Welcome to 2024 aviators! I am ecstatic you are still here with me on this journey. Last year was a wild ride, and I did not get to share nearly enough of it with you. For those of you who are connected on my other media channels, you caught a glimpse, but I will do my best to take the lessons I learned, share them, and allow you to learn from the obstacles I faced.
“The sky’s not the limit — it’s just the beginning” – Albert Lea Tribune
I shared how my story began, thinking the sky was my goal and that once I reached it, I would suddenly arrive at happily ever after. Boy, did I quickly learn that once I took flight, it was indeed just the beginning of a much greater journey.
Aviation Passion Unleashed
From the time I could crawl onto a ride-a-long toy, my vehicle of choice was an airplane. My mom reminds me of times she was trying to talk to me, and I would be gazing out the window at an airplane going by. There is also the times at the airshow standing under the wing of a massive aircraft (the same aircraft I fly now) and thinking, someday, this will be for me.
Fast forward to when I was working in the back of the airplane at American Airlines… thinking I got close enough. I loved what I did at the time, but two pilots saw that there was something I was missing, and they challenged me to go find it. I was around airplanes every day, and I loved it. Here I was, about to walk away from that to get my private pilot’s license and take my shot at the Air Force.
Fast forward again to pushing the throttle up for the first time at pilot training in Mississippi…every dream, every goal, every shot led to this moment. It was not just fuel being unleashed into that Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-68 turbo-prop engine, it was my aviation passion being unleashed as well.
The Birth of JetSetGOConnor
For years, this has been a play on my name, but it was not until I took the controls of an aircraft that I understood what it meant to me. Initially, a play on Ready, Set, Go! I wanted my own version that reflected myself, Ready JetSet, Go! I will admit adding my last name to it has caused a lot, and I mean a lot, of confusion about my name being Connor.
JetSetGOConnor is for me, but what developed out of my passion for aviation was a community that rallied behind the call to JetSetGo! I am continuously inspired by those who connect with me, find me at airshows, and who I run into across the globe. From aspiring pilots to aviators sharing stories of their fathers and grandfathers flying for the same squadron I do, you remind me daily of why I keep going.
My goal is to continue to connect with you and harness the stories you share with me to motivate, encourage, and come alongside those wishing to pursue aviation. Me, 15 years ago, wishes I could have found someone to connect with an to look up to. Today, with the media tools, the connectivity, and community we have, that should not be anyones wish anymore.
Navigating Through 2024
In the coming 12 months, I will be collaborating with aviators from all walks of life to broaden the community involved! I hope that you stay tuned, connect, and please please please reach out to me if you want to join in the conversation! I would be more than happy to plug you in where it makes sense this year!
One thing I can promise is that 2024 will be a year for the books! I am the Director of Air Operations for the Charleston Airshow (April 19th-21st, 2024), I am becoming an instructor pilot in the C-17 Globemaster, I’ll be hitting another deployment with the 14th Airlift Squadron, and continuing my Masters Degree in Global Supply Chain Management & Logistics…plus more airplanes of course!
As my website says on the home page, “Life is a storybook, together, let’s write one that is unforgettable.” This year is cleared for takeoff! Over 15,000 people have read the journies I’ve shared, and I thank each and every one of you for lending me your time and for the support, encouragement, and motivation you’ve given me! 2024 is the year for aviation and more!
The Total Story Experience
The JetSetGo! story will be told across multiple mediums this year! The website (www.jetsetgoconnor.com), the instagram (@JetSetGOConnor), Youtube (@JetSetGOConnor), and Threads (@JetSetGOConnor)! If you are sensing a theme, I can’t remember multiple usernames, so I am JetSetGOConnor on everything 🙂
Lastly, I always have comments on so I can connect with you! I will continuously ask for you to share your story because somewhere out there, someone needs to hear exactly what you have to say!
Stay Fly!
Mike “JetSet” O’Connor
JetSetGOConnor 