Jon Melby

The Pilot - Jon Melby

 Jon Melby is an airshow pilot with over 35 years of flying experience. He is surface level aerobatic qualified, formation aerobatic qualified, and holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating.  He has flown dozens of aircraft types and currently performs in a highly modified Pitts S-1-11B bi-plane.

Jon first learned to fly at age 8, when he created a pile of leaves in his Duluth, Minnesota lawn, climbed onto the roof of his 2 story home, and jumped like a bird into the leaves.

At the age of 12, he had the opportunity to meet the legendary airshow pilot Bob Hoover at a local airshow. Bob Hoover’s sincerity and great personality gave him the inspiration to pursue his dream of flying. When he was financially able, he made it a goal to solo in a non-powered glider before his 16th birthday. In only 8 flights, he achieved his goal by riding a bicycle 45 miles, on hot Arizona July summer weekends, to the nearest glider airport!

It was this type of determination that inspired him to purchase an airplane at age 19, and then hired an instructor to learn to fly it!  Receiving his pilot’s license by flying every day for a period of 3 weeks, yet eventually yearned to do so much more in an airplane. After owning several Cessna passenger type aircraft, in 1996, he purchased a Pitts S2B Bi-plane and spent 3 months training to compete in aerobatic contests.

During his first aerobatic competition against 23 pilots, he achieved 3rd place, and in the next two contests won first and second place, awarding enough points to become the Arizona State Sportsman champion. This all took place the first year of competition aerobatics. It was then that he knew that aerobatics was his  “passion and groove” and it’s been an adventure ever since.

Now, flying “extreme” freestyle aerobatics at Airshows, Jon can encourage both adults and children to pursue their dreams, much like Bob Hoover did for him.

When not flying his airplane, Jon is a Technical Senior Manager for a major stock brokerage firm.  Jon also enjoys many other activities other than flying.  Jon plays Ice Hockey (since 4 years old), golf, snow ski, guitar, rides his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and enjoys to travel.

Jon has two adult children, Jessica and Jay.

There is a great saying that Jon would like to share with you to help you achieve your dreams too.  It has helped him many times over:

“Bold actions bring bold results!”