Norman — Al Miller, 13, who attends Whittier Middle School, recently flew an airplane for the third time. Miller hooked up with Deon Perkins, owner and operations manager of Primetime Aviation, 1948 Goddard Ave. at Max Westheimer Field, and it was a match made in heaven.
Miller was involved with Cleveland Elementary’s Gifted and Talented program in which Principal, Ty Bell offered a series on aircraft titled “Flight.” The kids made model rockets and airplanes and learned basic concepts about aerodynamics. Miller was bitten by the flying bug and wanted to get up in the air.
Last summer, Miller visited friends in California who got him airborne. He flew a Cessna 182 and a Van’s RV 4, an aerobatic plane, where he learned to barrel roll and do loops. Miller had to sit on a couple of blankets to be tall enough to see out of the cockpit, but he was undeterred.
“It was awesome,” Miller said. “I wanted to go again.”
He couldn’t wait to get back in the air. For his birthday, his mom wanted to give him a flying lesson, and that’s how she met Perkins at Primetime Aviation who offers ground and flight training, as well as aircraft rental.
Perkins’ love of flying drives his business concept. He wants to offer individuals who have an interest in flying but who find it a cost prohibitive way to get off the ground.
“Lots of people have an interest in flying but think they can’t afford it, so they haven’t tried” Perkins said. “My concept is to be able to keep prices low enough to where individuals can come in and go flying for at least an hour. I want to get kids interested in flying.”
Miller flew for 1.2 hours with one of Perkins’ three certified flight instructors, Craig Davidson, a senior in OU’s Aviation Management program.
At 13, Miller is Davidson’s youngest student.
“The kid’s a natural,” Davidson said.
The pair flew around Norman, then north to Oklahoma City where they did a touch-and-go at Will Rogers Airport. Davidson said Miller took off and did the flying himself. Davidson said he helped a little with the landings because “they’re a bit tricky.”
Davidson stated that he always loved planes and started flying when he was a teen. He’s building flight hours and hopes to secure a job in the next few years with a major airline.
Perkins who is serving in the Navy, plans to retire after completing his third tour of duty later this year. He co-owns Primetime Aviation with his sister, Tarshishcia Aiken, who serves in the Air Force and is deployed.
Keeping costs down and affordable isn’t easy, however. Depending on the size of its engine, a small aircraft can burn up to 10 gallons of fuel per hour. Costing $49 and up for an hour of flying, that can get pricey. But Perkins is determined to keep his prices low and hopes to find a way to get them lower than they are now — even if that means he and his sister have to kick in from their own pockets to get their business off the ground.
Their business concept is one of providing great service in volume to folks who want to fly rather than having high prices that cater to only an elite clientele.
“I want to appeal to people like myself who just want to learn to fly and be able to afford it,” Perkins said.
So far, their business is growing. Perkins started out two years ago in the aircraft rental services and training business in Goldsby at David J. Perry Airport. The airport was too small to support his business, so he moved to Norman. He and his sister have been “paying as we go” and now Primetime has two planes: A Piper 140 Cherokee and a Cessna 177. They are in the process of negotiating for a Piper Lance six-seater which, when added to their fleet, will permit certified pilots and their passengers the opportunity to fly to small airports without having to pay commercial airfare.
As for Miller, he’s ordering his own flight headset and is planning another flight with Perkins and Davidson, hopefully during spring break.
