Brandon Ray
Founder, President & CEO
Brandon Ray has helped aircraft owners buy, sell and fly their airplanes since 2009. He is an entrepreneur, a professional pilot, a 7-time Master Instructor and a Wharton MBA, so both the airplane and the deal get an expert's read.
Aircraft sales and acquisitions
Brandon has led aircraft sales and acquisitions since 2009, from high-performance pistons to turboprops and jets. HPA has transacted well over 100 aircraft for buyers and sellers. On a purchase, he guides market analysis, aircraft selection, negotiation, the purchase agreement, escrow, the prebuy and closing. On a sale, he leads photography and video, marketing, lead management, negotiation and closing.
Professional pilot
Brandon has more than 20 years as a flight instructor and professional pilot, and more than 9,000 flight hours. He flew Citation III and VII jets, the King Air 200 and the Piper Meridian in Part 135 charter and corporate operations, and the Embraer 145, Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 for three Part 121 airlines. Today he flies the Boeing 787 on long-haul international routes.
Jet type ratings
Business jets
- SF50Cirrus Vision Jet
- CE-525SCitation CJ series
- CE-650Citation III, VI, VII
Airliners
- EMB-145Embraer ERJ 145
- A320Airbus A320
- B737Boeing 737
- B787Boeing 787
Certificates
Instructor and training leader
- 7-time Master Flight Instructor. When he earned his seventh designation, he was one of only 37 seven-time Master Instructors worldwide.
- Gold Seal CFI, CFII and MEI.
- Former Cessna factory instructor pilot, and Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot.
- Director of Training for two Part 135 charter operators (Citations and King Air).
- More than 500 pilots trained, with zero accidents or incidents. Clients include owners, universities, flight departments, and local, state and federal agencies.
Entrepreneur
Brandon founded High Performance Aviation in 2009 and has run it since, alongside his flying. He also leads CXO MX, HPA's maintenance company at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport. His Wharton MBA, with majors in management, marketing and operations, shapes how HPA prices, markets and closes aircraft.
Education and industry
Education
- MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with Honors (top 20%), 2022.
- B.S. Aeronautical Science, LeTourneau University, Summa Cum Laude, 2007.
Industry and community
- Board member, South Texas Business Aviation Association.
- AOPA member.
- Pilots for Kids volunteer.
"Skip and Brandon run a very focused, time-efficient, and professional operation. It was a pleasure, and they each "go the extra mile" in making the experience worth the time and money."
David Warden
Columbia 400 Aircraft Acceptance and Delivery
"From someone in the service industry, I can tell you that High Performance Aviation exemplifies what all service providing companies should be. Not only did you find me an airplane, you did all the homework to ensure we had the right plane for me and the right plan for the future."
Taylor Norris
Aircraft Acquisition Consultation / Aircraft Management
"Brandon and his team were great. Being first-plane buyers, we were totally clueless as to what went on when buying a plane. He organized one of his team to collect us at the hotel and take us the 45 odd minutes to the airfield. A great experience!"
Ian Shere
Aircraft Purchase
"Just wanted to say thank you again to Brandon Ray of High Performance Aviation for my Cessna Corvalis TT certification. What a professional pilot and organization. Brandon is the best instructor I have ever had in my 20+ years of flying and an all around great person. Their knowledge of type is absolutely amazing. Thank you again guys. I will definitely be back!"
Joshua Brooks
Cessna Corvalis TT Initial Transition Training
"HPA has taken me from zero hours to PPL, Instrument Rating and additional proficiency during the previous 12 months. I have accumulated 425 hours in that period - all in a SR22T/G. I highly recommend HPA for transition training to a high performance piston single engine airplane."
Bart Horner
Recurrent Training