Jonathan jones

“I have a lot of freedom in the offseason. I was able to mimic my football training schedule in my flight training: wake up and fly like a workout, come home for lunch, and go back in the afternoon and fly. I did that four days a week, and it helped with the consistency.”

Jones played for the New England Patriots for the first nine years of his NFL career, joining the Commanders in 2025. A friend introduced him to aviation by way of saying he was flying from Birmingham, Alabama, to Atlanta, and Jones thought, “Who takes a commercial airliner from Birmingham to Atlanta?” The friend told him, “My son is a pilot, and he’ll fly us over in his airplane.”

That “got the gears turning in my head,” Jones said. “That sounds like something I’d love. I took a discovery flight and fell in love with aviation.”

He started in a Cessna 172 in Norwood, Massachusetts, transitioned to a Cirrus when he got his instrument rating, and then purchased a Daher TBM 930.

“I love the capability. The TBM has a reputation for speed and altitude. It has everything that fits my mission,” which has been flying from his home in Charlotte to his teams in Boston and now Washington, D.C.

How did you get started in aviation?

I got started in aviation after taking a discovery flight in Norwood, back in Boston. They let me take the controls, and I instantly fell in love with flying. It was one of those experiences that grabs you right away and never lets go.

What were your biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge in aviation, especially when working toward your private, is consistency. Finding time to build that rhythm—getting your repetitions in over and over again—is tough when you’re balancing everything else in life. Making time to pursue the dream can be one of the hardest parts of aviation, but it’s also what makes it so rewarding once you get there.

Favorite aircraft?

Outside of the TBM, my favorite would probably be the Extra. I haven’t had the chance to fly one yet, but watching the aerobatics those pilots perform is amazing. The precision and control they show are incredible.

Favorite aviation-related activity?

The famous “$100 hamburger.” Taking the family out for a quick flight to grab dinner somewhere not too close to home—it’s always a great experience. It’s not really about the food; it’s about getting up in the air, spending time together, and making a simple afternoon into an adventure.

Advice for students?

My advice for students is to stay driven and stay immersed in aviation. Stay on top of your groundwork, stay in your books, and take in as much aviation content as possible. The more you surround yourself with aviation, the more natural it becomes. Being in that environment, even just hanging around airports, really keeps you inspired and learning.

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