From: Discover – Manassas, Haymarket & Gainesville
Business Writer: Kathryn Gendreau
Publication Date: 2005
“Learn To Fly” at Manassas Aviation Center
Manassas Aviation Center started in 1963 as a mail-order
business and evolved into a retail store in Fairfax selling flying
supplies-charts, books, training materials, pilot and aircraft
accessories, and computers. Through
the store, a group of flying enthusiasts developed a “flying
club,” and in the late 70’s, the club moved with the store to its
current location next to the Manassas Airport.
Although the flying club eventually dissolved, the store
remained… along with three single-engine trainer planes.
A stockholder corporation, Manassas Aviation Center was taken
over by Jim Stone, Ken Richardson, and Sue Yarid in 1998.
In addition to the shop, Manassas Aviation Center now offers
flying lessons from the ground up-teaching beginners through those who
have gone in to become commercial pilots for US and international
airlines. The company has
now grown to a fleet of thirteen planes.
According to Sue Yarid, the average student takes private
lessons once or twice a week. At
this rate, it takes about six to nine months to get licensed.
She adds that it can be accomplished in as little as a month if
the student is willing to devote full time and attention.
“The number of students enrolled really fluctuates,” Ken
Richardson says. Although
students (both men and women) have ranged in age from as young as 15
(for instruction only) up to 75 years old, he explains that because of
the expensive nature of the hobby, the average age for learning to fly
is around 40.
In addition to flying lessons, Manassas Aviation Center is a
LaserGrade Computer Testing Center for the FAA or any organization
that requires certification testing-from Lamaze instruction to funeral
directing. It is also an
FAA-approved flight school with a government contract to conduct
initial flight screening for military personnel.
Manassas Aviation Center’s crew consists of unique
individuals who share a passion for flying and are skilled at
“wearing different hats”.
Jim Stone is more on the “people side” of the business.
He worked in the safety office for Fairfax County’s Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT) for many years, began flying in
1970, and started to teach flying as a hobby. When he retired from VDOT in 1995, Jim began working full
time at the Manassas Aviation Center-teaching and doing whatever else
needs to be done.
Sue Yarid has been with Manassas Aviation Center for eight
years and is an “Advanced Ground Instructor” (AGI). She began flying in 1997 by taking lessons with Jim Stone and
began working part time at the counter the following year.
Sue now works full time at the Center where she teaches flying.
“This is where I live,” says Ken. It is a part-time position for Ken (he works full time as an
officer for the Prince William Jail), “but it is ALL of my part
time,” he jokes. Ken
says he walked into Manassas Aviation for an “airman check,” which
was performed by Jim, and wound up taking flight lessons and
eventually “minding the store.” The others refer to Ken, a computer whiz, as “the
web-master,” which is obvious to anyone who visits the Center’s
rebuilt and frequently updated web page.
Buddy Swift, a licensed pilot for 10 years, says he wanted to
fly from the time he was a little kid.
Now he owns his own plane, which he leases back to Manassas
Aviation, and he’s studying to be a plane mechanic.
Least we forget, there are two more important members of the crew:
Sue’s adorable Scottish Terrier, “Little Man Casanova,” who
spends each day keeping everyone in line at Manassas Aviation Center;
and “Miss Cat,” the only surviving kitten of a liter born in the
wall of the building 11 or 12 years ago.
For the most part, these two keep their paws on the ground!
