Brasstown Billy Payne knows the feeling of flying high. The married father of four children and five grandchildren may not know how to slow down, as he is not only busy on the ground but in the sky as well.
Born in 1971, the Blairsville, Ga., native grew up in Brasstown and graduated from Murphy High School. Employment in his younger years included owning several businesses that kept him busy with excavating, landscaping, building and working on motorcycles, along with owning Murphy Express Lube.
Payne loves motorcycles and has participated in his fair share of races, earning numerous awards, but along with the glory comes a little pain. He has suffered a broken back, seven broken ribs and a broken sternum, along with some road rash along the way.
Today, he still enjoys adrenaline-dumping activities, such as flying airplanes. In fact, he and his brother, Vic Payne, own Brasstown Airfield off of Setting Road, which used to be a pasture.
Billy Payne also sells airplane kits and offers a builder assist program for buyers. It allows the buyer to come to the airport and put together their own plane with the assistance of an experienced teacher. Once it’s been built, the owner can choose to keep their craft at the hanger or move it.
It all started when he built his own plane. Then other people wanted their own aircraft.
“I’ve built everything, including custom bikes and airplanes,” Payne said.
His classes involve putting the plane together starting with the tail section, covering it with fabric and getting it prepped for the paint process before work is done on the wings. Then there’s the installation of the engine, avionics and all the instrumentations before proceeding to the final assembly.
The class takes about four months to complete. After the Designated Aircraft Registry and Federal Aviation Administration perform inspections for flight worthiness, it’s on to the test flight.
“A pilot must fly 40 hours within 20 miles of the airport,” Payne said.
He flew his own solo flight at age 10. However, his youngest customer was 16 years old, with the oldest one being 88. To receive a certificate, the pilot must be at least 17.
“Airplane people are different,” Payne said. “They really seem to be good. I’ve not had too many bad people in the business.”
His biggest influence in life has been Vic.
“He saved me as a kid and kept me on the straight path,” Billy said.
His advice to younger folks is, “Be persistent in what you want, and don’t let things stand in your way.”
When Payne isn’t busy building, teaching or delegating tasks, he’s busy with his grandkids, dogs, goats, pigs, a donkey and cows. In 10 years, he sees himself doing the same things.
Anyone can come to the airport and watch, as they have an RC flying field for viewing. For details, call 828-557-4833.