Jack Lynch: Senior Jack Lynch plans to attend the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall

Senior Jack Lynch grew up listening to stories of how his dad would ride in his grandfather’s private plane — Lynch developed his passion for aviation early. He now seeks to create his own memories flying planes. 

Lynch is attending the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he’ll major in Aeronautical Science. Rated as one of the top flight schools in the United States, Embry-Riddle integrates flight training into their academics with classes like Air Traffic Management and Aviation Maintenance Science all while teaching the engineering of aviation.

He started flying planes on his own in 2019 at the Air Associates of Kansas at the Johnson County Airport. Although he wasn’t flying a Boeing 737 with 126 passengers and he had his grandfathers reassurances in his mind, but never had he been in the pilot’s seat himself.

“It was very nerve-wracking honestly, but once you’re up there, there’s only one way to get down,” Lynch said. “It’s pretty stressful actually. You’re supposed to just overcome it. That’s exactly what I did. I overcame that pressure.”

Now, when he doesn’t have baseball practice or English papers to write, Lynch goes to the Charles B. Wheeler Airport to fly. The nerves he once had disappeared.

“It is, to a limit, very stressful,” Lynch said. “You can’t be flying a plane by yourself and having a panic attack.”

As Lynch has gained experience flying, he’s learned to make decisions without involving his feelings. When Lynch once faced extreme winds while flying, he knew it wasn’t safe and turned back towards the ground — despite longing to be 40,000 miles up in the clouds.

“You have to be perfectly calm up there,” Lynch said. “You have to be able to make a decision without having your feelings involved, without having that human factor involved. [I’ve got to] admit, it is very difficult.”

Lynch looks forward to getting a normal college experience with the built-in flying lessons and warm Florida weather. After the four-year program at Embry-Riddle, Lynch hopes to become a commercial airline pilot. 

“I learn something about myself almost every single time,” Lynch said. “Not every flight is the same, so that’s why you learn a lot about yourself and what you’re capable of.”