The History of Minuteman Aviation

Jerry Mamuzich, owner and president of Minuteman Aviation, Inc. started his career at the age of 12 when he worked as a flagman for his father John Mamuzich, who owned Pondera Flying Service in Conrad Montana.

At the age of 16 Mr. Mamuzich soloed and received his license when he was 17. In 1963, Mr. Mamuzich started Minuteman Aviation with one Cessna 180. The business took on construction contracts involving the Minuteman Missile Project. This project included the military management team SATAF; Boeing; Air Force; Army Corps of Engineers; and government as well as political representatives. Minuteman Aviation received its name as a result of the many flying contracts obtained for the Minuteman Missile Projects in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and North and South Dakota during the 1960's.

Mr. Mamuzich expanded his business prospects in 1965 when he started Minuteman Aerial Application. Minuteman Aerial Application, located in Conrad, Montana, is still a thriving business today. For almost forty years the company has been responsible for successfully spraying thousands of acres of wheat and barley. In 1978 Mr. Mamuzich extended Minuteman Aviation, Inc. to Missoula where the original Johnson Flying Service FBO had once been located. Mr. Mamuzich purchased this location from Evergreen Air International, which had procured Johnson Flying Service in 1974.

Minuteman Aviation has grown to be one of the largest full service FBO's in Montana. Today the company continues its quality service and takes on diverse contracts and projects. These include air support for U.S. Forest Service fire fighting; flying for the movie industry; flights for snow surveys; wildlife surveys; agricultural projects and mining exploration to name a few of these unique assignments.