Re: 114 Hot Shot
I want to take a moment to introduce Frank Shaw. Frank is going to be working with me on the 114 Hot Shot project, and helping me with the development of the 114B Hot Shot. Frank also intends to eventually establish a West Coast Commander Service Center, so he can continue to provide support for the 112 & 114 Hot Shots, as well as straight 112 and 114s.
Frank is a great guy and a true friend to General Aviation. Here is a brief synopsis of Frank's background:
Private Pilot, SEL 1994 with Tailwheel, High Performance, and Complex endorsements. Total time just over 1000 hours. Aircraft flown is a long list; I've flown many types in test flying mechanic work.
A&P 1995. Reedley College aviation program, 4.0 GPA. Exam scores all above 92/100.
IA 1999. San Jose FSDO.
While in A&P School I owned a small business refurbishing aircraft interiors. I participated in the restoration of a few antique airplanes.
Upon earning my A&P, I worked at the Hanford Flight Center. While there I maintained a customer's Commander 112, removing and later reinstalling the engine at overhaul- immediately prior to the installation of its turbo-normalizer system. I also maintained aircraft from Ercoupes through a Cessna 421. I was there until 1997.
In 1997 I moved to the Central Coast. Here I worked at Vintage Aero in San Luis Obispo, maintaining modern and antique aircraft; Twin Commander, Cessna 195, Fairchild, Helio, Swift, along with the standard Beech, Mooney, Piper, and Cessna singles and light twins.
In 1999 I earned my IA and took a job with Advanced Aerospace, a San Luis Obispo company that built digitally controlled refrigeration equipment for airliners and high-speed rail. There I was Director of Maintenance at their Part 145 Repair Station (Accessory.) I overhauled airline air chillers and managed the test and certification department for new equipment. During this time I learned how to take a new design from test mule through prototype and into production. I was part of the production design team. I offered test data based feedback to the engineers and designers, participating in design changes and modifications. I tested, proved, and certified each new unit we produced. As a troubleshooter, I was sent to Vermont on two occasions to remedy interface issues with the then-new Acela high speed trains. Advanced Aerospace was sold to Dreissen Corp. in 2001, and they moved production out of San Luis Obispo by late 2002. During this time, I also worked part-time as a freelance Mechanic/IA at San Luis Obispo.
By 2003, one of my airport customers was PCF Aviation. They purchased Coastal Air Maintenance and asked me to join as a partner/owner and serve as Director of Maintenance. I was actively involved there into 2007, having expanded the maintenance operation from three mechanics to eight. As DOM I was the Responsible Manager of the part 145 Repair Station (Airframe and Piston Engine.) I maintained the fleet of 18 flight school airplanes and part 135 charter aircraft, along with hundreds of customer aircraft of all types. I went to Flight Safety International in Wichita KS where I was certified in all levels of maintenance for the King Air B-200 and C-90. I was certified in inspection and maintenance of the P&W PT-6, small and large case engines. I have also kept my mechanic's skills sharp by continuing my inspection and maintenance activities, now in my hangar on Paso Robles airport.
I keep my feet lively flying my fully restored 1947 Stinson.
805-712-8887
fshaw1000@gmail.com