From Cynthia's blog ·
October 5, 2026 N7887Y
Apogee Air is growing! I'm in Texas right now taking delivery of a new-to-me Piper twin Comanche PA-30B (N7887Y). She is beautiful! This part of the adventure started a year ago when several of my pilots asked me when I was going to add a twin to my line (I have two Cessna 182Ps). I wasn't ready... but now I am!
I got the crazy idea to expand in February as I was driving home from Los Angeles back to the Bay Area. I had an investor who had mentioned he's always wanted a twinkie so, out of the blue I gave him a call and told him I had a business proposal for him or perhaps someone else who might want to be involved. He listened to my idea and said without reservation he was in. We talked details and he said he'd be ready in a couple of months, to call him back then.
I called back in May and we met and he was ready to go… but then something came up and he had to back out. I couldn't be mad at him because I've had Life get in the way to thwart my plans many many times over the years, and I knew he wanted (and wants) to help me; it's just the kind of empowered man he is. So, I waited.
A couple of months later he pocket dialed me, so I gave him a call. The misdial was serendipitous because the issue he had in May had untangled itself and he was now available to discuss helping Apogee Air grow. We met again and this time, everything worked out. I had enough money to buy my twinkie! I started looking and found a plane I thought would be perfect so I made an offer, which was accepted as a verbal agreement. There was a glitch with some paperwork but he expected that to be ironed out by the end of August or, by the latest, early September. So, I waited.
I was really encouraged, so much so I sent onboarding packets to 11 pilots who had agreed to be checked out in the new plane. I had a highly qualified MEI to help me ferry the plane out, and I had the cash to make the transaction. And then, September 10th happened: the seller texted me and told me he had sold the plane to someone else. Although I had created the rental agreement for the multi, thankfully, I never shared the tail number with my pilots, nor had I sent out the contract. I told them truthfully I wanted to take delivery before anyone had specific details. So, I waited.
It was now September 12th and I knew I had about two weeks to find another plane. Not panicked but, shall we say, highly motivated, I started scouring the internet for another Comanche twin. I thought I had one and actually entered a contract with a broker about a week later. I mentioned this to my husband who asked me he thought I didn't want a turbo? I don't, I said. This is a turbo, he responded. No, it isn't, I repeated. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I was somewhat testy. I told him my mechanic was on it, then called the broker. It was a very busy day at the office and it took him a while to get back to me. Yes, indeed, it was a turbo. Under no circumstances, my mechanic told me, should I buy a turbo as a trainer. The broker was incredibly kind and allowed me to back out of the contract without having to pay the cancellation fee; I was incredibly grateful. So, I waited.
Now I was really digging in to find obscure brokers and dealers who specialized in Piper twins. I found one. In fact, their website is called www.twincomanches.com. Based in the Chicago, IL area, this father and son team were absolutely marvelous. They work for buyers rather than sellers and personally look at every plane they put on their line as if they were buying it for themselves. Randy Africano (rafricano@aircraftassociates.com), the Principal, has 55 years of flying experience and 50+ years of working in the field of aviation. His son, Nick Africano, Associate Principal (nafricano@aircraftassociates.com), has worked with his father full-time for the last six years. I have spoken with them both and they are perfect complements to one another although they share in common deep knowledge of aircraft and a passion for matching airplanes with their new owners. So, I waited.
In a matter of days they found what would become my new addition to Apogee Air's line. They each spoke with my mechanic, digging in the weeds of all things mechanical; they shared stories, maintenance logs (impeccable), and their collective encouragement regarding my vision and mission of turning my business into an advanced pilot training center with the goal of helping pilots earn their high performance/TAA endorsements, instrument and multi-engine ratings, and commercial certificates, as well as CFI/II/MEI prep training. Based at the Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD) this center will, hopefully, become a destination airport for Bay Area pilots so they don't have to leave the state to obtain the training they need to build time or their portfolios as they prepare to move on to the Bigs and, as we continue to grow, expand to serve out-of-state pilots who want to train in the complex airspace of the San Francisco Bay Area. I already have in place a pilot discount at a local hotel, discounted rates for car rentals and meals at area restaurants, and a couple of remote instructors who are interested in traveling to KHWD to conduct one-on-one intense training with individual pilots. It looks like my waiting is about to end.
My mechanic and I traveled to the airport today to meet the seller and look at the plane. Even the first look-see was promising. I drive tomorrow to pick up the MEI with whom I will be training, and who will be helping my ferry the plane back to California. She will stay for about two weeks to train interested pilots in the twin; she will also be available to a lesser degree to check pilots out in the 182s and train them to earn their high performance/TAA endorsements, as well as prep for their instrument rating and commercial certificate. I am counting on this new ship to pass her pre-buy inspection with flying colors and begin the 1600 nm flight home to her new base.
This has been a wild toad ride adventure! I can hardly wait to share the next steps of this dream that is becoming a reality.