Page 10 - August 2023

Jim Kirvida has owned N911CF for 25 years. The 1980 Beechcraft King Air F90 is one of three Beechcraft King Airs he has owned in his 51 years as a pilot.
“It only took a few flights in the weather to realize I had made a mistake, as I sorely missed the speed and over-the-weather pressurization of the King Air.”
time, he earned his instrument rating in 1974 in order to fly the aircraft on sales and delivery trips. A year later Kirvida earned his multiengine rating so he could fly the company’s new cabin class Cessna 411 twin- engine, allowing for all weather operations and bringing prospective customers to Minnesota for factory visits.
“In 1979, after becoming a pilot himself, my father purchased the A36 Bonanza to replace the C-411,” Kirvida said. “Tragically, in 1991 my father died in an icing accident while piloting the A36.”
After leaving the family business in 1982 to focus on his own business, Kirvida continued to fly recreationally and to grow the CustomFIRE business by building relationships with customers and suppliers around the world.
“In 1983, the first aircraft CustomFIRE operated was in partnership with two other business pilots,” he said. “It was a 1969 Piper Comanche C model. In a perfect partnership, I flew its wings off and the others shared all expenses!”
CustomFIRE’s first solely owned and operated aircraft, a booted Beechcraft Baron B55, was purchased in 1986. A few months later, the first pressurized aircraft, a Cessna 414, was added. The company and Kirvida
have owned many aircraft through the years. In 1992, Kirvida transitioned to multi-turbine, training in the company’s Cessna 425 Conquest, then acquiring his first King Air – a model 200 (BB-843) in 1994.
“In 1996, I sold the King Air 200 and purchased a new Cessna Caravan 208,” Kirvida said. “I wanted a new aircraft and thought the Caravan would suffice for business travel as well as recreational (on floats). It only took a few flights in the weather to realize I had made a mistake, as I sorely missed the speed and over-the-weather pressurization of the King Air. The Caravan was sold and the decision was made to purchase another King Air 200. Unfortunately, this was 1998 and the 200s had increased in value by more than a half million dollars. On the rebound, I purchased an F90, which provided similar performance in a smaller and easier to hangar package.”
8 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2023