N2945
and Reid W. Dennis
1926 - 2024
Last year, I posted a story about
Grumman Mallard
G-73 / N2945 / J-8 and its owner Frank Fuller but the story continued.​​
​Reid Dennis purchased the aircraft in August of 1974 and maintained ownership for the next 45 years.
Oakland Airport, California - 1974
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Reid was a pioneering venture capitalist and adventurer that loved flying. He logged over 9,000 flight hours and that is a lot for someone that was not a commercial pilot. His love for seaplanes was evident with not only the purchase of his Grumman Mallard but with the addition of a Grumman Albatross. This particular Albatross (N44RD), having long range capabilities, saw adventure in 1997 as a filming platform and safety aircraft in support of a globe-circling expedition recreating the
final flight of Amalie Earhart.
See more below.
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The Mallard saw regular flight time with Reid flying around the country and beyond to fly-in's, family excursions and for just about any reason at all.
He loved flying the amphibians.
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1988
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Reid Dennis enjoyed his seaplanes but also understood the need for his corporate jets to conduct business. IVP not only flew but invested in business aviation and Reid knew the flight plan
for success in all that he did.
Reid Dennis had a long and full life with family, business and adventure. He is missed.
2018
"I started my company in 1980, mainly to sort of keep me off the street and out of the bars as I was retiring from the venture business. Also I don't fly enough hours a year to keep good pilots, because they want to fly. At the same time, I wanted to have good pilots flying with me and my family. The only way I could have both was to go onto business. I have two Citation Encores - seven passenger jets, flown always with two pilots - and we're getting a new plane, a Citation XLS+, in February. Some people have so damn much money that they don't care how much it costs them to own an airplane, but I do, and the business reduces
the cost to where it's
very manageable for me."
Reid Dennis 1989
CTP Aviation was established in 1999
Citation XLS+
Citation Encore
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The Venture Capitalists'
I met Reid Dennis when he stopped in Honolulu during his around-the-world Grumman Albatross flight. He was escorting Linda Finch's World Flight 1997 and her Lockheed Electra 10E recreating Amelie Earhart's world-record attempt.​ I was the Managing Director of Circle Rainbow Aviation and assisted with World Flight at various locations in the Pacific.
photos credit Tom Anusewicz
Reid Dennis sitting in his Grumman Albatross N44RD in 2014
photo credit Gotanero
​Grumman HU-16 Albatross N44RD
Honolulu. Hawaii​
Hiller Aviation Museum
Tom Anusewicz
The Mallard N2945 photo at top of page also showed Vanpac Carrier's Convair 240 /N112T​. Vanpac Carrier was a moving and storage company originating as Richmond Transfer & Storage in 1921 and in 1976 became part of American Red Ball
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