One of my favorite memories with Jason, and according to him was a trip of a lifetime,  is the trip we took together to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July of 2022. It was the kind of adventure that fit him perfectly — a mix of curiosity, laughter, music in the headset, and an open sky ahead of us. We spent eight days traveling the country together in the Cirrus, hopping from state to state and airport to airport, talking about life at altitude and soaking in the view that only flying can give.

We covered thousands of miles and more than a few time zones, but the real joy was the time with Jason. He was the best co-pilot anyone could ask for — calm, sharp, funny in his very Jason way, and always up for the next leg of the journey. From sprint car races in South Dakota to standing beneath Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, from the controlled chaos of arriving into Oshkosh to evenings spent talking over dinner somewhere far from home, it all felt unforgettable because he was there.

We bounced through Chicago, Kentucky, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Santa Fe, and more airports than I can count, meeting people, catching rides, collecting small stories everywhere we went. We even managed to work in a stop to see his dad in Lake Havasu before heading home. By the end of it, we were tired, happy, and still laughing — and the friendship was stronger than ever.

It wasn’t just a trip. It was time with Jason — his steady presence, his quick mind, his dry humor, and his way of turning a long flying day into a memory I will carry for the rest of my life.