Priority Air Dispatch
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Priority Air Dispatch
Anybody remember Priority Air Dispatch.
Headquarters at KDCA and based twin beeches at Andrews, Tappahannock, and Warrenton?
Regards.
Headquarters at KDCA and based twin beeches at Andrews, Tappahannock, and Warrenton?
Regards.
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Anybody remember Priority Air Dispatch.
We used a Aero Commander 500 and Piper Aztecs. A lot of the charters were on the west coast.
It that what you are inquiring about?
* I was working for a company called Catlin Aviation that was an FBO at KOKC. I flew charter, ferried used aircraft, new Pipers from the Piper factories and worked on the line. Was going to university and really needed money, so I'd do about anything.
Last edited by con-pilot; 26th Aug 2013 at 16:56.
Thread Starter
PAD
Your company may have evolved into PAD at KDCA.
We flew Beech 18's, and they had a couple of Aztecs, as well.
They also had an operation at Santa Barbara, CA with a couple of Aztecs.
We flew military stuff, Class "A", and also the stuff with the armed couriers.
A Mr. & Mrs. Hess owned the company, and I don't know where they were from, Maybe OK?
We flew Beech 18's, and they had a couple of Aztecs, as well.
They also had an operation at Santa Barbara, CA with a couple of Aztecs.
We flew military stuff, Class "A", and also the stuff with the armed couriers.
A Mr. & Mrs. Hess owned the company, and I don't know where they were from, Maybe OK?
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Your company may have evolved into PAD at KDCA.
A Mr. & Mrs. Hess owned the company, and I don't know where they were from, Maybe OK?
So it is possible that his son may have owned PAD. Otto Hess, long passed now, sold the FBO at KPWA to a wealth oil man in the mid-70s for a reported ridiculously high amount of money. After that I lost track of the Hess family. Never the less, PAD was in business well before Hess sold his FBO to the oil man.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Con-pilot
I believe the Mr. Hess involved during my time was named Fritz Hess. The chief pilot was Marfred (Marv) Clark. He has since retired from the FAA.
They had 3 Beech 18's and 2 Aztecs on the east coast and 2 Aztecs on the west coast.
Their business was a very good money maker as they charged the government for road miles, and we made multiple pick ups and deliveries on all the flights.
As an example, we might pick up something in New York bound for Tucson, and pick up another load in Bloomington bound for Yuma. Both would get charged for the mileage even though we were going there anyway.
Nothing different than trucking today, but it made them a lot of $$$.
We flew a lot of classified stuff and couriers.
Their demise was that they did not handle the shipments very well, and of course, maintenance issues.
It was after I had left, but I was told that many pounds of class "A" stuff was found in a storage room at their Tappahannock location, just across the street from a school.
I posted to see if there were any of the aviators of my vintage, who might be on this site.
Regards,
OBD
They had 3 Beech 18's and 2 Aztecs on the east coast and 2 Aztecs on the west coast.
Their business was a very good money maker as they charged the government for road miles, and we made multiple pick ups and deliveries on all the flights.
As an example, we might pick up something in New York bound for Tucson, and pick up another load in Bloomington bound for Yuma. Both would get charged for the mileage even though we were going there anyway.
Nothing different than trucking today, but it made them a lot of $$$.
We flew a lot of classified stuff and couriers.
Their demise was that they did not handle the shipments very well, and of course, maintenance issues.
It was after I had left, but I was told that many pounds of class "A" stuff was found in a storage room at their Tappahannock location, just across the street from a school.
I posted to see if there were any of the aviators of my vintage, who might be on this site.
Regards,
OBD
Thread Starter
Con-pilot
As a follow up, was the wealthy oil man named Hardesty?
There was a 727 in Oklahoma somewhere that was operated by Hardesty Oil (I think), and the principal actually did some of the flying.
Regards,
OBD
There was a 727 in Oklahoma somewhere that was operated by Hardesty Oil (I think), and the principal actually did some of the flying.
Regards,
OBD
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As an example, we might pick up something in New York bound for Tucson, and pick up another load in Bloomington bound for Yuma. Both would get charged for the mileage even though we were going there anyway.
There was a 727 in Oklahoma somewhere that was operated by Hardesty Oil (I think), and the principal actually did some of the flying.
Reason is, that when I was flying 727s, there was a 727 based on Will Rogers, I don't know who owned it, but I seem to remember that they got into some trouble with the FAA about questionable charters in that 727.
The only other corporate 727 that I knew of in Oklahoma, was based at TUL and was owned by William's Pipeline, they did a lot of work in Alaska and South America.
Thread Starter
N727HC
The guys was F. Roger Hardesty, Tulsa, OK. United States Aviation. Oil and energy company.
I seem to recall some questionable charters, as well.
I seem to recall some questionable charters, as well.
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Priority Air Dispatch
Got my A&P certificate in 1972 and went to work as a technician in Tappahannock, Va. directly. We had three C45 (Beechcraft 18) and three Piper Aztecs. Was employed there two years. Things got real ugly towards the end in 1974. Paychecks were bouncing, or none at all. Could have been a great company if run wisely.
Thread Starter
PAD
I left in 1972. I can't remember the Director of maintenance's name, but he seemed a little strange. Had us stripping a Beech 18 our near Warrenton.
Most of us lowly co-pilots were also A&P's.
It was fun for awhile
Most of us lowly co-pilots were also A&P's.
It was fun for awhile
Thread Starter
PAD
I don't remember the Aztec tail numbers, but the Beech 18's were N900X (queen of the fleet), N145L, N6645 (old and very cold in the winter). There was one more that Bill Seaman ground looped in Bloomington, Indiana. I think it was N6438B
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I flew for these guys also
Marv was the dispatcher I notified when I landed in Hickory with the #2 engine main bearing missing with 600# of Class A. He says, “Wow that lasted longer than I thought it would”. Why Marv? “ We bought that engine from the WV state penitentiary where it was on static display since WWII”
Thread Starter
Marv was the dispatcher I notified when I landed in Hickory with the #2 engine main bearing missing with 600# of Class A. He says, “Wow that lasted longer than I thought it would”. Why Marv? “ We bought that engine from the WV state penitentiary where it was on static display since WWII”
