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Somewhere among Yukon’s typical landscape of rolling grass fields and bright open skies lies a treasure that is anything but typical.
Jerry Hunter’s Sundance Airport has become the largest privately-owned airport in Oklahoma City. But it’s about to get much bigger providing a state-of-the-art leisure experience and aviation novelty that’s rare in these parts. His footprint in Oklahoma’s aviation sector is a testament to his giant enterprise, U.S. Fleet Tracking, and will rival any privately owned public use airport in the nation. Celebrities like Harrison Ford and Jerry Springer have been known to drop in and refuel here during their cross-country flights. Perhaps, though, the most important aspect of this impressive venture, will be the impact on education and innovation in Oklahoma’s aviation footprint.
Jerry bought Sundance Airport (KHSD, 122.7,) on December 31, 2012 for almost $10 million and has invested several million dollars each year in improvements. Since then, his airport has gained a reputation for consistently providing the lowest-priced fuel in the United States, as low as $2.38 per gallon. On August 4 of this year, Jerry closed a real estate deal paving the way for almost 50 acres of land, which will include space for 260 new privately owned and commercial condo hangers, as well as a Fixed Based Operator (FBO) and visitor destination engineered by architects, Richard Brown and Associates.
The property, sitting on 329 acres, including the 50 newly-acquired acres, will showcase a sleek, state-of-the-art five-building architectural paragon, mimicking Classen Curve in it’s chic, avante garde design. The unique structure, which is scheduled to undergo construction in Spring 2016, will include a valet canopy, pilots’ lounge, pro shop, aircraft sales dealer and conference rooms. But, perhaps the most anticipated addition will be the restaurant and bar uniquely designed to provide a front-row viewing of the many airport events, such as the annual Discover Aviation and Airshow Spectacular. The interior design throughout the FBO facility will portray a lavish aviation theme such as countertops shaped like jet wings and bar stools consisting of refurbished jet ejection seats.
The project’s sleek design is a manifestation of Jerry’s innovative and technological vision, which is infinite. His groundbreaking advancement in live GPS tracking technology has
catapulted U.S. Fleet Tracking’s footprint in 155 countries and is the sole GPS system used at events such as the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Why wouldn’t his aviation mission reflect the same efficacy?
“It inspires me that something can go from nothing more than a bright idea and a blank sheet of paper to a work of art that is the best of what mankind has the ability to engineer,” Jerry says. “You can produce anything you can imagine.”
It’s safe to say most people don’t even know everything Jerry does. In a nutshell, he’s a think tank. If you ask him about everything he’s accomplished he’ll tell you he’s “not that big of a deal. Really.” That was his thought when the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots, awarded him with the George Palmer Putnam Award in Munich, Germany, making him the only 2015 recipient. His donations to The Ninety-Nines’ Wings of the Future Scholarship and sponsorship of their Okie Derby fundraising event at Sundance Airport last month, inspire young women who dream of becoming pilots in a male-dominated industry.
That is why Jerry supports their cause wholeheartedly. When Amelia Earhart helped assemble the Ninety-Nines in 1929, no one could have imagined one of the biggest benefactors in the association’s 35 countries would reside in Oklahoma.
“I was widowed at age 26, raised my daughter as a single parent and I could never look her in the eye and tell her she can’t do something just because she’s female,” Jerry says. “She can absolutely do anything she can imagine. I’ve always thought it tragic that most people are afraid to dream of all the things they could accomplish simply because they’re afraid of failure.”
Jerry’s penchant for supporting young, future aviators reveals itself in his Sundance Flight Academy for prospective pilots ages 14 and up, in which there are currently about 60 students enrolled. His contributions to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s “Young Eagle” program are perhaps inspired by a remarkable, yet little known fact: His passion for flying began in 1982 after riding in Sam Walton’s KingAir plane during his two-year stint leading Walmart’s research development. Yes, Jerry wrote the software that enabled barcode technology to be implemented in large scale commercial retail. That was just part of his pioneering vision, which now translates into all his endeavors.
The sky, quite literally, isn’t the limit, for Jerry Hunter, especially in context of what he contributes to causes such as Civil Air Patrol and youth and female pilot advancement. If you happen to attend one of the many charitable events at Sundance Airport, it’s easy to get distracted and enamored with the virtual computer screens, the streamlined upscale interior, and the over all feeling of benevolence. After all, most airport courtesy vehicles are standard police security cars. Jerry’s are Range Rovers.
But the biggest message will likely come to you as you’re standing in front one of the bathroom mirrors. Famous quotes fade beautifully in and out of the glass in striking LED colors, representing what Jerry’s many enterprises really portray. In the words of William James, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
By Jessica Valentine | Photos by Emily Brashier
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