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Piper Cherokee 140. He grew up “building vehicles and creative transportation devices that any young boy would only dream of” and has been integral in designing company products since his college graduation in 1975. Today, he is Walker Mowers’ vice chairman and executive vice president.
TBM 700C2. Additionally, they recently acquired a 1988 King Air 300 that is currently undergoing an avionics upgrade to G1000 NXi, an interior refurbishment, and a fresh paint job at Stevens Aerospace. Alongside the turbine stock, they have several tailwheel aircraft in their hangar space, including a 1999
technical services functions. He says that the typical mission is an early morning departure from Colorado with midday meetings the same day. Depending on the agenda, the group is potentially home that night or will continue making additional flights and visits in a certain region of the country.
The company’s King Air, which is expected to enter service this November, will allow them to further build upon their ability to visit their valued suppliers and customers whenever the opportunity arises. While they considered a Pilatus PC- 12 to expand their aerial footprint, they explained it didn’t improve on the TBM’s mission profile “other than useful load and cabin volume.”
The new aircraft will be important as business increasingly requires more employees at different locations for site visits. Ryan, who will soon get his type rating at King Air Academy, noted, “We believe in developing deep and long-lasting relationships with our supply chain, distribution network and customers, and there is still no better way to accomplish this than being together, in-person. It isn’t uncommon to have six adults in the TBM, and zero fuel weight, even in the TBM, is a limitation on some flights. The King Air 300 will drastically increase the weight and the number of passengers we can transport.”
Another reason the family chose the twin-turboprop is its power plant redundancy. They frequently depart between 3 and 5 a.m., potentially in or over extensive weather and often over mountains. They also added that the aircraft is a “reliable, respected, and a proven airframe that also cruises faster, flies higher and can top more weather issues coming out of Colorado.”
Looking further into the future, Ryan’s son and oldest of four, Max, is set to become one member of the next generation of Walker pilots. At only 10 years old, he loves flying in the Rans S-6S and wants to be a “half-time lawn mower maker and half-time pilot... like his dad.”
The Walker fleet includes a Piper Saratoga, TBM 700C2, King Air 300 and multiple tailwheel aircraft.
Dean’s two sons, Ted (vice president of engineering) and Ryan (president), both pursued initial f light ratings during high school, completing their PPL requirements in 2000. The two brothers learned to fly in their father’s Super Cub. Ted, the older of the two, earned a Mechanical Engineering degree while Ryan earned a business degree, both from Olivet Nazarene University.
These four Walker family members average around 2,300 f light hours each. All hold at least an ASEL and an Instrument rating. Ryan is also a commercially rated CFII and A&P with AMEL and ASES ratings.
Members of the family collectively own a fleet of aircraft, all of which the pilots fly and share. For business and other purposes, they fly a 2000 Piper Turbo Saratoga and 2003
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Rans S-7, a 2011 Rans S-6S, a 2008 American Champion Scout, and the same 1950 Piper Super Cub that Ted and Ryan learned to fly in.
Which family member takes the left seat in the aircraft when flying for business depends on who is available and other factors. Although Ted has now completed his initial TBM training, he typically flies the Saratoga. This aircraft is most often used for supplier visits, shows and events travel. They also use this aircraft for currency flying and maintenance logistics for the TBM. Both are maintained in Denver at Arapahoe Aero.
Ryan is almost exclusively the one f lying the TBM, which is usually f lown within the continental United States to fulfill supplier relationships, sales, marketing, and