Today's Mid-Continent Aircraft

Mid-Continent Aircraft Corporation has been in business serving the ag-aviation industry since 1949. Founded by the late Richard “Dick” Reade, the company has grown to serve ag aviators around the world from its centrally located base of operation in Hayti, Missouri. Dick Reade was a long range planner. Before his failing health led to his demise, he was already making arrangements for the company to continue after he was gone.

Today, the legacy of Mid-Continent Aircraft continues under the guidance of two long-time figures in ag aviation; Dennie Stokes and Chris Cobb. AgAir Update was able to catch up with Dennie and Chris to hear their side of the story about today’s Mid-Continent Aircraft.

From Mid-Continent Aircraft Partner Dennie Stokes-

“Chris Cobb and I had been running the company for the last several years due to Dick's failing health. We will continue to operate as a one-stop, full service aviation company. We are extremely proud of all the Mid-Continent family. We are so thankful for Dick's foresight to diversify the company with Ag Aircraft and General Aviation Aircraft sales, worldwide parts sales, a fully staffed shop and an insurance division with a staff of six. Our goal is to continue to serve the industry by changing and adapting our services that fit the agriculture aviation and general aviation markets. Just as Dick set up Chris and I to lead Mid-Continent Aircraft into the future, Chris and I have already started making plans for our successors to be able continue for years to come. ➤

“My involvement in aviation started when I was a teenager, earning my Private Pilot’s license and growing up with both sides of my family being involved in agriculture. I always wanted to be an ag pilot. College got in my way for a couple years, but the ag flying bug bit and I was offered an opportunity to become an ag-pilot by Lynn Gibson of Gibson Flying Service. Lynn treated me like family and made an ag-pilot out of me.

“With Gibson Flying Service being an Ag-Cat equipped operation, Dick would make sales calls and through that Dick and I became friends. With Lynn’s blessing, my wife, Lou, and I bought a small, one-plane operation and started Stokes Flying Service. I decided to upgrade to a Thrush and started doing business with Mid-Continent. It wasn’t long before the flying service grew to two Turbine Thrushes. Not only did the flying service grow, my friendship with Dick grew as well. A few years later Dick asked me if I would like to join the Mid-Continent Aircraft family. Of course I said, “Yes”.

“Lou and I have two sons, Tracey and Greg, who have both become ag pilots flying Thrushes for Stokes Flying Service. Our grandson, Charles, is now a third generation ag-pilot flying

a Turbine Thrush for the company. I'm grateful for Dick being a mentor to my sons and helping me get them started on the right track in this industry.

“We are also blessed with two other grandchildren, Emma and Reese, and a great grandson Kody. Tracey's wife, Tess, runs the office at the flying service and Greg's wife, April, teaches biology at a local school.

“I believe Dick picked me to be his partner because of my love for the ag-aviation industry. He also helped to cultivate both my sons into not only the industry, but into the Mid-Continent family.

“About ten years ago, Dick started the same nurturing process with longtime employee Chris Cobb. This led to Dick eventually pairing us as partners. Dick's long range thinking and judgment was a blessing to Chris, our families and me. I know Dick would be happy that Chris and I are following his lead. We are so thankful for the Mid-Continent family, to serve as its leaders and the fact that our sons Tracey, Greg, and Tanner are part of Mid-Continent Aircraft and will continue the legacy.” ➤

From Mid-Continent Aircraft Partner Chris Cobb-

“I have lived in nearby Caruthersville, Missouri my entire life. I worked on a rice/bean/cotton farm during my college years before graduating from Arkansas State University in 1991 with a degree in accounting. After working one-year at the local hospital, an accounting position became available at Mid-Continent Aircraft.

“Dick preferred someone young and local who was interested in a long, rewarding career. I fit that description. Dick took a huge risk in hiring me; someone he didn't know, had no experience and who had no idea what Mid-Continent actually did as a business. I started as the company

accountant in 1993 and was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2009. As of October 2021, I am partners with Dennie Stokes at Mid-Continent Aircraft.

“I am married to my wife of 24 years, Tracy. We have a son, Tanner, who is graduating from the University of Mississippi in May with a Risk Management degree. He has already joined the Mid-Continent insurance team and family.”

Dick Reade and Mid-Continent Aircraft’s legacies will continue to live on through the foresight of Dick Reade and the strength of the partnership between Dennie Stokes and Chris Cobb and the Mid-Continent family for many years to come.