What is Fat Tire Cowboys?

 

The Fat Tire Cowboys is an Aviation Adventure Brand, steeped in cowboy lore. 

Each member has a deep connection to Aviation, Texas and its Farming/Ranching Operations.

FTC is focused on spreading a passion for aviation, the love of God, and a life lived well. 

 Hello, I’m LaRosa and I’m the creator of The Fat Tire Cowboys 

The origins of Fat Tire Cowboy were very organic.  The core group consisted of lifetime Texans who all had a background in agriculture or ranching and were all born and raised on the Llano Estacado.  In fact, the main characters’ nicknames were in place well before FTC came about.
The Mayor (Chad Bartee) and I had been friends for many years.  He started this adventure by being the first person I knew to buy a bush plane. One day he showed up with a 2003 American Champion Scout sitting on 29” Alaskan Bush Wheels.  It was super cool!  I had to have one!
I spent the better part of a year looking for the perfect plane.  I purchased a 1998 American Champion Scout and immediately set out to replace her stock 8” tires with the large tundra tires.  I called The Mayor, “Hey, what size tires you have?”.  “I’m not sure, but they’re the biggest they make!”, says The Mayor!  So I called Alaskan Bush Wheel and said, “Send me the biggest tires you make!”  Unbeknown to us, the company had recently added 31” tires to their inventory.  And there you have it; I had bigger tires than the Mayor himself!  The jokes never stopped after that! The Mayor and I took off for adventure in Canyon Lands National Park.  I decided to mount a camera on the plane.  I gathered that footage made a movie, and put it on this relatively new platform called YouTube.  That video got a lot of views worldwide, and I really enjoyed making the movie and watching peoples reactions to it.  From there, I decided to give this endeavor a name and a look.  I drew a logo and came up with the name “West Texas Fat Tire Cowboys.”  However, since our reach was global, I dropped the “West Texas.”  Views, reactions, and followers continued to grow modestly.  Then I made a tee shirt and everyone wanted one!  It was then that I realized I had better copyright that logo!!      

 While FTC is still very modest in size, the reach has been astounding!  We are shipping merchandise all over the world!

 

 

 

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Meet The Cowboys

Bryan Rose – “La Rosa!”

 

Professional Background: Bryan is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University and is the owner and manager of Fat Tire Cowboys, LLC and is the CEO of Rose-Text, Inc. RoseText is an Allied Healthcare Company established in 1990, specializing in medical Coding and Transcription. He also co-owns/operates the 2,000-acre WBR Ranch started by his grandfather (Walter B Rose) and is the Senior Vice President of Investor Relations at Milestone Commercial Real Estate.

 

History: La Rosa is the driving force behind the creative media mix that has become the Fat Tire Cowboys brand. His FTC project has been a labor of love, blending his love of aviation, cowboy culture, and video production. His aviation career has always coexisted with his corporate accomplishments. He began by soloing his first aircraft at just 16 years old. He has owned over 30 aircraft, and has flown over 70 different makes, models and variants of aircraft. La Rosa is a high flyer with the following aviation ratings:

 Certified Flight Instructor

• Commercial Instrument Single
• Multi-Engine Aircraft Commercial Glider Pilot

Type Ratings: CE-500 SIC  LR-45 SIC 

Endorsements:
• High Altitude
• Aerobatic
• Tailwheel
• Glider Towing
• Banner Towing
• Commercial Drone Pilot

 

Personal: Bryan has been married to his beautiful wife, Dawn McGavock, for over 35 years. They have two children: Brayden – A graduate of Texas Tech, is a managing director for the family’s auto dealership network – McGavock Nissan and Infiniti of Lubbock. Abbie Layne – A graduate of Texas Tech University, she is the Director of Marketing for RoseText, Inc. and CEO of Abbie Layne Designs.

She is also an accomplished country vocalist/artist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaU04YiAhkY

 

Current Aircraft: Modified Cessna 185 Skywagon, Piper J3 Cub,

 

“The Mayor” – Chad Bartee

Professional Background: Chad is a graduate of Lubbock Christian University and the co-founder of Osteogenics Biomedical, Inc. (1994) OBI specializes in the development and manufacture of bone and tissue grafts for jaw and facial reconstruction. OBI currently holds 11 patents and distributes in 62 countries. Chad also co-owns/manages the 1,000 acre Covered B Ranch.

History: The Mayor of what? Of just about everything! He’s FTC’s globetrotting renaissance man! He’s got 2 million Airline Miles and about that many in his own jet! He started this whole fat tire craziness 10 years ago by being the first of the crew, to purchase a fat tire airplane and head to Moab, UT for adventure. The Mayor started his aviation career in his early 20’s and has the following ratings:

• Commercial Instrument Single
• Multi-Engine Aircraft CE 500 SIC Type Rating

Endorsements:
• High Altitude
• Aerobatic
• Tailwheel

Personal: Chad is married to his beautiful wife Brandy and father of 2
miniature Schnauzers. When he’s not in the boardroom or
cockpit, he is restoring and racing vintage Porsches with his
brother and nephew. Chad is also the owner and financier of the world famous Yak 110.

Current Aircraft: Cessna Citation Jet, Beechcraft Baron, Champ, Yak110, Cessna 185 Skywagon, and Super Decathlon

“The Mayor” – Chad Bartee

Professional Background: Chad is a graduate of Lubbock Christian University and the co-founder of Osteogenics Biomedical, Inc. (1994) OBI specializes in the development and manufacture of bone and tissue grafts for jaw and facial reconstruction. OBI currently holds 11 patents and distributes in 62 countries. Chad also co-owns/manages the 1,000 acre Covered B Ranch.

History: The Mayor of what? Of just about everything! He’s FTC’s globetrotting renaissance man! He’s got 2 million Airline Miles and about that many in his own jet! He started this whole fat tire craziness 10 years ago, by being the first to purchase a fat tire airplane and head to Moab, UT for adventure. The Mayor started his aviation career in his early 20’s and has the following ratings:

• Commercial Instrument Single
• Multi-Engine Aircraft CE 500 SIC Type Rating

Endorsements:
• High Altitude
• Aerobatic
• Tailwheel

Personal: Chad is married to his beautiful wife Brandy and father of 2
miniature Schnauzers. When he’s not in the boardroom or
cockpit, he is restoring and racing vintage Porsches with his
brother and nephew. Chad is also the owner and financier of the world famous Yak 110.

Current Aircraft: Cessna Citation Jet, Beechcraft Baron, Carbon Cub, Champ, Yak110, Cessna 185 Skywagon, and Super Decathlon

“Ty Fly” – Ty Lane

Professional Background: Lubbock Native Ty Lane is the founder and current CEO of Utility Contractors of America. He founded his company in 1987 and they specialize in municipal utility installations.

He owns the 1,500 acre Flying J Ranch, where his herd of
Corriente Roping cattle graze.

History: Ty Fly is a character. He was raised on a farm south of Lubbock, and he’s as country as country comes. He started his aviation career by purchasing an ultralight aircraft from the local Thrifty Nickel want ads in 1980! He then set about the task of teaching himself to fly it. That didn’t end well, however he walked away! He then purchased a real airplane and elected to procure professional flight training. LOL! He now flies his aircraft internationally! Ty holds the following aviation ratings:

• Instrument Single
• Multi-Engine Aircraft

Endorsements:
• High Altitude
• Tailwheel

Personal: Ty has been married to his beautiful wife Laura for 37 years. They
have two sons. If absent from his office or the cockpit, you’ll find Ty in his first-class stable and roping arena.
Current Aircraft: Pilatus PC 12, Modified Cessna 185 Skywagon

“SFL (Scott F**King Lane)” – Scott Lane

Professional Background: Scott is a graduate of Clarendon College and  employed at JB Aerial as a pilot of a firefighting SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker). He began his career as an agriculture pilot at the tender age of 20. In the 2000’s he headed a drug interdiction program in South America that defoliated coca fields. In 2013 he launched Scott Lane Airshows. His steed of choice was a highly modified Pitts S2C built by the Fat Tire Cowboys.

History: Considering the fact that FTC must make his nickname an acronym, pretty much sums up Scotty! He’s definitely one of the most talented sticks FTC has and is quite the character. He is an exceptional showman in the cockpit too. His career has been saturated with high-risk flying. His knowledge, steely nerves and professionalism in the cockpit make him an extraordinary risk manager. Whether he’s diving on a fire, being shot at with an AK47, or flying high energy aerobatics, he’s a steady hand. Scott holds the following aviation ratings:

• Commercial Instrument Single Engine
• Multi-Engine Certified Flight Instructor Instrument

Endorsements:

• Low Altitude Aerobatic Waiver
• High Altitude
• Tailwheel

Personal: Scott is married to his beautiful wife Michelle. They have a daughter. When not flying, Scott can be found with his family at his stable and arena coaching barrel racing.

“SFL (Scott F**King Lane)” – Scott Lane

Professional Background: Scott is graduate of Clarendon College and is employed at JB Aerial as a pilot of a firefighting SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker). He began his career as an agriculture pilot at the tender age of 20. In the 2000’s he headed a drug interdiction program in South America that defoliated coca fields. In 2013 he launched Scott Lane Airshows. His steed of choice was a highly modified Pitts S2C built by the Fat Tire Cowboys.

History: Considering the fact that FTC must make his nickname an acronym, pretty much sums up Scotty! He’s definitely one of the most talented sticks FTC has and is quite the character. He is an exceptional showman in the cockpit too. His career has been saturated with high-risk flying. His knowledge, steely nerves and professionalism in the cockpit make him an extraordinary risk manager. Whether he’s diving on a fire, being shot at with an AK47, or flying high energy aerobatics, he’s a steady hand. Scott holds the following aviation ratings:

• Commercial Instrument Single Engine
• Multi-Engine Certified Flight Instructor Instrument

Endorsements:

• Low Altitude Aerobatic Waiver
• High Altitude
• Tailwheel

Personal: Scott is married to his beautiful wife Michelle. They have a daughter. When not flying, Scott can be found with his family at his stable and arena coaching barrel racing.

“KT” – Kurtis Thomas

Professional Background: Kurtis is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the co-owner of TKT Farms. TKT Farms is a family operated cotton farming operation covering several thousand acres.

History: Kurtis heads our Fat Tire Faith videos.  His understanding of the Gospel is a truly inspiring.  He and his family are key members of a local non-profit that provides food, clothing and healthcare to hundreds of people each week.  He was raised in the ag industry. He followed in his father’s footsteps as one of the area’s premier farmers. He began flying in his 20’s and has become an accomplished pilot. His fascination with all things mechanical has propelled him to an exceptional understanding of how an aircraft is constructed and how it flys. Kurtis holds the following aviation ratings:

• Commercial Instrument Single Engine
• Commercial Instrument Multi-Engine

Endorsements:

• Tailwheel

Personal: Kurtis has been married to his beautiful wife for over 25 years. They have 3 children. When not engaged in farming or bay fishing, you’ll find Kurtis at the helm of his Piper Super Cub or Beechcraft Baron.

Current Aircraft: Modified Piper Super Cub, Beechcraft B58 Baron.

“SkyRancher” – Cary Franks

 Professional Background: Cary is a graduate of Texas Tech University and a Senior Crop Insurance Agent at Capital Farm Credit and specializes in Ranching Risk Management products. He also co-owns and operates the Pistolaro Ranch. 

History: Cary is quiet and reserved, and surreptitiously cunning and witty! He fits right in! SkyRancher was raised on a ranch near Flomot, TX. His father is a pilot, and Cary has been flying most of his life.  His big SkyWagon, cowboy hat, Pistolero Ranch and wit fit right into the FTC brand perfectly!

 Commercial Instrument Single Engine

 ENDORSEMENTS

Tailwheel 

Complex

High Performance 

137 Aerial Application

Turbine Transition PT6

Married to his beautiful wife Mary for 9 years. 

Current Aircraft: 1980 Cessna 180K

 

 

 

“SkyRancher” – Cary Franks

Professional Background: Cary is a graduate of Texas Tech University and a Senior Crop Insurance Agent at Capital Farm Credit and specializes in Ranching Risk Management products. He also co-owns and operates the Pistolaro Ranch.

History: One of FTC’s newest core members, he’s quiet and reserved. But, we’ve learned that he is surreptitiously cunning and witty! He fits right in! SkyRancher was raised on a ranch near Flomot, TX. His father is a pilot, and Cary has been flying most of his life. He is Commercial Single Engine IFR rated. His big SkyWagon, cowboy hat, Pistolaro Ranch and wit fit right into the FTC brand perfectly!

Personal:  Married to his beautiful wife Mary for 9 years. 

Current Aircraft: 1980 Cessna 180K

“Flaps8” – Arron Miller

Professional Background: Arron is a graduate of Texas Tech University and employed at 3KD, LLC as a full-time pilot in the Citation 550.

History: Yet another one of FTC’s quiet jesters who lurks at the edge of the conversation waiting to drop a comedic bomb. He’s quite good at it too! Arron was born and raised on the High Plains of Texas in the small farming community of Tahoka. Growing up he always wanted to be either a pilot or a musician. After a year on the road as a rock star, he decided he wasn’t cut out to be Garth Brooks. He went back to school and became an aviator, then back to school to become an engineer, then back to being an aviator… wait what?
Commercial Single and Multi-Engine IFR Rated
• Airline Transport Pilot
• Certified Flight Instructor
• Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
• Type Ratings – LR-JET and CE-500

Personal: Married to his wife Susan for 23 years, they have a daughter, Taylor.

Current Aircraft: Highlander

Koby D. Reed

Professional Background: Koby is a graduate of Texas Tech University and founder and CEO/President of K-Link Cotton Marketing System.
 
History: Koby grew up in a small farming community in West Texas, and is a fifth-generation cotton producer. His love for aviation is attributed to his grandfather, who was an avid aviator. For over 30 years, Koby had a deep desire to learn to fly. At the age of 38, he decided he had waited long enough and began instruction in pursuit of his pilot’s license. Koby holds a Private Single Engine IFR Pilot Certificate, with tailwheel, complex and high-performance endorsements. 
 
He also has quite the knack for satire and delivers FTC’s weekly Keystone Friday toast! For the past decade, Koby has posted a cunning Friday post to Facebook—the first official toast the weekend—which includes a random, silly and downright funny allegory. His Keystone Friday post is anticipated by thousands on social media every Friday.   
 
Personal: Married to his beautiful wife Elizabeth for 15 years. They have 3 children.
 
Current Aircraft: Cherokee 140, Cardinal 177 RG, and any tailwheel, nose gear, twin, single, or jet that he can get on board!

Koby D. Reed

Professional Background: Koby is a Texas Tech Graduate and CEO/President at K-Link Cotton Marketing System.
 
History: Koby grew up in a small farming community in West Texas, and is a fifth-generation cotton producer. His love for aviation is attributed to his grandfather, who was an avid aviator. For over 30 years, Koby had a deep desire to learn to fly. At the age of 38, he decided he had waited long enough and began instruction in pursuit of his pilot’s license. Koby holds a Private Pilot Certificate, with tailwheel, complex and high-performance endorsements. 
 
He also has quite the knack for satire and delivers FTC’s weekly Keystone Friday toast! For the past decade, Koby has posted a cunning Friday post to Facebook—the first official toast the weekend—which includes a random, silly and downright funny allegory. His Keystone Friday post is anticipated by thousands on social media every Friday.   
 
Personal: Married to his beautiful wife Elizabeth for 15 years. They have 3 children.
 
Current Aircraft: Cherokee 140, Cardinal 177 RG, and any tailwheel, nose gear, twin, single, or jet that he can get on board!
Gloyna - Scott Gloyna

We just call him Gloyna!  Scott was raised on a cotton farm in rural West Texas.  His closest neighbor was an Ag pilot with a landing strip just down the dirt road.  He spent hours watching the lumbering Ag Cat gracefully skimming the fields as he flew by.  

Scott is a graduate of Texas Tech University, and a United States Air Force Veteran of Desert Shield.  He co-owns Day Break Coffee Rosters, a coffee roasting plant located in Lubbock, TX.  His is married to his high school sweetheart, Marzee. 

Scott is the North West Texas Leader of Angel Flight and has flown over 100 missions.

Aviation Ratings: 

Private Single Engine IFR rated

KC-135R Navigator

Aircraft:

Cirrus SR22

Brayden Rose

Professional Background: Brayden is a graduate of the Texas Tech University Rawls Business College.

He is a managing director for McGavock Nissan/Infiniti, a series of car dealerships started by his grandfather.  He also co-operates the Walter B Rose Ranch started by his great grandfather.

Brayden is the son of LaRosa and has been in the cockpit his entire life.  His father is a pilot, and both of his grandfathers are pilots.  He didn’t stand a chance!

Brayden is married to his beautiful wife Danielle.

Private Single Engine Land

Current Aircraft:

Cessna 182

Bam Bam - Chase Key

Professional Background:  Chase graduated from the University of Oklahoma.  He is co-owner of ASCO equipment.

History: Chase was raised in Lubbock and has always loved all things mechanical.  Chase became very interested in aviation after a flight with TyFly!

Personal: Chase has been married to Amy Key, for over 11 years.  When Chase is not busy selling or renting equipment you can often find him enjoying the outdoors, fly fishing or hunting.  Chase and Amy have two children, Ellis and John William Ellis. 

Ratings:

Single Engine Land Instrument

Endorsements: 

High Altitude

Tailwheel

Aircraft:

Super Decatholon

Cessna 185

Piper Merridian 

“9G” – Matt Short

Professional Background: Matt is a Film Director and Aerial Cinematographer for Lockheed Martin. Matt travels the globe filming the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft. He also owns and operates his own production company, 9G Films – specializing in corporate documentaries, commercials, and promotions. 

History: Matt’s love of aviation is genetic. His father, a USMC pilot for over 22 years, owned a variety of aircraft throughout Matt’s childhood. Weekends and most evenings were spent exploring the Florida skies with his dad. 
Matt’s main life goal was to become a professional bull rider. He started riding bulls at 12 years old and competed until his mid 20’s riding in the PRCA for 5 of those years. After his rodeo career, Matt picked up a camera and got into photography and film production. One of his most recent credits is cinematographer on the IMAX movie, Aircraft Carrier: Guardians of the Sea. Matt spent over two months filming F-35s aboard the USS Eisenhower and USS America. 

Personal: Married to his beautiful wife Trish for over 25 years. 

Current Aircraft: F-16 Aircrew qualified (and any other fast jet he can bum a ride in)

“9G” – Matt Short

Professional Background: Matt is a Film Director and Aerial Cinematographer for Lockheed Martin. Matt travels the globe filming the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft. He also owns and operates his own production company, 9G Films – specializing in corporate documentaries, commercials, and promotions. 

History: Matt’s love of aviation is genetic. His father, a USMC pilot for over 22 years, owned a variety of aircraft throughout Matt’s childhood. Weekends and most evenings were spent exploring the Florida skies with his dad. 
Matt’s main life goal was to become a professional bull rider. He started riding bulls at 12 years old and competed until his mid 20’s riding in the PRCA for 5 of those years. After his rodeo career, Matt picked up a camera and got into photography and film production. One of his most recent credits is cinematographer on the IMAX movie, Aircraft Carrier: Guardians of the Sea. Matt spent over two months filming F-35s aboard the USS Eisenhower and USS America. 

Personal: Married to his beautiful wife Trish for over 25 years. 

Current Aircraft: F-16 Aircrew qualified (and any other fast jet he can bum a ride in)

Jeff Boerboon (pronounced like the whiskey bourbon)

Professional Background: Jeff is a captain for a major airline.

History: Jeff was inspired to fly aerobatics at just 7 years old, after attending the EAA convention in Oshkosh.  He holds a degree from the University of North Dakota.  He is a two time National Aerobatic Champion and was a member of the U.S. Advanced and Unlimited Aerobatic teams and is the 2010 U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic champion.  He has also previously performed in the Jack Link’s Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco.

Personal: Jeff is married to his beautiful wife Maria.  The Fat Tire Cowboys have affectionately named her Peanut.

It was Jeff’s idea to combine two Yak55’s, add a jet engine and call it a YAK110.  He personally supervised the build to completion and flew the public debut of the Yak110 at AirVenture Oshkosh 2018.

His professionalism and skill in the cockpit are simply unmatched.