Page 11 - August 2023

That was the beginning of his long relationship with N911CF, a 1980 Beechcraft King Air F90.
“The lower purchase price of the F90 allowed us to own and operate a second turboprop, which at first was a C90A and later became another Cessna 425 Conquest,” he said. “In 2018, the Conquest was sold and the company purchased a Cessna Citation 560 (V/ Ultra). Now, some 22 years later, with the jet experience and a type rating accomplished, I was ready for another Caravan Amphib to replace the jet. The F90 has survived trade-off every time. Neither the 200, the C90A, nor the F90 have ever left me stranded for mechanical reasons; I can’t say the same for the other multiengine turboprops we’ve operated.”
How it’s going
Three years ago, Kirvida had EFIS avionics installed in the F90, and he plans to purchase new 5-blade props before the end of the year. He also wants fresh exterior paint; the current paint job was completed in 1996 by the previous owner, NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte.
Besides N911CF, Kirvida currently owns and operates a 1949 Piper PA-11-115 Cub Special, 1955 Bonanza F35 (the one his father purchased as the family business’ first airplane and has been in the Kirvida family for 50 years now), 1978 PA-18-150 Super Cub on floats,
2000 American Champion 7GCBC-160 Explorer and 1999 Cessna Caravan 208 Amphibian. The aircraft are based at the neighboring New Richmond Regional Airport (KRNH).
Kirvida has been an active pilot continuously now for 57 years. He has slightly over 15,000 total hours, which includes more than 12,000 of multi – nearly 5,000 hours flying King Airs. He’s accumulated all of his hours as a private pilot with airplane single engine land & sea, airplane multiengine and instrument ratings, and a CE560 type rating.
“I owe much to aviation, for how it has helped grow our family business and, of course, without the business one could not have warranted the variety of aircraft I’ve had the joy of piloting,” Kirvida said. “There were years when I flew in excess of 400 hours, but saved thousands of hours of driving and dozens of nights in a hotel. With the King Airs came far more comfortable travel, fewer trip hours and the ability to be home every night.”
CustomFIRE has grown from a one-person, part- time business operating from a 1,600-square-foot converted hangar on the L.O. Simenstad Municipal Airport (KOEO) in Osceola to employing nearly 40 people and set to begin construction on a 24,000-square-foot fabrication and assembly building, which will bring the total footprint to 75,000 square feet of space for
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AUGUST 2023
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 9