Jon Melby
American airshow pilot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jon Melby (born August 6, 1961) is an American airshow pilot and aerobatic performer who has flown at airshows throughout North America. He is known for flying a high-performance Pitts biplane and has appeared in aviation media, including the Discovery Channel series Airshow. Melby also promotes aviation advocacy and confidence-building through his FearBoss initiative.[1]
Jon Melby | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 6, 1961 Hastings, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur and retired airshow pilot |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | Aerobatic airshow performances |
Early life
Melby was born in Hastings, Minnesota, and developed an early interest in aviation after attending airshows as a child, where he was inspired by legendary aviators such as Bob Hoover. He learned to solo in a glider before turning 16 and earned his private pilot license at age 19 after purchasing a Cessna 150.[2]
Military service
Melby served in the United States Air Force, where he worked as a loadmaster aboard MC-130 aircraft in the special operations community, including the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW), 8th Special Operations Squadron (8th SOS) based at Hurlbert Field, Florida, from 1980 to 1984. After leaving active duty, he continued aviation pursuits that eventually led to aerobatic flying.[3]
Aerobatic and airshow career
Initially went for a ride in a Pitts S2B aerobatic aircraft. He immediately joined a partnership with 4 others in the aircraft. He received his tailwheel endorsement in a Piper J-3 Cub. Then he received his aerobatic certification in a Great Lakes biplane, and received 10 hours of training in the Pitts S2B. All accomplished at Chandler Air Service, Chandler Municipal Airport (Arizona). He obtained certification as an airshow pilot in 2001 and made his first professional airshow appearance in October 2002.[4][2]
Over his career, Melby has flown at more than 200 airshows across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, performing high-energy routines in a Pitts S-1-11B biplane. He was announced as a featured performer at the 2025 Duluth Air Show, marking a return to his hometown.[1][5]
Melby also appeared as a featured pilot in the Discovery Channel Canada television documentary series Airshow, which follows airshow pilots and performers.[6]
Filmography
Television
- Airshow (2015) : Documentary television series; appeared as himself in multiple episodes.[6]
Other activities
Melby has developed a personal development framework called FearBoss, which focuses on identifying and addressing fear in personal, professional, and aviation-related contexts.[7] He is the author of KingdomNomics, which discusses fear management and entrepreneurship,[8] and The Adventures of Jumping Jonny, a children's book that introduces aviation concepts using a simplified version of the FearBoss framework.[9] He has also written Airshow Pilot, an autobiographical account of his aviation career.
Outside of publishing, Melby is the president of LoveJoy Clinic LLC, a healthcare company founded in 2019 that provides bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.[10] He has also served as executive director of United Community Fund, Inc. since 2008, a nonprofit organization that assists individuals and families.[5]
Aircraft
Melby has used the Pitts S2B, Pitts S-1-11B, and Beechcraft Bonanza E33C in airshow performances.
- Pitts S-1-11B : Aerobatic biplane used by Melby in airshow performances.