Cunningham Aviation, LLC was founded during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in September 2020. Founder and CEO, George Cunningham, was anything but idle during this time and aimed for the skies settling on Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) for his next business venture. George’s passion for aviation took off after earning his private pilot’s license at Falcon Field—where today, he proudly owns and operates the airport’s premier full-service FBO— bringing his experience full circle. His hands-on knowledge and dedication to the industry continue to shape the company’s commitment to exceptional service and operational excellence. Cunningham Aviation is part of a family tradition and entrepreneurship. Alongside the FBO, George and his wife Nicolle, operate successful auction businesses— Cunningham & Associates, Inc. and BidIndustrial.com— all built on the same values of integrity, dedication, and personal service. Every Cunningham enterprise reflects a hands-on, family-owned approach— bringing passion and care to everything they do.
HISTORY OF OUR FIRST HANGAR
Cunningham Aviation is proud to operate at one of Arizona’s most historically significant airfields—where decades of military training, aerospace innovation, and aviation excellence converge. In 1941, Falcon Field was originally built as a training base for British Royal Air Force pilots during World War II. The airfield quickly became a cornerstone of military aviation. In the decades that followed, Falcon Field evolved from a military training base into a center for aerospace development. In 1976, the very hangar we occupy today was constructed by Howard Hughes and Hughes Helicopters for the design and production of the AH-64 helicopter—later known as the Apache Longbow. The prototype and hundreds of early aircraft were built right here in our hangar, cementing Falcon Field’s role in advancing modern military aviation. By 1984, McDonnell Douglas acquired Hughes Helicopters and moved production across the field to what is now the Longbow manufacturing facility. Over time, the original hangar fell into disrepair. In 2020, George and Nicolle bought the facility with a vision to restore and preserve its history. Through thoughtful renovation, they revitalized the space while honoring its past, ensuring that its legacy as a place of innovation and aviation excellence would continue. Today, Cunningham Aviation carries that legacy forward—combining modern service with a deep respect for the history that makes Falcon Field truly unique.
GEORGE CUNNINGHAM
George Cunningham, founder and owner of Cunningham Aviation, is a true hometown success story. Born and raised in the Arizona Valley, he attended Mountain View High School before playing football at the University of Arkansas and earning his degree in Finance from Northern Arizona University. Early in his career, George worked as a stockbroker with Shearson Lehman, gaining valuable financial expertise before pursuing his entrepreneurial passions in the auction and aviation industries. He spent decades as a successful auctioneer, building and running his family’s auction business and later expanding it to create his own industrial auction company. His entrepreneurial spirit and deep experience in the auction industry laid the foundation for his transition into aviation, where he combines his financial expertise with a passion for flight and customer service.
Falcon Field Airport • ARSI 131.425 • Call or Text (602) 488-3878 • CSR@CunninghamAviation.com
