21 months of sweat, storms, and sky-high adrenaline led to this moment: earning my wings. In a surreal COVID-era ceremony, we stood six feet apart, masked and without our families present. But nothing could dampen the pride of being pinned as a United States Air Force pilot.
Tag Archives: Air Force Student Pilot
✈️ Climbing Higher: Transitioning to the T-1A Jayhawk
Trading the wild rides of the T-6 for the sleek lines of the T-1A Jayhawk was a shift from adrenaline to precision. Multi-engine flight introduced crew dynamics, mission planning, and the realization that flying isn’t just an individual skill — it’s a team effort.
✈️ Weathering the Storms: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Snow, and Ice at Columbus AFB
Pilot training doesn’t pause for bad weather. At Columbus AFB, tornado sirens, snowstorms, and ice storms became part of daily life — teaching us resilience, adaptability, and what it means to earn your wings when nature throws everything it’s got at you.
✈️ Throttle Up: My First Flight in the T-6 Texan II
Strapping into 1,100 horsepower for the first time is something you never forget. From taxiing out to flipping upside down in a matter of minutes, my first flight in the T-6 Texan II launched me headfirst into the wild ride of Air Force pilot training.
✈️ The First Takeoff: Stepping Into USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training
Learning to fly isn’t a moment — it’s a million little moments stitched together with adrenaline, grit, and wonder. Join me as I take you inside the wild, unpredictable, and extraordinary experience of Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus, Mississippi.
JetSetGOConnor 