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single-pilot, I work closely with our aircraft manager who provides com- plete oversight through a regimented pre-departure process, which is spelled out in our safety manual.”
He also shared the story behind N- number, N2RF. Reggie and Figo are the names of the family’s beloved dogs, and his mom wanted to honor their memories by christening the Citation in their memory.
“My mom is a true animal lover, and she says that whenever we’re flying, Reggie and Figo know we are up there close to them,” he says. “It makes us all very happy.”
“When my dad is not using the air- plane for business, my mom (Citation- Mom) flies with me in support of her animal rescue efforts,” Max said proud- ly. “She has an animal sanctuary in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She also does a lot of work with dog rescue groups in the Mississippi Delta Region.”
New Airplane – Same N-Number
While the Citation M2 was a huge upgrade from the Cirrus Vision Jet, it falls short in one key ability: range. Max explained that his father’s busi- ness requires that he make frequent trips to Bermuda. The M2 can’t get there from here.
“After only six months and 250 hours of flying the M2, we upgraded to a new Citation CJ3+. It’s really the air- plane we should have gotten in the first place,” Max says. “The CJ3+ is a fantastic airplane. It’s fast. It climbs like a rocket. And, most importantly, it fits my dad’s mission precisely. He’s a numbers guy, and the CJ3+ just adds up to be everything we need.”
Fly Along with Max
“I started my YouTube channel when I began taking flying lessons. I used to go back and watch the videos to learn from my mistakes. It was one camera with no editing,” Max stated. “It evolved to be better and when I started flying the Vision Jet, I renamed the channel CirrusMax. Then when we got the M2, it became CitationMax.”
“Flying is my life, and I love shar- ing my experiences with all of my subscribers. I try to give them the
feeling of what it’s like to be in the right seat of a professionally-f lown CJ. Even when the right seat is taken, I want to verbalize everything I do so they feel like my co-pilot,” he explained. “I also want every 16-year-old kid who watches me know that if they have a dream, they can work towards it.”
“I had obstacles, and yes, I had help,” Max continued. “But I believe that if you start to work towards your dream, people will help you. If you work hard enough, you will find your own breaks – it’s possible. Maybe it’s not flying, but whatever it is, you can do it. My YouTube channel gives me that connection.”
Rosen Sunvisor Systems
Hillaero Modification Center
Dale Smith has been a commercial, private and business aviation marketing and media communications specialist for nearly 40 years. He is an award- wining aviation journalist and aviation artist. Dale has been a licensed pilot since 1974 and has flown more than 40 different types of aircraft. Contact Dale at dalesmith206@comcast.net.
Jet Journal August 2020 / TWIN & TURBINE • 23