Corporate aircraft from four different locations parked at Pleasanton Municipal Airport (KPEZ), Texas

By Leon Zabava

Leon Zabava        

On Tuesday, August 11, around 1:30 in the afternoon, I noticed four corporate aircraft parked at Pleasanton Municipal Airport. While speaking with the pilots I realized they came from four different airports in the state. They were from Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Decatur, Texas. 

One of the pilots was a lady from France who came to the U.S. 16 years ago. 

JERRY LUNSFORD:

Jerry Lunsford, pilot flying out of Redbird Airport in Dallas said, “Some of us pilots are in the oil and gas related industry down here, referring to the four pilots at Pleasanton Municipal Airport. Dial Lubricants, the company I’m the pilot for is in bulk oil and diesel distribution. Also gas distribution where customers have a yard and need that for their bulk fuel operation. Dial Lubricants has many other products that relate to the fleet trucking industry and the oil and gas industry.”

Lunsford said, “I flew out of Redbird Airport (KRBD) (a reliever field for general aviation and Dallas Love Field Airport).”

When asked how long he had been flying, he responded, “Since 1965. I received my training in the Military Club in the Navy out of Charleston, South Carolina. I accomplished most of my ratings on my G.I. Bill when I got out the service. I have my own personal airplane, a Cessna 310, but I’m flying the Cessna 414 for this corporation.”

The Cessna 414 is an American light, pressurized, twin-engine transport aircraft built by Cessna. It’s a turbo-charged piston, reciprocating plane. The Cessna 310 is an American six-seat, low-wing, twinengined monoplane that was produced by Cessna. It was the first twin-engine aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.

“We fly into the Eagle Ford Shale about two times a week and land here at Pleasanton Municipal Airport,” said Lunsford who grew up in Tyler, Texas. He’s been flying since he was about 21 years old. 

CELINE KLUZEK:

Celine said, “This is my first time flying into this airport (Pleasanton Municipal Airport). She was flying out of Austin Executive Airport (KEDC) that opened in 2011. When asked, she said, “The plane I’m flying is a Cessna 340.” The Cessna 340 is a twin piston engine pressurized business aircraft that was manufactured by Cessna.

“I’m flying for Hellas Construction. They do synthetic turf installation in Texas and all over the country: football fields, tennis courts, etc. We came back for a checkup at an area field,” said Celine, “I’ve been flying for 16 years.”

When asked, she said she had been flying planes since the early age of 19. She came to the United States from France. “After getting my license, I did flight research for a while. I’ve done some work for FedEx,” Celine mentioned.

She was aware of the story I did previously about Hellas Construction when their Chief Pilot, Mark Eby, flew a Merlin IVA Swearingen Metroliner into Pleasanton Municipal Airport, Tuesday, December 9, 2014. He was accompanied by Co-Pilot Jerry White.

KYLE HOPF:

Kyle said, “I’m a pilot for an oilfield construction company. We’ve flown here about ten times over the last several months. So, you could say, we come in here quite a bit. We flew to Pleasanton that day from the Decatur Municipal Airport (KLUD).”

Kyle continued, “I grew up in Llano, Texas and learned to fly while in college at Tarleton State University. I did additional ratings and certifications at flight schools in Abilene and Georgetown, Texas.”

When asked how long he has been flying, Kyle said, “A little over nine years - will be ten years in February (2016). Kyle said, “I’ve been flying since I was 19, maybe 18, somewhere around that age.”

Kyle was piloting a Cessna 425 Conquest. The 425 Conquest plane version was the first turboprop powered aircraft designed by Cessna and was meant to fill the gap between their jets and piston-engine aircraft.

MACK CATHEY:

Mack said, “I’ve been flying 27 years, more or less. I’m flying for an individual who owns the airplane. When asked if he had flown into Pleasanton Municipal Airport before, he said, “Yes, quite a few times. I say probably about six times a year. I flew out of Fort Worth.” 

Story and photos:   http://www.pleasantonexpress.com