The Team Meet


flying helicopters. “It’s been a crazy road getting here, but I am really glad I got back into it,” Matt says.


The dream started with Robert. His crazy idea of combining machine guns and helicopters began in Hawaii, where he gained experience with helicopters that use guns to control non-native species harming the Hawaiian habitat. It was the first time he saw helicopter operations combined with a shooting component.


Because of his father’s career, Matt grew up with an understanding of the helicopter industry. Matt briefly diverted his attention to a college degree in art studies, with a minor in small business. There was even a short stint when he saw an opportunity flying for the airlines.


In the end, however, it didn’t take long for him to follow in the footsteps of Dad. He realized that his ultimate passion was


66 May/June 2020


Partner and co-owner Randy Saenz is the perfect complement to the father-son team. Jokingly, Robert describes him as the “gunsmith, fabricator, logistics guru, and father-son third vote to keep the peace.” On a more serious note, Matt attributes much of Gunship’s success to Saenz. “He’s been there since the beginning with us, and there’d be no Gunship without him,” Matt says.


General Manager Brad Scanlon is the final member of this tactical team. After using his Army scholarship to earn a degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, he spent time in Iraq specializing in logistics and supportive maintenance. That’s where he was introduced to helicopters. After getting conditionally released from his unit and accepted into a rotary program, Scanlon


started his flight career. In flight school, he says he did everything in his power to be a Kiowa pilot.


During a portion of his training in Boulder City, Nevada, Scanlon met Robert Fahnestock in passing. He recalls their first interaction, saying Fahnestock was humble. “He was giving 100-percent effort, had 37 things to do, and only time to do four of them,” says Scanlon. Even though he was so busy, Fahnestock graciously took the time to provide some career guidance to the Army man.


That fateful meeting ultimately landed Scanlon a spot on the Gunship Helicopters team. He praises the Fahnestocks by saying, “I’ve never been set up for success at such a level.” He attributes this to Robert’s mentorship and Matt’s mastery of the aircraft.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91