Roy Wilbanks Surprised At South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame Event

"I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming," was all Roy Wilbanks could say Thursday night when he learned that he is the proud new owner of AOPA's 2004 Sweepstakes Twin Comanche. AOPA President Phil Boyer surprised Wilbanks, a 12-year AOPA member, during the South Carolina Aviation Association's annual hall of fame banquet in Myrtle Beach, telling Wilbanks that he will be taking home the fully restored, updated, upgraded, better-than-new 1965 Piper Twin Comanche.

During the presentation, Boyer asked Wilbanks, who co-owns a Piper J-3 Cub, if he'd like to step up to a more advanced aircraft. When Wilbanks responded that he had been looking to step up to a Cessna 172, Boyer asked, "How about this Twin Comanche?" as an image of the sweepstakes airplane appeared on the screen behind the pair.

Wilbanks' enthusiastic response was matched by that of the crowd of nearly 300, who gave the winner a standing ovation. Wilbanks then telephoned his wife from the stage to tell her about his good fortune. "I won it, honey! We don't need the J-3 anymore," he enthused. After the presentation, a red-faced Wilbanks, 62, realized that he had one more piece of good luck. "It's a good thing I just had a physical," he said.

Because the dinner ended so late, Wilbanks got his first look at his new airplane on Friday. AOPA worked closely with Kip Pratt of the SCAA to arrange the surprise for Wilbanks, who thought he had been selected at random by the state association to represent all South Carolina pilots at the Hall of Fame Banquet. Hal Shevers, founder and chairman of Sporty's Pilot Shop, ensured Wilbanks would be on time, picking him up in the Sporty's Citation Jet at his home airport in Greenwood and delivering him to Myrtle Beach Aviation at Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Wilbanks will fly away with more than just a better-than-new Twin Comanche. American Flyers is providing initial multiengine training, and the Comanche Flyers Foundation — the educational arm of the International Comanche Society — is providing type-specific training in the actual airplane.

Carolina Air Center of Hilton Head (SC) and MBNA America Bank have teamed to provide a $5,000 aviation gasoline credit to feed those two engines. Bruce's Custom Covers has provided an aircraft cover and cowl plugs, and Bose will protect Wilbanks' and his passengers' ears with two pairs of top-of-the-line Bose X aviation headsets.

Even as AOPA presented the 2004 AOPA Sweepstakes grand prize, the 2005 Sweepstakes is already under way. Restoration work has already begun on a 1974 Rockwell Commander 112A. By the time it's done, the Commander Countdown Sweepstakes grand prize will sport new paint and state-of-the-art FlightLogic glass panels from Chelton that will rival almost anything found in the big airliners. Anyone who joins or renews membership in AOPA between January 1 and December 31, 2005, is automatically entered in the Commander Countdown Sweepstakes. Complete rules, eligibility requirements, and alternate methods of entry are available online at the FMI link below.

FMI: www.aopa.org