After many decades in aerospace manufacturing including 13 years with Twin Commander Aircraft, culminating in leading the storied brand over the last three years, Brian Harbaugh is retiring. Harbaugh came to Twin Commander Aircraft when the FirstMark group of companies purchased the type certificate in 2008. When current owner Ontic purchased FirstMark in 2018, Harbaugh was selected to run Twin Commander and sister company Aircraft Belts. In that time he has worked tirelessly to ensure the airplane’s many parts suppliers continue to support the airplane with the best possible availability at the most reasonable prices. A native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Harbaugh was helping to run his family gas stations by the time he turned 13. “It’s where I…

Blake Deal’s straight 500 isn’t the oldest Twin Commander flying, but it might be one of the nicest. Deal’s 1959 Model 500 recently won the prestigious Lindy Award in the category of Most Unique at EAA AirVenture, and with its distinctive original paint and modern interior and panel, it’s easy to see why. Deal and his friend Luch Scremin purchased the airplane in 1998 and immediately set off restoring it. An aerial applicator in the Pacific Northwest had used the airplane like a pickup truck, shuttling people and parts between outlying fields, and it was showing its age. With a new house being built on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, Deal was looking for an airplane that had long…

Pilots came and went, but mechanic Mike Merek was always there. Merek spent 26 years in federal service managing and fixing various military and government airplanes and helicopters. But it was his 22 years with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration managing a fleet of aircraft that included Twin Commanders that fully ingratiated him into the community. Merek recently retired from NOAA, but he retains fond memories of his time spent working for the agency and on Twin Commanders. “My whole experience in aviation has been nothing but positive,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate.” Merek said his interest in maintenance started at a young age. At 10 years old he started an informal bike shop in his garage to…

Thirty-four years is a long time to be in a relationship. Twin Commander pilot Bruce Stamey hasn’t just flown Twin Commanders for more than three decades. He’s flown the same Twin Commander for 34 years, all with the state of Louisiana. Stamey’s entrance to aviation was a bit unusual. He took a pause at college to work and earn more money so he could finish a degree in architecture. During that time, he was working for an engineering firm doing a variety of jobs when the company’s president approached him with an offer he couldn’t refuse. He was asked to be his pilot. Only one problem—Stamey didn’t have a pilot’s certificate. In fact, he had never flown an airplane before.…