At 14 years old, RJ Gomez’s Legacy Aviation may be a relatively young Twin Commander Authorized Service Center, but Gomez has decades of experience with the airplane, starting in the early 1980s.
Gomez was born in Venezuela, where his father was a governor and congressman. While working for a law firm, Gomez’s father exposed him and his brothers to a 690A, a perspective that changed his life forever. An immediate love for aviation took hold of the boys, and each said he wanted to become a pilot.
Gomez attended Oklahoma University and the Spartan School of Aeronautics where he earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology. After graduation he worked for Caracas-based Aerocentro for 15 years. He later moved to Downtown Airpark in Oklahoma City to run the parts department for one year, and was promoted to general manager where he served for four years. There he found great success, and later, when the company faltered, Gomez found his opportunity and created Legacy Aviation.
He hasn’t yet fulfilled his earlier dream of becoming a pilot, but focusing on maintenance has proven to be a smarter long-term business strategy. Legacy forgoes charter and other pilot service operations to concentrate solely on maintenance, repair, overhaul, parts, and upgrades.
In 1980 he saw Twin Commanders coming off the factory line not far from where he works today. “Never, years later, would I think I would be working with these airplanes,” he said.
With his son, RG, learning the business, three generations of the Gomez family have touched Twin Commanders, and have been instrumental to keeping the fleet thriving. “The airplane is in my blood,” he said.
