Barron Thomas can best be described as an Airplane Geek.
That’s not an indictment of his social skills or education, but an accurate review of his life and love of airplanes. From an early age, Barron’s heart was at the airport. Despite the complaints by his parents that he go to Medical school or obtain an advanced degree, Barron spent every possible moment at the airport.
One of his first jobs was washing and cleaning airplanes.
Barron prided himself that he could “transform” an airplane by simple steps of just thoroughly cleaning, and touching up the paint, on a plane’s landing gear, and the amazing use of Lemon Pledge household cleaner in rejuvenating tired and faded paint. Together with shiny paint and spotless landing gear, Barron said it was like getting a great haircut and a new pair of shoes, ” it just makes you look and feel better!”.
Barron then moved up to Mechanic’s Apprentice, at the lofty sum of $1.50 per hour ( 1960′s era wages). He now learned about the mechanical side of the airplane after learning how to make them look nice. Barron’s parents were very strict about how that $1.50 per hour could be spent, which formed the foundation of Barron’s present day “economics” outlook: his parents insisted that a certain amount be saved, a certain amount be put in the Church plate every Sunday, and certain amount could be spent, and then rest applied to his education.
From starting his own business while still in college, Barron would attend classes, then go directly to his office and buy and sell airplanes in the afternoon. An answering service covered the phones while Barron was in class. Barron was not only the salesperson, the owner, but also the airplane cleaner, janitor, and mechanic ( on small items), but now the airplanes were his inventory, and he didn’t get paid anything ( even the $1.50 per hour) , until the plane was sold.
From the early days of the late 1960′s, to today, Barron has bought and sold probably more airplanes than anyone else presently in the airplane business. This includes almost every model, of every manufacturer, of private airplanes ever produced.
From his perspective of possibly selling the widest range of airplanes of anyone, over a period of nearly 4 decades, he can tell you such things as the major differences between a 1960 and a 1961 Mooney, or why some modifications to a 1952 Beechcraft Bonanza are a scam and others are quite worthwhile, or why a 1961 Cessna Skylane is faster and a 1981 Cessna Skylane.
Now, that is the true definition of an Airplane Geek, but Barron is proud to be called an Airplane Geek.