Quality Aircraft - About Quality Aircraft

About Quality Aircraft

Dennis Lauterbach, Sr.

Quality Aircraft was started by Shirley & Dennis Lauterbach in 1970. His background in aviation began with his father as a crop duster and an airplane dealer. Dennis flew many different types of fixed-winged aircraft since he got his pilot's license in 1967, but in 1980, something caught his attention. The thought of getting into his first helicopter was precisely what he did. It was a Bell 206 Long Ranger - and it was history from there.

After selling the first Long Ranger he owned, he replaced it with another Long Ranger and got the first radio contract in Dallas with Eagle 97 KEGL, aka 97.1 - The Eagle. The station wanted a catchy name for the chopper, and the movie "Blue Thunder" was popular at the time. Since that name was taken and the helicopter was solid black, "Black Thunder" was born. Gail Lightfoot was the infamous traffic reporter in the chopper, and Clarence J. Lott was the pilot. Dennis went on to be involved with multiple radio stations in the D/FW area, such as 1080 KRLD, which, at the time, was the radio station for the Dallas Cowboys, and with 103.7 KVIL. Dennis bought, rebuilt, and sold many Bell 206 helicopters during this time.

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Dennis Lauterbach, Jr.

Dennis, Jr., Dennis and Shirley's son, began working full-time with Quality Aircraft in 1994. He earned his pilot's license but had many flight hours before that time, co-piloting aircraft around the DFW metroplex and the U.S. with his father. After getting his private pilot's license in fixed wing, he went on to get his ticket in rotorcraft and today holds a private ticket - fixed wing and a commercial ticket in Rotorcraft. He was one of the commercial pilots on the FAA Part 135 - Air Carrier certificate at Quality Aircraft and is the Director of Maintenance there, as well.