Darlene Jackson-Hanson and her company, Fisher Flying Products, have built a solid reputation for quality and service.

Good morning, Fisher Flying Products. May I help you?" The voice on the other end was pleasant--you could almost hear her smile. I replied, "Yes, I'm interested in one of your kits and I would like to speak to someone about the company and a couple of the airplanes.

"I'm Darlene Jackson, president of Fisher Flying Products. Maybe I could help you." I was surprised because I wasn't quite ready for...the President.

"Oh, (pause) Mrs. Jackson, I'm thinking about building your Classic biplane, and I have some concerns as it's a project involving a group of students in a high school aeronautics program." We talked for about 30 minutes. She answered all of my questions. And that was the start of my seven-year friendship with Darlene and the North Dakota crew of Fisher Flying Products.

My upbringing was on a northwestern Oklahoma farm, and I was raised with two values that have stayed with me over the years: (1) Your word is your contract, and (2) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, the Golden Rule.

For the most part, the farm folk I knew lived by those rules and anyone who didn't was not to be trusted. So when I found out that Edgeley, North Dakota (home of Fisher Flying Products), was a farm-town about the size of my hometown, I was pleased. When I later discovered that Darlene Jackson was "farm folk," I decided to buy the airplane kit from her company. The Classic was a sharp-looking airplane with an excellent reputation--but it was her background and the company reputation that sold me.

When an airplane is being built from a kit, a relationship of some sort soon develops between the builder and the manufacturer. In some instances, this relationship is not a good one. I'd heard some not-so-complimentary comments about product quality and customer service of the original Ohio company that the Jacksons eventually purchased. I was apprehensive about the strength, fit and finish of its kit components.

My farm faith in Darlene and her staff in Edgeley paid off after I got into the project, especially when asking questions and ordering parts. From the beginning, every problem was handled professionally, and I was treated with the utmost courtesy. As the project grew, I felt like I was more a member of the company family than a customer with construction problems.

In October of 1994, I flew to North Dakota to do a story on FFP's new release, the R80 Tiger Moth. During my stay, I visited Edgeley and I walked the streets past the cafe where Darlene once worked as a waitress. The R80 Tiger Moth was the primary focus. But after interviewing her employees and a few townspeople, I began to realize that a very interesting "triumph over tragedy" story was emerging about Darlene.

She was born and raised in Edgeley and one month after graduation from high school, she married Erval Jackson, the son of a local farmer. The couple immediately moved to his family's farm home and her life as a housewife, family-raiser, truck driver, and all-around gofer was set.

Farming

She says of those days, "I don't know how many times I was asked to go to town to get parts just when I was in the process of canning vegetables...all to save time during harvesting. I was also responsible for getting meals to the crew working the fields. The neighbors used to call my van Jackson's Chuck Wagon. We had CB radios in all our vehicles, and often when neighbors were working close by, Erv would call everyone on the CB and invite them over to our field for lunch and conversation. We all had time to be neighbors and to help one another in time of need--or to celebrate when something wonderful happened to a friend."

Erv was a mechanical visionary. Early in the marriage, he started a farm implement factory that eventually built four-wheel-drive tractors, swather transports and snowmobile trailers. Many of his innovative designs are now incorporated in other farm equipment.

In 1980, Erval became interested in radio-controlled model aircraft. This interest soon graduated to his first full-scale project, a Fisher FP-202. He and Darlene decided to become manufacturer's representatives for the company in Ohio that sold ultralight and experimental aircraft kits.

At about the same time, the city of Edgeley was making an effort to expand its job base and they approached the Jacksons to build a manufacturing facility in their new industrial park. After much soul-searching and paper work, the couple decided to expand their operation. Ground was broken in July of 1986.

FFP and Jackson Manufacturing are housed in this new facility at the edge of town.

Tragedy

The following October, Erval was hospitalized with cancer and after exhaustive testing was told that he had less than three months to live. Of that time, Darlene says, "My life changed in a heartbeat. l was suddenly confronted with all of the responsibility of caring for Erval, caring for one son still at home, taking care of the farm, and launching a new manufacturing facility.

My husband asked me to try the business for at least one year. He felt that he owed that much to the community that had put so much faith in him. From the time he was hospitalized, I drove 80 miles a day to be by his side, then drove back to be there when our youngest son, Ryan, came home from school. Our oldest son, Keith, had graduated earlier that year from college. Later I asked Erval if he would like to come home from the hospital for the time he had remaining. He didn't want to be a burden, but the boys and I soon convinced him it would be better. I rented the necessary hospital equipment and hired a nurse to care for him while I was at work. Having Erv at home gave him more time to spend with our son and that was worth all of the effort.

"The 6500 square foot manufacturing facility officially opened on January 4, 1987, and we had three employees. The plan was to continue as a manufacturing rep and to also market model airplane hobby supplies. Five days after the grand opening, at age 43, Erval died of cancer.

"After struggling for a year in the business, I knew I had to make some serious decisions about the direction our company was going." Just as Darlene was considering her options, the Ohio kitplane manufacturer approached her with an offer to sell his company. She didn't want to risk the farm and that was the only collateral the banks would accept. Then an incident happened that turned her life around--again.

Since the purchase of FFP, Darlene and Gene have expanded the kit product line--a process that continues.

The town of Edgeley was having its centennial celebration, and many of its native sons and daughter returned for festivities. A successful California businessman, Eddie Fischer, made a comment while visiting the Jackson Manufacturing Company open house, "If you ever need an investor in this operation, give me a call." The call was made and a partnership developed. In April of 1989, the Ohio-based operation was moved to North Dakota.

"Owning the manufacturing rights to a kitplane company didn't change me much, except it gave me another goal to achieve. As we unpacked all of the original company inventory and patterns, we knew there was going to be a lot of work involved to improve the quality of the products. We have since redrawn nearly all of the plans and have substantially improved the quality of the components."

Another Setback

Unfortunately, life somehow doesn't always stop with one tragedy. In 1990, Darlene hadn't been feeling well and made an appointment to see the same doctor who had diagnosed Erval's illness several years earlier. After a series of tests, she was informed that she had colon cancer. The physician called for immediate surgery. The operation, radiation and subsequent chemotherapy saved her life. Her son Ryan stayed home that summer and drove her daily to Fargo, 280 miles round trip, for six weeks. One day, while enroute, he looked over at his mother and said, "Well, Mom, I guess this is what they call quality time." They both laughed, but she knew it was a time for sharing dreams, fears and the development of an even stronger bond between mother and son.

During her illness, Darlene missed Oshkosh in 1990 and Sun 'n Fun '91. She was at Oshkosh in 1991 and was surprised when people wanted to share their fears about cancer. She says, "They can share with a stranger easier than a family member because they don't want to alarm anyone. I like to give them the opportunity to talk it out and I try to be supportive. I've been in both places--holding the hand of a loved one dying and then being the one with the doubts and fears while undergoing cancer treatment. I think it was more difficult watching Erv slip away than it was to fight for my own life."

When she was sick, scores of well-wishers would call, write or visit. Her son had started college and was only able to come home on weekends to help. She said, "After I had my treatments, I didn't go back to work immediately, and one of my employees, Gene Hanson, would call to see if I had eaten anything. I'd lost 30 pounds during my illness and my appetite was all but gone. Gene would then come by with soup and toast and make every effort to raise my spirits.  

"One weekend when Ryan was home, he asked Gene to take me out to a movie. I almost fell out of my chair. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Gene and Ryan convinced me that a good comedy was needed and I succumbed." Gene and Darlene's friendship grew and a few months later, he asked her to be his wife. In June of 1991, they were married in the Zion Lutheran Church where Darlene had been a member since childhood. Not surprisingly, as business owners and farmers, they've never taken a honeymoon!

As their business grew, Darlene convinced Steve Lambert, a well-known kit aircraft designer, to work for her and help create a new product line for the company. His Dakota Hawk design has since won awards at the EAA events in Oshkosh and Florida. He also helped develop the R80 Tiger Moth along with Steve Turner, a college teacher from South Dakota. FFP would be hard pressed to find a better man for the job that Steve does so well.

Town is Edgeley, North Dakota population 600 where Darlene Jackson grew up and intends to stay.

A Place to Stay

In November of '91, ground was broken for a 24-unit Super 8 Motel next door to the kit airplane operation. Gene Hanson and Eddie Fischer built this facility because Edgeley had nowhere within 40 miles for town visitors or airplane kit customers to stay. This immaculate motel has since won two major awards for quality assurance within the entire Super 8 nationwide chain. Darlene and Gene manage the facility and between the motel and the kitplane facility, they employ 19 people. All of this has come together for a community of 650 people.

On several occasions, people have asked Darlene if she would consider leaving her hometown. "A lot of communities are spending money to attract businesses like ours, she replies. "Our town is progressive with over 3.2 million dollars being spent in new construction this year alone. We have a new grain elevator and a new elementary school. We've had two recent state championships in football and basketball, and our all-school reunions annually attract over 400 alumni. Whatever comes up, I can't see us leaving North Dakota."

Darlene and Gene Hanson assembled their Tiger Moth prototype in the state capitol to promote product liability limitations, and North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer (sitting in the cockpit) signed it.

Statewide Recognition The governor of the state recognized her accomplishments when he made this statement: "Darlene is a key player in efforts to revitalize the general aviation industry in North Dakota. Under her skilled management, Fisher Flying Products has become internationally recognized for its production of kit airplanes. Not only has her work been invaluable to the general aviation industry in North Dakota, Darlene has made inroads for all women business owners in the state. She has ventured into an industry with few women role models and generously shares her time and talents by mentoring other women who are launching their manufacturing companies."

I think this very courageous woman has brought new life not only to the small town of Edgeley, but to the whole state of North Dakota. In an industry where the consumer and supplier develop a close relationship, Darlene's company is perfectly suited. She offers high-quality products, outstanding customer service, and most importantly, fair business practices.

She summed up her success this way, "I've been lucky to have two men in my life who have made a difference and have allowed me to grow, both as an individual and as a business person. Erval with the past and Gene helping me with the future. But above all, my faith in God has given me the courage to take each challenge as it has been put before me."

The kit aircraft industry is fortunate to have Darlene Jackson-Hanson as one of its own. In 1993, she was inducted into the "Who's Who of Global Business Leaders," and in 1994, she was named "Business Innovator of the Year" for the state of North Dakota.

If I could give her an award, the inscription would say, "To Darlene for great courage, conviction and outstanding business leadership. Well done!" KP