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Your turn in the Extra

AOPA auctions donated aerobat

February 8, 2023 By Dave Hirschman

You may have flown the virtual version of this airplane over the Chicago skyline, or upside down over Michigan Avenue, and now's your chance to own the real thing.

Flight instructor, Microsoft Flight Simulator program manager, and aerobatic pilot Bruce Williams donated this Extra 300 to AOPA to support safety education. Photo by David Tulis.
Flight instructor, Microsoft Flight Simulator program manager, and aerobatic pilot Bruce Williams donated this Extra 300 to AOPA to support safety education. Photo by David Tulis.
Flight instructor, Microsoft Flight Simulator program manager, and aerobatic pilot Bruce Williams donated this Extra 300 to AOPA to support safety education. Photo by David Tulis.

N105MM, the Extra 300L featured in Microsoft Flight Simulator X, is about to be sold via online auction.

Bruce Williams, a former Microsoft Corp. manager and veteran flight instructor, donated the Extra to AOPA in late 2021. The AOPA Air Safety Institute has created aviation education videos with it, and now it’s time to find a new home for the unlimited aerobat.

“Someone is about to get an exceptional airplane with quite a unique and storied history,” said AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden. “It’s been a real privilege getting to know this amazing airplane—and saying goodbye to it is going to be bittersweet.”

Williams donated the airplane with the understanding that AOPA eventually would sell it and proceeds would support AOPA initiatives such as defending U.S. pilots’ freedom to fly, member products and services, and the Air Safety Institute.

N105MM will travel to Lakeland, Florida, for the 2023 Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, where it will be displayed at the AOPA tent. The online auction will conclude during the event, and the auction winner can take ownership at the place of their choosing.

The 1998 airplane was built in Germany and has flown a total of about 1,650 flight hours; its Lycoming IO-540 engine has about 750 hours since its last major overhaul. Its Garmin instrument panel was upgraded last year at Southeast Aero with three Garmin GI 275 all-in-one attitude instruments, a Garmin GNC 355 GPS/com, and ADS-B In and Out.

View the listing for more photos and much more information.

'AOPA Pilot' Editor at Large Dave Hirschman takes a turn. Photo by David Tulis.

How it works

The Give Wings aircraft donation program is a quick, easy, and beneficial way to find a new home for your aircraft while supporting general aviation through the work of the AOPA Foundation. The Give Wings program can allow aircraft donors to enjoy significant tax benefits by claiming a tax deduction equal to the gross proceeds of the sale. In addition to the tax advantages, donors can take pride in knowing their aircraft donation supports initiatives that are building the pilot population.

Let’s talk

Contact AOPA Foundation Director of Giving Becky Johnston (301-695-2274, [email protected]) or Senior Aviation Technical Specialist Rodney Martz in AOPA’s Pilot Information Center (800-872-2672) to talk about values, airworthiness, and logistics. We work to be transparent and have been fully successful to date.

Dave Hirschman
Dave Hirschman
AOPA Pilot Editor at Large
AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Dave Hirschman joined AOPA in 2008. He has an airline transport pilot certificate and instrument and multiengine flight instructor certificates. Dave flies vintage, historical, and Experimental airplanes and specializes in tailwheel and aerobatic instruction.
Go to Dave Hirschman's Profile
Topics: AOPA Foundation, Aerobatics

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