About Air 1st
Air 1st , based at the Aiken Municipal Airport (KAIK) has nearly 50 years of experience in worldwide aircraft sales and acquisitions, specializing in the Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop. Over the years, Air 1st has owned and operated the largest fleet of MU-2s in the world, and we personally manage the maintenance on all of our aircraft. This intimate knowledge of the MU-2 places us in a unique position to understand your needs and requirements when it comes to owning and operating an MU-2.
The majority of our inventory is either currently or previously owned by us—we personally inspect, fly and squawk each sales plane. We offer complete product support with our authorized Mitsubishi MU-2 service center, Carolina Turbine Support (CTS). CTS is the only service center that works exclusively on MU-2s and offers expanded maintenance and avionics to MU-2 owners, in addition to handling most MU-2 part and accessory requirements.
Air 1st is a leader in the industry creating programs and partnerships to enhance and upgrade the Mitsubishi MU-2 including creation of the Platinum Series complete MU 2 refurbishment program and STC field testing for the 5-bladed composite MT Propellers for the MU-2 and Twin Commander.
Our goal is to place you in an MU-2 that is suitable for your needs and budget and to provide you with complete after-the-sale support so you can fully enjoy and take advantage of the performance, reliability, and safety for which the MU-2 is world renowned.
About Mike
Mike Laver, a native of Australia, is the owner and president of Air 1st. He has over 40 years of experience in aircraft sales and in the operational management of contracted flight services for the government and private sector in the United States and throughout Australia. Mike successfully managed a contract with the United States Air Force for 25 years at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, operating a fleet of nine Mitsubishi MU-2s, conducting Air Battle Manager ,weapons and target intercept training, flying up to 4200 hours per year.
Prior to working for and subsequently owning Air 1st, Mike owned and operated Great Western Aviation out of Perth, Australia where he operated eight aircraft (5 of which were MU-2s) providing contracted flight services to major oil and mining companies, flying over 6000 hours per year throughout the continent.
As the holder of an Australian ATP and US commercial/Instrument/Multi-Engine FAA license with CE525 rating, Mike has been flying for nearly 60 years with over 13,000 hours logged in a variety of single and multi-engine and jet aircraft, including more than 7600 hours in turboprop aircraft and 6000 hours in the MU-2. Mike has made many transpacific and transatlantic flights ferrying MU-2s to and from the US and other countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe In 2013, he flew an MU-2 around the world in 25 days to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the MU-2 prototype in Nagoya, Japan.
Mike’s vast experience with the MU-2 offers a unique understanding of this utility aircraft—it’s exceptional capabilities, performance and safety from an ownership, operational and maintenance standpoint.
Mike also owns Carolina Turbine Support and Aiken Aviation (FBO) at the Aiken Regional Airport and Glendale Aero (FBO) at the Glendale Municipal Airport in Glendale Arizona.
