By Vincent Ybarra, Jolie Jackson
Dave Tillema, EAA 465598, is a well-known bus driver for Friendswood Independent School District. However, not all of his vehicles move with their wheels on the ground.
Dave recently completed the “48 State Challenge” which consisted of flying to all of the contiguous U.S. states. The trip was hosted by Viking Aircraft Engines’ YouTube channel.
In fact, this channel was a major reason why Dave was able to participate in the contest. Not only did they provide a platform to share his journey, they also contributed a large share of funding, helping make the goal more attainable. In addition to this YouTube channel, Dave gained the necessary money from others in the community. He had a running GoFundMe page and received donations from the Zenith Aircraft Company in Mexico, Missouri, manufacturers of the kit he used to build his CH 750 Cruzer.
Dave’s interest in airplanes began in his childhood at home. His father was a pilot, and would frequently take Dave flying with him, which was a big part in motivating his interest.
His interest was sparked, and he obtained his pilot certificate in 1991. However, due to lack of funds, he wasn’t able to pursue any flight experiences until much later. After saving money from working in the oil industry, Dave was able to afford the kit to build his first airplane. This was a five-year project, but in the end, his existing funding didn’t fulfill his needs to complete it. He sold it and used the money to go into real estate.
Dave didn’t do anything with flying after that, but even as his real estate career flourished, he never forgot his passion and desire to fly across the blue open sky. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, Dave pumped the brakes on his career and hunkered down, determined to complete his bucket list. Most importantly, he was determined to build his airplane.
With the money he acquired from his career in real estate, he was able to begin building an airplane. Unlike most airplanes, Dave’s CH 750 Cruzer sports a converted Honda automobile engine in an attempt to prove just how efficient owning a custom airplane can be.
On July 5, 2018, Dave prepared to depart on his biggest project yet, the 48-state challenge. This consists of taking an airplane and flying to every state in the continental U.S., and landing in each one. Dave set off from Pearland, Texas, but he had more than just the flight on his mind.
While he soared across America, Dave broke the previous challenge record, touching down in all 48 states in 10 and a half days. He broke yet another record by using an experimental aircraft for the challenge. Perhaps most impressively, it’s believed that he now also holds the record for the highest flight in the Zenith 750 Cruzer, flying at nearly 18,000 feet for seven and a half hours.
According to Dave, much of the credit is due to the amazing ground team — and the donations from the community, and Viking Aircraft Engines — all of Dave’s expenses from fuel to food were completely paid off. As soon as he hit the ground in a new state his crew found him a place to stay, whether it be in a hotel or a kind stranger’s home. His ground crew had him covered.
Even though Dave’s 48-state challenge is over, his heart still soars the sky. Now he hopes to inspire and inform others about flying through the sky with the power of an automobile engine. He has flown more than 117 passengers this year and is still counting. He hopes his amazing comeback story and record-breaking passion for flying inspires us all to pursue our life goals even in the face of death.