The Navion Experience
The Navion is a versatile aircraft and a delight to fly. It does so many things so well that it has attracted a loyal and enthusiastic fan club. It's a great family aircraft that can haul a good load in and out of almost any kind of landing strip. Pavement, grass or gravel - it doesn't matter. You can go classic with the original style windows and panel or dress it up with flush windows, modern panel and big engine and compete with any piston aircraft manufactured today. You can add military livery and park with the warbirds at airshows. It can fly formation with most of the warbirds but with its stability the Navion is also viewed as one of the best instrument platforms. Navions tend to very long, even lifetime, ownership with many staying in the same family and being handed down to children.
How can you experience a Navion?
The best way to appreciate a Navion is to fly one. "Majestic" is how an 80+ year old pilot friend described his flight in my Navion. The best tool we have for growing our Navion community is to get interested pilots an intro flight. I got interested in Navions because my dad raved about a flight he got in one. Most Navion owners are more than happy to provide a ride or talk all day about their airplane. You just need to know one. To facilitate that, the list below are owners who have volunteered to fly prospective Navioneers in their area. If there is no one listed in your area, please contact Greg Young, (281) 844-0987 gyoung@bentwing.com, or one of the other Board members and we'll find someone near you.
ALABAMA
James Coats, N8897H, E-225, (205) 253-9132 james@coatscars.com
ARIZONA
Dick Stich CFI FFZ Falcon Fld. Mesa, AZ 602-549-8892. rstich2@cox.net
ARKANSAS
Gary S Robison, N4892K, 1949 Ryan with an IO-550R, 2018 Lindy Award Winner, Hangared at H34, Huntsville, Arkansas, 303-725-5262. flygrizz@msn.com
CALIFORNIA
Nick Kanakis, Claremont, CA nicholas.kanakis@gmail.com
COLORADO
Allen Cook, based at KFTG. (859) 466-7359
DELAWARE
Richard Boyd, Navion H Rangemaster based at Delaware Coastal Airport, (KGED), in Georgetown DE, (302) 519-4877. rich.boyd36@comcast.net
FLORIDA
Dave Fogarty, IO-550B, Ft. Lauderdale, (561) 451-5259 djfogarty@aol.com
Ken Hewes, N312NM, based at Tampa Executive Airport, KDVF, (813) 431-5290 Kenheweslmt@yahoo.com
Tanner Matheny, 82J, tanner.c.matheny@gmail.com
Greg Tucker, 1951 Navion B N5443K with IO-520-BA. Based out of KOCF, Ocala Florida. Huntfisheat74@gmail.com
GEORGIA
Dick McSpadden, IO-470, Franklin County 18A, (706) 201-3396. rgmcspadden@bellsouth.netHe has helped over 50 people become Navioneers!
Rusty Herrington, Board member & President, IO-550R, Statesboro, (912) 865-5875 rusty.herrington@gmail.com
Bruce Herrington, Board member, IO-550B, Lakeland, (229) 412-8314 brucemd@surfsouth.com
Nathaniel Lewis, 1946 with a 225 based at KFFC Falcon Field south of Atlanta. Ozark08@outlook.com
IDAHO
Chad Hawthorne, Coeur D’Alene/north ID area, Contact Greg Young to arrange.
Brent Zastrow, based at KCOE. Contact Greg Young to arrange
INDIANA
Bob Hale, N2460T, bobhale@live.com
KENTUCKY
Rick Mills, Board member, IO-520 Flagship winner, Louisville area, (570) 850.3865 Cell rick.mills15@twc.com
LOUISIANNA
Lee Holmes, Canopy IO-550B, based in Shreveport/NW- Louisiana and Northeast TX region. Cell (254) 780-6038 mleeholmes@sbcglobal.net
Faron Naquin, Southeast La., KHUM, Houma, LA. Nav41951@yahoo.com
MINNESOTA
Richard (Dick) Bihler, GO-480, Twin City area out of KFCM, (612) 749-7323 RPBihler@nuveramail.net
Russell Derickson, SW Minnesota russell.derickson@gmail.com
Paul Thomas, Rangemaster H based at downtown St. Paul airport KSTP, (612) 804-9792 navionpaul@gmail.com
MISSISSIPPI
Josh Heath, 5A6 Winona, MS ... I have an E-225 and IO-520 to demo, (662) 283-9833 jd@heathaviation.com
MISSOURI
Kent Sherrow, N4101K – NAV-4-1101. Sullivan, MO (KUUV), (573) 677-1987 kent@braveryaviation.com
OHIO
Rick Joyner, 1946 Navion with an IO-550B, 2024 ANS Flagship award Winner, Based at Moraine Airpark (I73) Dayton,OH (937) 657-9483, rjoyner19@gmail.com
OKLAHOMA
Ron Judy & Alan Judy: Navion N8915H, IO 550B, Beaver, OK/Judy Ranch airport. K44 & OK39, Alan's Cell: (575) 517-9969. aj18j@yahoo.com
NEW JERSEY
Ben Smith, Somerset Airport, NJ (SMQ), N5186K IO-470H, (908) 303-5245 bens101fc@gmail.com
NORTH CAROLINA
James Coats, N8897H, E-225, (205) 253-9132 james@coatscars.com
NORTH DAKOTA
Dave Olig, N5RX located in Fargo, ND KFAR. It is a 1947 with an IO-520BA, (701) 730-5572 davidjolig@gmail.com
PENNSYLVANIA
Phil Finet, Board member, IO-520, Pittsburgh area, (724) 249-5126, navion1@yahoo.com
Jonathan Still, '51 canopy model w/ IO-470H (260hp). Carlisle, PA (N94). 601-701-5932 / StillFlyingLLC@gmail.com
John Yohey, Board member, (570) 204-1356 John_Yohey@yahoo.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
Walt Fanti, 1947 Canopy model with a IO-550R3B based at the Chandelle AirPark, (SC72) in the upstate Greenville, SC area, (609) 870-1679 Jetguy108@AOL.Com
TENNESSEE
Roddy Noll, Navion A IO-470-H, KFGU Chattanooga, TN, (423) 504-5717 roddynoll@hotmail.com
TEXAS
Jeremy Bushnell, IO-520 equipped 1947 Navion A with a G3x touch panel based in South Texas (RKP/79TE), (361) 238-6637 fly@vintageairtours.com
Kevin Domingue, N4428K, IO-550B, KDWH Houston area (409) 656-4444 kevindomingue6429@gmail.com
Leo Langston, 1949 Navion A, E-225, Based at Pearland Regional Airport KLVJ, Cell (832) 647-9188 llangston123@gmail.com
Chris Meaux, IO-550R, KBMT, Beaumont, TX (409) 679-0222 meaux1@gt.rr.com
Greg Young, Board member & Vice President, N5221K, owner since 2002, IO-550B, KDWH Houston area (281) 844-0987 gyoung@bentwing.com
Chris Walker, IO-550B, Based at KETX, Contact Greg Young to arrange
UTAH
Ben Thompson, Salt Lake City area, Contact Greg Young to arrange
WASHINGTON
Bill Lattimer, S43 (Harvey Field) in Snohomish, Contact Greg Young to arrange
WISCONSIN
Dave Bejvan, IO-520, Milwaukee area, (414) 416-5895 bejvand@yahOo.com
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CANADA
Jim Morrison, Welland, Ontario, 1949 A model and a friend on the field has a 1950 model with an up graded engine, parked at CNQ3, Fonthill, Ontario, cell (905) 321-5592 jmorrison0963@gmail.com
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EUROPE
Jacques Saada, France n4269k@gmail.com