Our Founders
Michael L. Hudkins
President and CEO
 Mike began his interest in aviation at a very young age, and his experiences
began with flying helicopters in the U.S. Army. He is a multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot
and has a passion for the business of aviation. Mike, a CPA originally certified in Indiana,
is also certified in both Florida and North Carolina. Additionally, he obtained the credentials
of Certified Financial Planner, and attended law school in order to develop skills and an
understanding in contracts, civil procedure, property, agency law and taxation.
Mike has over two decades of diversified management experience in private practice
and business management consulting — holding positions as Financial Director of a
Florida coastal city, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer
of several mid-sized law firms. He was an adjunct professor of accountancy at the
prestigious DePauw University in his hometown of Greencastle, Indiana, concurrent
with developing a private practice with his partner. Along with the managing partner of
the law firm, Mike was commissioned by the American Bar Association to co-author a book
on Strategic Business Planning for Law Firms, which was released in October of 2004.
Mike was instrumental in developing the creative "Angel" financing plan, which funded the
development of the Jim Stewart S-51D Mustang. Mike was also invaluable to the management aspect of
the company — from its inception to the negotiation and sale of the company. He is a charter member of the Horizon Team.
Jim D. Stewart
Executive Vice-President and Chief Designer
 Jim has been involved in aviation since beginning his flying lessons at age 14. He was too young for
World War II, but like so many others, he dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot. Although he was never
a military pilot, his flying ranged from the venerable J-3 Piper Cub to the T-33, and a flight in the
P-51D Mustang with Chuck Yeager's wing man, Bob Hoover.
Professionally, Jim began his career in aviation as a designer in the Jet Engine Group at
Allison Division of General Motors. In the years that followed, he worked as a design engineer
at several aircraft, and aircraft engine companies, such as Piper, O.M.A.C., Garrett, American
Power Glider and Pratt & Whitney.
Jim holds six patents for various jet engine components. His aircraft designs include
the E.A.A. Bi-Plane, as well as numerous airframe components. Jim
is widely known in the Experimental Aviation community for his incredible re-design of
the most famous World War II fighter, the P-51D Mustang. The re-designed Mustang was
designated as the S-51D, and was a 70 percent replica of the famous fighter in all respects.
It was an all aluminum, two place, dual control, aerobatic, high-performance aircraft reaching
speeds of up to 300 mph with a 400 hp V-8, big block Chevrolet engine. More than
70 S-51D Mustang kits were sold worldwide before the company was sold to a California
entity several years ago. There has been no kit-plane prior to, or since, the S-51D
that so completely captured the beauty and performance of that magnificent heart throb of World War II.
. In 2004, Jim added the new and exciting Horizon design for entry into the light sport aircraft market.
Joe D. Martin, P.E.
Vice-President for Production and Chief Engineer
Like the other officers, Joe is an accomplished pilot holding both a commercial license and an
instrument rating. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University
of Oklahoma and a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland. Joe is also a
Registered Professional Engineer in Florida, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Joe's impressive background includes forty-five years of manufacturing and engineering experience
with several companies including Lockheed, Aero-Commander, Alphin Aircraft, Aileen, Grove Manufacturing
and Development Engineering Resources. Joe also has nine years of academic tenure as professor with
Arlington State College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. At these institutions, Joe taught many courses in aerospace
engineering including Structures, In Flight Lab, Structural Design, Descriptive Geometry, Strength
of Materials, Aircraft Drafting, Aircraft Structures, Machine Design, Aircraft Detail Design, Aircraft
Performance Design and Special Topics. Joe also is a charter member of the Horizon Team.
The following are extracts from Joe's background of experiences:
- Lockheed, Burbank, California — structural assembly, F104B
- Aero Commander, Bethany, Oklahoma — production line work, fuselage structural assembly, rigging, pre-delivery preparation, production assembly, inspection and tool planner.
- Aero Commander, Norman, Oklahoma — Experimental Planner, Model 1121 Jet Commander (now Israeli Westwind), stress analysis, Model 1126 Grand Commander.
- General Dynamics, Ft. Worth, Texas — Loads Engineer, F-111A/B
- Arlington State College, Arlington, Texas — Instructor Aeronautical Engineering Technology.
- Fairchild Aircraft, Hagerstown, Maryland — Loads and Vibration Engineer, FH227 and FH228 transport aircraft.
- Fairchild Aircraft, St. Augustine, Florida — Project Engineer, AC-119G/K Gunship Modification Program.
- Alphin Aircraft, Hagerstown, Maryland — Engineer, Mechanic, Pilot and Shop Supervisor of Certified Repair Station. Structural repairs to crash damaged general aviation aircraft.
- Aileen, Woodstock, Virginia — Industrial Engineer.
- Grove Manufacturing, Shady Grove, Pennsylvania — Manager, Engineering Computer Group, product design software development.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida — Associate Professor, Aircraft Engineering Technology.
- Development Engineering Resources, Inc., Edgewater, Florida — Principal, Aeronautical Development and Consulting Business.
- East Volusia Engineering, Inc., Edgewater, Florida — Principal, Civil Engineering and Structural Consulting Business.
Gary R. Pershing, CPA
Director and Manufacturing Financial Consultant
As an entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience in starting, owning and advising
businesses, Gary joins the board of directors as part of the "ground crew" with an interest
in business aviation. His business experience brings our board financial knowledge in business
start-up, financing, taxation, cash flow, budgeting and capital investment as they relate to
design, manufacturing and sale of produced products. Gary is currently President, Chief
Executive Officer and owner of his twenty-seven year old Certified Public Accounting Firm
in central Indiana. The firm and Gary's experiences have focused on business advisory
services for development and growth of several types of businesses with the most emphasis
on manufacturing companies.
Gary's current "hands-on" management experiences and equity investments include:
- Shareholder, Director and Treasurer for an $80 million annual sales, commercial
lawnmower manufacturing company — Magic Circle Corporation (Dixie Chopper). www.dixiechopper.com
- Shareholder, Director and Secretary of a $15 million privately held retail/floor plan finance company.
- Shareholder, Director and President of a multi-state, family-owned payroll processing company founded by Gary in 1998.
- Director and Treasurer of a family-owned retail merchandising business.
- Shareholder, Director and Treasurer of a New Jersey, retail lawn and power equipment company.
- Member, Manager and Treasurer of a manufacturer and distribution company of dental hygiene products.
- Former Chairman of the Board and active advisory board member of Old National Bank.
Gary's talents will be vital to the development of a consumer and dealer financing organization, and in the
Treasury functions of New Horizons Aircraft, Inc.
Bob Dougherty
Composites Manufacturer
Industrial Arts teacher, Bob Dougherty, joined Boston Whaler in 1960 for what would become a
30-year journey of outstanding fiberglass boat building and design. Bob began his career with
Boston Whaler as Chief Engineer, and then became Chief Designer and Senior Vice-President of
Engineering, designing almost every boat Boston Whaler built, ranging from nine to 31 feet in length.
Steven Dougherty joined his father's team at Boston Whaler in 1984 and contributed to the success
of the company until 1990, when the duo left after the company was sold to Reebok. Since their
departure, the two formed Everglades Boats, LLC www.evergladesboats.com, where they have gained
much success building and selling their designs.
Bob and Steve are designing and building the molds, tools and jigs for the manufacturing of the
prototype and production aircraft. Their consulting and contribution to this project is invaluable
in the construction of the composite components of the aircraft.
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