Bruce Chase Wins Completely Refurbished Cessna 177B Cardinal

A Longview, TX-based flight instructor and university professor is the winner of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's 2007 "Catch-A-Cardinal" airplane.

With some of Bruce Chase's students and local media looking on, AOPA President Phil Boyer handed over the keys to the completely refurbished 1977 Cessna Cardinal on Saturday, at East Texas Regional Airport.

"They really got me," said Chase, 38. "I’m still in a little bit of shock."

AOPA reports Chase has given more than 6,300 hours of flight instruction during his 15 years as a CFI. He’s currently an assistant professor and assistant chief flight instructor at LeTourneau University, where he earned his bachelor’s in aviation technology in 1992. In 2005, he earned his master’s in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Chase also is an FAA-appointed aviation safety counselor.

A married father of two, Chase caught the aviation bug as a small boy. Living in Korea where his parents were missionaries, he used to watch airplanes fly in and out of the country ferrying supplies.

As it happens, Chase's passion for aviation safety made it easy for AOPA to set up the big surprise. He's studying pilot performance in the transition from flying glass panels to steam gauges, but he also plans to research the reverse.

Because the glass-cockpit transition is an area of interest to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, Executive Director Bruce Landsberg stepped up to stage the ruse. Landsberg contacted Chase under the guise of providing funding for his study.

"We’re really looking forward to this," Landsberg said after setting up the 11 am 'meeting' with Chase at KRS Express, the FBO on the field. "I think there’s really a great need for understanding how glass works... and how pilots are transitioned."

Chase took the bait. "That sounds pretty exciting," he said of the meeting and grant opportunity. Chase said he "had an inkling" that he might be the winner when Landsberg called, but added that he was excited to talk about the research, so he was "distracted."

It was a day full of surprises... as Landsberg made good on the ostensible reason for his visit. Landsberg presented Chase and LeTourneau University with a $5,000 grant to continue his work.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Saturday -- and while it pains the ANN staff to see yet another AOPA sweeps aircraft slip through our clutches, we also offer our sincere "Congrats!" to Chase for his victory. Happy and safe flying, sir!

FMI: www.aopa.org/sweeps