Page 14 - Volume 15 Number 8

12 • TWIN & TURBINE AUGUST 2011
For the Love of the Mojave
Owner Alan Heuermann Modernizes His Dream Plane
Alan Heuermann has owned and flown a number of differ- ent airplanes through the years, from piston twins to jets. But the one airplane he had always dreamed of owning was the Piper Mojave.
“I have always loved the Mojave,” he said. “It’s the best of the big-cabin twins.”
Prior to purchasing the Mojave, Heuermann did his due dili- gence by examining practically every cabin-class twin and tur- boprop model on the market. His exhaustive research included the Cessna 340, B60 Duke, Piper Cheyenne II, Piper Navajo, and finally the Mojave. He not only compared specs, but he analyzed performance numbers and operating costs. In the end, he felt the Mojave offered him everything he needed: a roomy cabin, fuel economy, and great performance.
A stock-and-bond trader and private investor from Omaha, Neb., he typically flies throughout the Midwest and to coastal Texas. “I wanted an aircraft that could capably fly conditions from sea level to the winter icing conditions in the north,” added Heuermann, who is pilot, but leaves the Mojave flying to a professional pilot.
Heuermann fulfilled his dream last year and purchased a Mo- jave with a little under 4,000 total hours. He immediately put it down for a major interior upgrade that would make most jet owners envious.
Autopilots Central and Skyworthy Interiors, both of Tulsa, Okla., took a 1980s vintage cabin and created a high-tech 21st century entertainment and work space. The new cabin includes all-new jet-like cabin seats covered in butter-soft tan leather. Cabinetry and wood trim were relaminated and new carpet and sidewalls were installed. Roman shades allow oc- cupants to control the amount of ambient light in the cabin.
In addition, four LCD monitors were installed at each cab- in seat, giving every occupant entertainment options, includ- ing DVD, iPod input and an Airshow-style moving map dis- play. Passengers can also have a pilot’s-eye view through a cockpit mounted, high-resolution, forward-looking camera, allowing them to watch takeoffs and landings.
A 14-inch cabin display located on the aft cabin bulk- head can also display real-time flight information and mov- ing map.