Richard brings over 45 years of experience to the aviation industry as owner of Hart Aircraft Appraisal, LLC as well as beginning employment at National Helicopter Service & Engineering Company in 1975 and serving as President of both National Helicopter and Elite Helicopter tours from 1988 to March of 2021.
Richard completed his B.S. degree in Business Administration-Finance from the University of Southern California. He received his Machinery & Technical Specialties (MTS) - Aircraft Appraisal certification from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University qualifying him as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) and is current with all USPAP requirements. He also holds an Airframe/Powerplant license and has attended numerous factory schools including Robinson, Bell, Airbus (eurocopter), MD (Hughes), Sikorsky, Rolls Royce Engines (Allison), Honeywell Engines (Lycoming Gas Turbines) and Safran (Turbomeca).
Richard's extensive managerial and operations experience as Director of Maintenance, Chief Inspector, Accountable Manager and President of National Helicopter, under FAR Part 133, 135, 137, 145 and an FAA approved Motion Picture Manual, uniquely qualifies him to consult on all aspects of aircraft and maintenance operations.
He has 40+ years appraising thousands of aircraft of all makes, models, and sizes, including helicopters (his specialty) warbirds, piston-engine and jet aircraft, homebuilts, experimental aircraft, spare engines and components, as well as donations (IRS), damage history, collateral inspections, consultations, and diminution of value analysis. Richard has been qualified as an expert witness numerous times with several cases going through trial, including in Federal Court.
He is a member of several organizations, including the ASA, ISA, NBAA, HAI, AOA and AOPA.