Page 6 - June 2015 Volume 19 Number 6

To a Citation jet owner, more is always better. The choices in the Cessna Citation family are varied and plentiful; from Mustang to Citation X+, each one offering varying amounts of speed, seats and style. A few more nautical miles of range, increased cruise speed, better avionics – there’s always something to be gained by trading up.
Stuart Fred, a Houston, Texas-based commercial real estate entrepreneur, is highly knowledgeable when it comes to the Citation family. He’s owned several Citations, flown most of the competitors and has logged more than 4,000 hours in jets, including time in a pair of Aero L39 Albatros trainers he owns. His business interests are scattered all across the southern half of the United States, making fast, capable travel a critical part of his success. His CJ’s have helped him keep on top of managing properties throughout the growth of the Bomasada Group, of which he’s President.
Fred grew up fascinated with airplanes, darting out the door, like a lot of us, whenever one flew over. His obsession was indulged by his parents, and he mowed lawns and saved money after paying the $5 introductory flight Cessna was offering at Cruise Aviation on Hobby Airport in Houston, starting lessons at age 15. Nine months later, he soloed at 16. After college, he worked his way up the ownership ladder from a Cessna Cardinal to a Piper Arrow IV and then to a normally- aspirated 1979 210 Centurion, a fine traveling companion that he only recently sold. He credits his first instructor with the creed that has helped him make the right piloting
4 • TWIN & TURBINE
to a New
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decisions throughout his flying career; “Stuart,” his instructor would say, “if there’s any doubt, there’s no doubt.”
“Heeding his advice, I still occasionally cancel trips,” Fred says. “Primarily, if I’m not comfortable with the forecasted weather and with being able to complete the flight safely and comfortably for my passengers or myself, I’m simply not going.”
The Route To Jets
Fred’s journey into jets grew with the company he founded; he acquired a multi-engine rating
in a Baron at Lakeside airport in Houston, flew a Cessna 310 and 421, but knew that something more capable was needed if he was to maintain his travel schedule. He took a production slot for one of the first Citation Mustangs, but bought a CJ instead, later moving to a CJ1 and eventually to a CJ3, which he
flew for seven years.
“The CJ3 was a different world, compared to the smaller CJs, allowing me to tanker fuel for round trips to the East Coast, rather than fill up at every stop.” He could now buy 100 gallons of Jet-A and return home, where the company has its own fuel facilities. An opportunity to sell the CJ3 presented itself, so
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JUNE 2015