Million Air Ltd was first registered with Companies House in January 2004. The aim of the Company was to provide a fast, comfortable and affordable way of travel for Private Pilots and their friends and families, in a more professional environment and lend itself to being able to achieve advanced ratings for the pilots at moderate cost. Our goal therefore was to obtain an aircraft that provided the criteria we were looking for and a system that would allow advanced ratings such as the Instrument Rating to be realistically obtainable for the Private Pilot. Our dilemma was initially that the cost of obtaining advanced ratings on the British or European licensing system was unacceptably high, estimated to be around £18,000.00 mark at that time for an Instrument Rating for example. We therefore set about exploring other licensing possibilities and the American system seemed to be the way forward.

Our next exercise was to find an aircraft which would perform, but be reasonable for costing and could be upgraded to take into account future "known" legislation. A twin engined aircraft was contemplated for about 30 seconds and then the decision taken to only further consider single engine aircraft. Some may argue that this decision was flawed, but anyone who has flown a twin engined piston aircraft and a high powered single will know that there is little to be gained performance wise, double the maintenance costs, almost double the flying costs and very little reward back even from the safety aspect.

Our choice then was to look at the Bonanza, the Saratoga, the Centurion and the Comanche. For a month or so we scoured the aviation marts, magazines and internet sites and explored several aircraft in that time. The one that jumped out and smacked us in the face was a Comanche based in California which was substantially upgraded from the sixties specification but was in need of engine and avionics refurbishment. We started the negotiations and by the end of February 2004 the deal had been done.

We appointed an agent in California to look after our interests, agreed the level of refurbishment and then engaged the various companies in the overhaul. By mid May 2004 we had a Comanche aircraft with an envious performance, avionics fit and level of comfort. We sent out enquiries for a ferry pilot and while there plenty of volunteers from both sides of the Atlantic, only a few met the criteria required by our insurance company as our first and foremost requirement and secondly fewer still with an acceptable price. Eventually we found the company to fit the bill and engaged them to travel to California to pick up and fly our newly refurbished aircraft across the Atlantic into the UK.

In anticipation of the arrival, we applied to Gamston Airport for a place in the hangar and though at the time places were at a premium as the expansion programme had not yet begun, we just managed to obtain one. Having set up an account with the airport, the aircraft would be hangared, taken in and out of the hangar by ground staff, refuelled on request and even being given a valet internally and externally.

After a few logistical problems en route from the USA, the day finally arrived when the aircraft flew into Gamston, touching down at approximately 2030 20th June 2004 as recorded in the photograph above.