Page 31 - March22T

is an amazing plane for long cross-country flights due to its range, comfort and ability to land at virtually any airport.” In the current unprecedented aircraft marketplace, his critical business tool is worth nearly as much as when he bought it new in 2014. But even with its high resale potential, the PC-12 will stay with him for the foreseeable future because of how well it fits his mission, even allowing access to one of Cassimus’ most treasured investments: his hunting ranch Sawtooth Plantation. The 3,200-foot grass
strip is a common landing site for the PC-12.
“It performs really well on grass and doing short-field takeoffs when the airplane doesn’t have a lot of weight. It will be off the ground today [being repositioned to a nearby airport for fuel] in about 1,200 feet. And landing on the grass with the trailing link landing gear is really
great. I haven’t once felt shaking.”
Today, Cassimus has logged around 3,700 hours of fixed-
wing time total and flies around 150 hours to 200 hours per year. Typically, he will fly the Pilatus to various locations within the continental United States but has also flown it to Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas. Additionally, he anticipates hovering around 150 hours a year.
To sum up his 19 years of aviation experience, Cassimus said, “Flying has allowed me to grow all of my businesses at a rapid pace. And the ability to move quickly anytime fits my personality and allows me to continue to grow personally and professionally.”
Factory Direct
Avfab
March 2022 / TWIN & TURBINE • 29