I was raised around aviation. My dad was a private pilot, an A&P with his IA, and a partner and manager at Precision Avjet—the FBO at Panama City’s old airport, KPFN. Some of my earliest memories are from the hangar, spending days with him at the shop or out on the ramp. He flew aerobatics in a homebuilt biplane called the Gold Duster, and he genuinely loved sharing aviation with other people. When I was five, we lost him in a crash while he was giving someone a ride in that airplane. It left a mark on our family, and while my mom never had much interest in flying, she had every reason to keep me away from it. But I was hooked early—and I never really let go of it. My grandfather, a retired Air Force F-102 pilot, flight instructor, and competition aerobatic pilot, helped keep that connection alive. He kept me close to aviation over the years, taking me out to the airport, answering questions, and sharing stories. He encouraged me to pursue flight when the time was right. At 20, I earned my Private Pilot Certificate. Since then, I’ve continued building flight time, gaining experience, and turning wrenches. I’m hands-on by nature and drawn to the mechanical side of aviation just as much as the flying itself. I’m also working to bring the Gold Duster II to life—a full resurrection of my dad’s airplane, with help from my grandfather, my wife, and the people who’ve supported me along the way. It’s more than a build project—it’s a legacy piece, and a big part of why I started documenting my journey. This isn’t just a story about where I came from. It’s about where I’m headed—and what I hope to build along the way.