Ma and Pa Luman and Their Boys

Everyone in aviation knew them as “Ma and Pa Luman,” but their real names were Bob Sr. and Josephine Luman. He was a man of few words, an expert mechanic with a lifelong passion for aviation. She was outgoing and fearless, known for her adventurous spirit (she once climbed windmills for fun).

Their hometown romance began in Joliet, Illinois, in 1936. Flying in Bob Sr.’s biplane was part of the courtship; he would impress Jo with barnstorming and aerobatic maneuvers. Together they built a life and raised three sons: Bob (J.R.), George, and Mike, the youngest by more than a decade.

Lumanair was born at a small private airstrip known as Aurora Airways Airport, where Bob Sr. worked as a mechanic. In 1960, he took over the business from its previous owner. When the property was sold six years later, the company relocated to its current home at Aurora Municipal Airport, where it remains today.

Through hard work, perseverance, and family dedication, the Lumans built a reputation for flight instruction and charter operations. Bob Sr. ran the shop, while Jo managed the books and welcomed pilots from across the region with her signature hospitality. Visitors affectionately referred to them as “Ma and Pa Luman” for the warm, family atmosphere they created.

As time went on, the next generation joined in. After serving in the Air Force, J.R. became Lumanair’s chief pilot and flight instructor. George managed aircraft sales, while Mike, still finishing school, helped wherever he could.

In 1975, tragedy struck when George lost his life in an aerobatic accident. The family rallied together, and Mike stepped into the role of general manager, describing the experience as a “baptism by fire.” Under his leadership, Lumanair continued to grow and evolve through the 1980s and beyond.

The company lost its founder, Bob Sr., in 1997, when he passed peacefully at age 86. Josephine followed two decades later, just days before her 100th birthday.

When Lumanair joined the Revv Aviation family, Mike carried on the family tradition, ushering his brother J.R. into a well-earned retirement and embracing a partnership built on shared values.

“It’s not an end of an era for Lumanair; it’s the next evolution with the assistance and the motivations and the eagerness of this new company called Revv.”

Mike Luman

Mike described the Revv team as “the right people, at the right time, for the right reasons.” Together, they continued the proud legacy that began more than 60 years ago – a legacy built on family, passion, and a love of flight.