony Werner check out the Gobosh G700S.
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- Future Aviators had fun in the Columbia Aircraft demonstrator.
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- Denver jetCenter played host to a full house.
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- One of the stars of the show was this 2007 Porsche Boxster.
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- The Porsche Cayenne is a big hit in the Denver market.