Prepare for takeoff ✈️

Hey everyone,

I’m just reaching out to share my story and a dream I’ve been chasing.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of flying. There’s something about being up in the air, soaring through the clouds, that feels like pure freedom. I got my first taste of the aviation world when I was hired as a flight attendant with American Airlines, and man, that was just the start of something big.

But life has a way of throwing curveballs and knocking you off your path. While I was out working during Covid and through Covid, my family back home went through some really tough times. My dad passed away after fighting an illness for over eight years, and just seven months later, my sister was gone too...

Being so far away while dealing with that kind of loss was brutal. I knew I had to be there for my family, so I left my job and moved back to Athens, Georgia.

Since then, I’ve been grinding, trying to rebuild and keep my family strong. Through it all, the dream of becoming a pilot has stuck with me. It’s like this fire in my chest that keeps me going, even when things get heavy.

The tricky part? The cost. To get started, I need to earn my Private Pilot License, which means 3-4 months of training, flying 3-4 days a week with an instructor, and studying everything from FAA rules to aerodynamics. By the end, I’ll have about 60-70 flight hours under my belt, but each hour runs around $200-$250. It adds up fast. You also need to pay up for your FAA ground preparation for exams, written exams, check rides, medical exams, and fuel.

This isn’t just about me. It’s about honoring my dad, who always told me to go after what I love, no matter the odds. It’s about proving to my sister that her belief in me meant something. And I will continue to replay in my head their words of encouragement.

Down the road, I want to inspire others, especially people younger than me who could be going through their own struggles, that you can chase your dreams and make it happen, and to never be afraid to ask for help.

Any support you can offer gets me closer to the cockpit. I’m keeping things transparent, so I’ll share receipts and invoices to show every bit goes straight to my training.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for believing in me.

Josh