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Today, Central Flying Service offers maintenance, flight training, charter, sales and more.
fly. Many who knew him fondly recount that he spent more time in the air and logged more flight hours than anyone else on earth. It isn't hard to imagine. His contribution to aviation in the state of Arkansas is without equal.
Central Flying Service then entered its second era. Claud’s sons Don and Richard had acquired their dad’s enthusi- asm, not just for aviation but also for the family company. Aviation, politics, and the military dominated their lives.
By 1980, Central was awarded by Beechcraft again. This time, Central’s parts department became the first indepen- dent Beechcraft dealer to exceed one million dollars in sales. A year later, Don would move to the board as chairman and Dick would take the reins as president of Central Flying Service. Claud was inducted into Arkansas’ Aviation Hall of Fame in 1982 before he passed away, and Central continued to amass awards and recognition. It was at this time that “The Greatest Cheeseburger in Aviation History” moniker was bestowed upon Central’s newest facility, the Flight Deck
restaurant at Adams Field.
However, as we entered the 1990s, changes at
Beechcraft were happening. By 1994 Beech was in the process of taking aircraft sales in-house, and as an independent dealer, Central would no longer have that source of pride and revenue. It joined with several other independent dealers and founded the Pinnacle Air Network to speak to Beechcraft with a unified voice and continue to have aircraft sales operations. It was successful, and to this day, many of the Pinnacle members, like Central, are Beechcraft Service Centers.
After Central’s acquisition of Midcoast Aviation in 2002, it became the world’s largest FBO, with more square footage than any other on earth. Four years later, Don and Dick were both induct- ed into Arkansas’ Aviation Hall of Fame, just like their dad. Don passed away in 2015 at 75 years old. By 2017, the Central Flight Training School
logged over 475,000 f light hours.
By the time you read this article, we will know about
the next phase of Central’s journey. Early in 2022, Dick announced that he had a buyer for Central. It wasn’t really up for sale, but an offer came to him that made sense – an offer from someone who understands the history, the legacy and the family. As I am writing, we expect to hear about the purchase and the new owners by the end of March or early April. The intent is for Central to keep its name, its employees and for some of the Holbert family members to say on board, while Dick remains as an adviser, at least for a while. We wish much success to Central in the future.
other medals. Central welcomed him home and made him vice president at the company. Dick would leave the military in 1972.
Claud completed his career as the FAA’s senior pilot exam- iner. He turned Central Flying Service over to his sons in 1975 and left us a few years later at the age of 72. The Chairman of the Arkansas State Aeronautics Commission, Eddie Holland, remarked: "Claud always said it wasn't work. It was what he enjoyed." He would go on to fly and instruct until passing in 1983. Don took over as president, and his brother Dick assumed executive vice president duties. They talk fondly about how their dad “retired” a few times but he kept on working until the day he died. The company states: It must have been hard for a man who lied about his age so he could join the Arkansas Air National Guard in 1926 to walk away from something he'd dedicated himself to wholeheartedly for over 50 years. And by all accounts, Claud Holbert never actually left. His vision, leadership, and integrity are the foundation of Central Flying Service. We carry his passion and commitment to excellence in general aviation with us today. Claud loved to
Lance Phillips is an aviation professional, writer, pilot and photographer. He is executive director for the Pinnacle Air Network and owns Phillips Aero Services, an aviation mar- keting services provider. You can contact Lance at lance@ phillipsaeroservices.com.
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