JetDreams-interior-RJH 9-13-21

Flying any aircraft is a joy, whether it’s a single-engine aircraft, helicopter or jet. All are wonderful experiences; the jet simply extends that experience higher and faster. RICH PICKETT My ultimate dream came true on the day I took delivery of my brand-new jet. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was starry-eyed. During the flight back home with my mentor pilot I kept having to pinch myself to make sure that I wasn’t dreaming. There we were at 40,000 feet in smooth air, riding in quiet comfort under a deep blue sky. It was incredible. JOHN HAYES I’m fortunate to be able to give back to others who are not able to get around. I decided to fly with Veteran’s Airlift, a group of dedicated individuals ensuring that our wounded veterans have an option of airlift. We also fly many families so that they can be with their loved ones during medical recoveries. I have flown them to hospitals, events where they are honored, and to pick up their service dogs, to name a few missions. They are so appreciative of what we do and I tell them that I get as much if not more being able to help them. ROBERT A. WILSON 151

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THE LANDING

I still pinch myself. I still look over my shoulder to make sure no one is coming to say “just kidding.” Every time I step out of my plane, I feel so incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed a particular journey. Sometimes I’ll just sit in the hangar and think about how many things had to happen for this plane to be in my life at this moment. ADAM GROSSER 156

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Flying is the ultimate ability to have a magic carpet and go wherever I want, whenever I want. TRACY FORREST 160

It always feels incredible to fly my own jet. I still sometimes cannot believe I am really doing it. CHRIS CAFFEY 161

I am a hotel developer, owner and operator. I started our company at the age of 33. I was able follow my dream of being a pilot while at the same time pursuing a career in real estate development. I am a lucky guy! I have to pinch myself every now and then when I walk up to launch the jet. DAVE LENZ 162

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I never take aviation for granted. I will be forever be grateful for the opportunity of a lifetime: the gift of flight. HUMBERTO LOBO 166

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I really cannot imagine my life without flying. The places flying has taken me, the opportunities and experiences flying has given me, and the sights flying has shown me have made flying itself a dream come true. JOE FISHER 169

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Flying a jet is like so many have described: it’s our magic carpet. CHICK GREGG I have encountered the most amazing people linked with aviation who have evolved into lifelong mentors for whom I shall always remain grateful. While some of my mentors have passed away, a part of each of them lives on in me. BILL DUBÉ Aviation is the only pursuit today that still has the same level of camaraderie as when I first started flying years ago. A captain coming off a large jet will talk to a low-time single-engine pilot, without the ego. There’s always the feeling that we’re all in aviation together and it’s not about the specific aircraft we’re flying. MICHAEL HERMAN 171

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I absolutely love the freedom and control of my schedule that comes from owning my own jet. It goes beyond being able to manage my time more effectively into a much greater freedom to choose activities that are impractical when having to consider more conventional travel choices. Even just the desire to go flying leads me to select airports and areas that I wouldn’t choose unless I had my own airplane, and that lets me expand my worldview. MARC DULUDE 176



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Flying a jet gives a sense of accomplishment, yet I feel luckier than I deserve. I’m a lucky guy who never gives up. BJØRN TORE LARSEN Having the freedom and capability to be anywhere anytime is an empowering mindset. CHUCK BRADY Having your own jet takes travel to a completely different level relative to almost anything else. You can come and go on your own schedule, you can handle nearly the same weather as the airlines, and you can go places where the airlines don’t go. JOHN HAYES 179

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I have always dreamed of sharing aviation with as many young people as I can. That has been my mission in life. People helped me get to where I am today and so I am determined to pay it forward to others so that they might have some of the experiences and opportunities that I’ve had. LYNN KROGH 184



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Life is short. Do your best to help others and you will nourish yourself. RICH PICKETT Flying is an almost unbelievable privilege. The freedom to travel to wherever and whenever you want at 45,000 feet and 450 miles per hour is a luxury. JOE FISHER My flying life has been a dream come true. I have flown dozens of different airplanes to amazing places. Today, I still cannot help but look skyward at the sound of a plane overhead. Whenever I do, I dream of the next time I will fly. CHRIS CAFFEY 187

Spending time with family and friends brings the most joy to my life. Mountain biking and skiing – especially when coupled with flying – is a blast. The ability to load up bikes in the plane, fly to an airport, unload and ride is so much fun. RICH PICKETT 188

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The Refuge enhances the days of aviators and local residents, alike. Not only is this the most majestic fly-in community anywhere, it brightens the lives of all who call Wyoming home. MARK BAKER I earned a pilot’s license, then I got a small plane, then a jet, then a helicopter, and another jet, and then a glider. Never when I was lying on my back looking at the stars as a kid did I imagine these dreams and more would come true. But I dreamed and hoped, and got very lucky in life for a farm boy from Iowa. I found this crazy cool small airport tucked away in one of the grandest locations one could ever imagine, and I bought a house. I lay on my back again and dreamed of how amazing it could be. Maybe it could be the most majestic, world- class recreational airport on the planet. And now one might say it is, as many classy, tuned-in aviators do. To me, that is one of the biggest compliments and satisfactions anyone could ever dream. DR. STEVEN C. FUNK 193





SPONSORS Bose Clara Planella Ferrer J. Brent Kynoch Jason Talley Jim Keyes Jon Callaghan Maria & Michael Herman Pilatus Aircraft Refuge AirRanch Russell Munson Studio SolJets Dr. Steven C. Funk & the Funk family

FLIGHT CREW Adam Grosser David Fetter Jon Roberts Randy Broiles Barry Faust David Murphy Jørgen Andersen Randy Howell Ben Freelove David Windmiller Josh Boudreaux Ray Fowler Bill Dubé Dean Wright Juan Rodriguez Raymond Bailey Bill Stein Doug Rozendaal Kevin Crozier Rich Pickett Bjørn Larsen Eclipse Jet Owners Lance Mortensen Rick DeVos Bob Wilson Ed Turley Larry King Rob Holland Brent Schelde Embraer Len Anderson Rob Hutchinson Brian Norris Eric Lindberg Liz DeStaffany Rob Luketic Bruce Moore Eric Tucker Lynn Krough Robert Mitchell Bryan Elhardt Erich deHart Marc Dulude Ron Gruner Cary Venden Gregg Guider Marcus Adolfsson Ron Mohrhoff Charlie Mason Grupo Lomex Mark Hale Scott Ind Cheryl Cotman Howard Tobin Mark Murphy Scott Steiner Chick Gregg Humberto Lobo Mary Compton Sean Tucker Chris Caffey ISAP Matt Bergwalis Shane Tedjarati Chris Carlson Jamey Courtney Matt Chapman Stephen Chiang Chris Porter Jared Isaacman Melissa Strand Steve Johnson Christian Fry Jason Somes Michael Goulian Steve Smith Chuck Brady Jason Talley Michael Hohls Steven Horak Cirrus Aircraft Jax Law Nancy Auth Tad Ihns Citation Jet Pilots Jeffrey Moss Nathan Funk Todd Schaufenbuel Cory Lovell Jim Clayton Ned Greenop Tom Ungurean Craig Gourley Jim Keyes Pat Velasco Tracy Forrest Cyrus Sigari Joe Fisher Patriots Jet Team Troy Myers Dave Coffman John Hayes Paul Strickland Tucker / Hess Productions Dave Lenz John Posson Pete Muntean Vineer Bhansali David Dunn John Post Pete Vinton Wayne Dodd David Farr John Schenk Phil Adornato Wayne Gorsek

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ABOUT JESSICA Jessica Ambats is a pilot and photographer whose creative vision comes to life through complex air-to-air photo flights. She has blended her lifelong passions of flying and photography into a dream career. As producer and director, Jessica emphasizes dramatic landscapes as much as awe-inspiring machines. She works exclusively with top formation pilots to minimize risk and maximize safety. Each photo in her distinctive body of work is the result of meticulous planning and precision teamwork. Jessica’s office is a small aircraft with the doors removed. In the air, she manages ever-changing sun angles and bank angles to capture the beauty of flight. With each maneuver, there’s a short window of opportunity – often just seconds – to achieve the composition she’d envisioned. When Jessica’s not photographing airplanes, she’s flying them. Her favorite aircraft is the low-and-slow Piper J-3 Cub. JESSICA AMBATS.COM 199

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