NextStop Blog

Diane Earhart

Written by Special Contributor Diane Earhart; Administrative Assistant at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, Illinois

The dictionary defines “ideal” as “One that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence; considered the best of its kind.”

 Ideal Aviation Illinois lives up to its name.

Ideal Aviation has been providing services to pilots at St. Louis Downtown Airport since 1983. In 2003, the business was expanded into a 25,000 square foot new hangar providing new services. Known as a fixed base operator (FBO), Ideal Aviation provides fuel, maintenance, flight training, aircraft rental, and storage to resident and transient pilots alike.

Ideal Aviation was founded by Cordell LaBrier together with his wife, Pam, in 1983, and now they have retired.

Ideal Aviation Illinois owner Bill Macon next to a 1941 Waco bi-plane

Enter Bill Macon. Macon is the owner of Ideal Aviation Illinois, LLC, and is ready to take the established FBO into the rest of the 21st century. Activities already started include updating their website (www.IdealFBO.net); a total remodel of the facilities to include updated pilots’ lounges, flight planning areas, and meeting areas; and increasing flight training. Coming soon to Ideal’s list of new services will be aircraft charters in a twin-engined Beechcraft King Air or in a brand new Cessna Citation jet.

Macon has a background in manufacturing, but now is ready to take flight. Literally. He’s also taking flying lessons and says, “This is a great opportunity to do something I love.” Macon, 53, comes from a family with a long history of aviation in St. Louis. In the 1930s and ’40s, Macon’s family owned Von Hoffman Aircraft Corporation where airplanes were built and Major Lambert (for whom Lambert International Airport is named) was the president of the airplane factory and also Von Hoffmann Flying School. Macon’s mother herself flew back and forth to Stevens College in Columbia, Missouri, in a Stinson airplane in the 1940s.

Bill Macon and Kim Luke, Ideal Aviation Illinois office manager

Ideal Aviation Illinois held its Grand Reopening and Open House yesterday. In addition to tours of the newly-remodeled facility, there were civilian airplane and helicopter displays, including a fully-restored 1941 Waco bi-plane, airplane rides, and complimentary BBQ and refreshments. Rides were offered for a nomimal fee in the Waco bi-plane.

Ideal Aviation is located at 2500 Vector Drive; Cahokia, Illinois 62206. For more information, call Ideal at 618-337-3400.

Metro owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and surrounding industrial business park.