703-361-9200 / support@piston2jet.com
A Veteran Owned Part 141 Flight School and Aviation Solutions Company
Our pledge to you is that when you fly with us you'll be treated with the highest regard for respect, integrity, and responsibility. Our flight instructor staff has over 120 years of combined aviation experience including over 35,000 hours of flight experience making us THE right choice for your flight training needs.
About Us
Piston2Jet is a FAA Part 141 Approved flight training company based at the Manassas Regional Airport in Manassas, Virginia on the west ramp complex. Our highly experienced staff of aviation professionals make us the right choice for your flight training or other aviation needs in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Aside from being a local veteran owned flight school we are also approved to do business with government customers seeking industry leading aviation support services.
Our offices are located at:
10600 Observation Road
Manassas, VA 20110
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Contracting Information
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The Team
Piston2Jet’s highly experienced and professional instructor staff has over 120 years of pilot experience and 20,000 hours combined flight time to meet and exceed your flight training needs. Many of our instructors have military aviation backgrounds ranging from fighters to bombers and even flight test. They are also highly experienced in general aviation and well prepared to provide flight instruction towards your pilot ratings and flying goals.
Whether you're learning for fun or seeking a career in the cockpit, we can pair you with an instructor that will guide you through the process with your safety, satisfaction, and overall experience at the forefront of their efforts.
Mike Hilton
"Hilts"
Co-Founder, Chief Pilot
USAF Lt Col, Ret
Mike has flight experience in over 30 different aircraft including the F-16, F-117 and the RO-6A. He has provided flight instruction to civilian, government, and military pilots alike. As Chief Pilot Hilts oversees all of P2J's flight training operations and flight instructors. Hilts is also a key player in management and developments of our relationships with key industry partners and organizations.
Doug Yurovich, PhD
"Smash"
Asst Chief Pilot
Chief Test Pilot
USMC Col, Ret
"Smash" has flight experience in over 60 types of aircraft, including the F-4, F/A-18 and the Harrier. He served as a US Navy, Marine Corps Detachment, Test Pilot at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Smash also serves as our Safety Director creating, managing, and improving our safety-of-flight guidelines and procedures. He's a distinguished member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is the Chief Test Pilot at Piston2Jet.
Garrett Lowe
"Swing"
Flight Instructor
USAF Lt Col, Ret
Garrett is a career professional aviator with over 5,500 total flight hours in both civilian and military aircraft; an extensive Air Force flight instruction background in trainer and fighter aircraft with combat tours in the F-16. Currently, as a commercial airline pilot, Garrett is rated in and has flown the 737, 757 and 767 aircraft. As a Piston2Jet flight instructor, Garrett, aka “Swing”, brings more than 25 years of teaching experience to new aviators.
Jonathan Loveless
"Dusty"
Co-Founder, Flight Instructor
Jonathan has had a serious addiction to aviation all of his life. As the years have passed he has become a professional pilot, airshow junkie, warbird aficionado, and flight instructor. Dusty has accumulated 4,200+ hours of flight time in 20+ aircraft types including the King Air 350, MC-12W, T-6 Texan, and various other classic and general aviation aircraft. Dusty works to grow Piston2Jet through creative marketing strategies and assists in the creation of new and exciting flight training opportunities that you won't be able to find anywhere else!
Gordon Landale
Flight Instructor
US Army Lt Col, Ret
Gordon is a retired Army Officer with over 26 years of service, 17 of which were in Special Operations as a Green Beret. He used his GI Bill to turn his flying hobby into a post-military professional pilot career. The only thing he enjoys more than flying is being able to share it with others, helping people reach their goals, building safe, competent, and confident pilots while having fun in the process. A veterans’ advocate, Gordon also volunteers his time helping transitioning veterans use their benefits to pursue educational opportunities. Passionate about safety and continuing education, Gordon is also a FAA Safety Team (FAAST) volunteer representative.
Julian Dion
Flight Instructor
Julian Dion, a veteran of the Austrian Armed Forces, was trained to be an instructor by none other than "Smash" himself. Julian has experience in all popular civilian trainer aircraft and has previous experience in teaching, namely being an English teacher in Nepal and a snowboard instructor in the Alps. He is a prime example of the quality of training that one can receive at P2J.
Claire Orsini
Flight Instructor
Claire is a seasoned aviation professional with an extensive background in the airline world as a flight attendant and is part of a major airline cadet program! She is a multilingual Certified Flight Instructor and Instrument Instructor with countless hours in our cornerstone Diamond Aircraft DA-20's and DA-40's. She hopes to become an airline pilot one day connecting continents and people together in a way only a true professional like herself can do.