Jake Patrick’s interest in aviation started at a young age. As a military brat he was exposed to Naval Aviation early with trips to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL. Jake started flying in 2005 while in college, after he took a job as a line technician at University Air Center in Gainesville, FL. By the time he graduated in 2009 he had accumulated over 2,000 hours and earned Commercial, CFI, CFII, MEI as well as PIC on a Cessna Caravan flying cargo over the southeast.

After graduating college Jake went through Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) and later Navy Flight School. While waiting for flight training Jake volunteered at the same museum he used to visit as a child. Jake fulfilled his life long dream of becoming a Naval Aviator flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet and conducted combat missions over Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Jake has accumulated over 10,000 hours in over 120 different makes and models of aircraft with over 5,000 of those hours being dual given. He also holds certificates in single and multi-engine seaplanes, gliders, and helicopter (instrument, commercial, CFI, CFII). He is passionate about instructing and is an active instructor in piston, turboprop, jet, tailwheel, seaplane, and formation. In 2014, he created an accelerated Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) training program that led to him building the first of several flight schools he owned. Jake was able to get exposed to warbirds during this time, getting to fly Stearman, T-6, L-19, and L-39. He has also run a seaplane tour operation and been a captain in corporate, charter, and fractional operations. Jake has been a test pilot since 2021 flying a variety of aircraft.

After briefly flying as an agricultural pilot, Jake became an aerial firefighting pilot in the Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss (Single Engine Scooper). Jake has been an instructor in the aircraft for two different companies as well as being a National Aerial Firefighting Academy (NAFA) instructor. He currently is the Wipaire’s (STC holder) instructor and test pilot.

Jake also provides in aircraft instruction for several jets, specializing in single pilot jet operations. He has type ratings in the CE-500 (Single Pilot Waiver), CE-510S, CE-525S, HA-420 and Experimental Authorization in the Marchetti S-211 jet warbird. He provides jet familiarization, formation, and UPRT training the latter for Victory Flight Training.

Jake has owned several personal aircraft over the years including a Rutan VariEZ, Lancair 320, Beechcraft Baron, Lake Buccaneer, Glasair III, and RV-8. His passion for aviation and history get to intersect by having the privilege to fly the Stearman at Helmet & Goggles. Jake was selected in the 2025 class of 20 Under 40 by the National Warbirds Organization.