about Ignite Flight
Ignite Flight is a premier flight school in Lincoln, Nebraska, driven by a passion for aviation and a love for helping people achieve their aviation dreams. Our professional Pilot Academy offers pilot career training for airline, charter, corporate aviation, and more. We also provide recreational flight training. We are truly honored to inspire and enable your aviation dreams.
Our Conviction
We were created with a love for people and a passion to serve.
Our Mission
WE INSPIRE, ENABLE AND TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH AVIATION - ONE RELATIONSHIP, ONE FLIGHT, ONE STORY AT A TIME.
We follow four simple core values:
Do everything with integrity
Innovate & improve
Invest in others
Apply truth & grace
meet our team
Bill Heckathorn
President/Founder
bill@igniteflight.com
Bill got his start in the aviation industry working at a flight school while working on his certificates and ratings. In 2000, he earned his CFI and worked for a university flight training program. After that, he managed an FBO and sold new/used aircraft. Bill has always had an entrepreneurial spirit to him, which led him to start Ignite Flight Academy in 2004.
Ignite Flight (then Performance Aircraft) started as an aircraft sales company and the flight school was added in 2006. In 2019, it transitioned to 100% flight training. Bill has a passion to help people succeed at following their aviation dreams, whether that is flying for recreation or making it a career.
Eric Hartwell
admissions / project manager
eric@igniteflight.com
Eric’s journey with Ignite Flight began as a customer back in 2008. He started flight training in a Cessna 172SP Skyhawk during his senior year of high school at Lincoln East and completed his private pilot certificate that July. In February 2011, Eric started an internship at Performance, which grew into a part time position.In 2012 Eric became the flight training manager
and then in 2020 moved into managing admissions and projects. Eric helps others understand the advantages of learning to fly at Ignite Flight.In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife Lauren, their cat Winnie, disc golfing, trap shooting, and (of course) flying.
RICH BATES
Chief Flight Instructor
rich@igniteflight.com
Rich came to Lincoln from the Pacific Northwest where he previously served as a lecturer, flight instructor, and eventually as the chief instructor in a collegiate aviation department. The allure of a smaller, innovative, and relationship focused flight school is what drew him to Ignite Flight.A Gold Seal instructor who has taught instrument, multiengine, and
CFI Rich now enjoys mentoring and coaching young flight instructors so they can better teach their students.
Rich, his wife, and two kids used to enjoy the mountains and forests of the PNW, but now in Nebraska are open to suggestions for new activities.
Rich, his wife, and two kids used to enjoy the mountains and forests of the PNW, but now in Nebraska are open to suggestions for new activities.
Jacob Wilson
Assistant chief Flight Instructor
In 1974, attending Oklahoma State University, Jacob’s interest in aviation took off. Now after 45 years in industry and counting, Jacob has been a Flight Instructor, Charter Pilot, Corporate Pilot, worked for over 5 different airlines, and so much more. Finally Jacob spent 23 years as an aviation safety inspector. Flew everything from small pistons to a Boeing 737.
Today Jacob is still the director of operations for the Missionary Aviation Foundation’s part 135 certificate. Still wanting to be active in the air, we are proud to have Jacob as a CFI at Ignite Flight.
Outside of aviation Jacob’s life is just as busy. Married, Jacob has 3 adult children all still close to home. He even helps his wife with show horses. Jacob is also the President of Fellowship and Haiti’s Children’s Hope Org.
Outside of aviation Jacob’s life is just as busy. Married, Jacob has 3 adult children all still close to home. He even helps his wife with show horses. Jacob is also the President of Fellowship and Haiti’s Children’s Hope Org.
Molly heckathorn
Admissions Coordinator
Raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Molly has grown up to love the charm and culture of the Midwest. From a young age she has been immersed in the world of aviation, experiencing the thrill of flight through countless adventures with her dad. After a year of studying in Kansas City, she returned to Lincoln, where she joined the Ignite Flight family.
Outside of her work in admissions at Ignite Flight, she continues to study online, working towards a degree in counseling. In her free time, she pursues her passion for music and can often be found playing piano. She also enjoys hanging out with friends and family and doing almost any activity outside.
sarah heckathorn
controller
sarah@igniteflight.com
Sarah has been part of the Ignite Flight family since its founding in 2004. She is an integral part of the team as she is equipped with an extensive understanding of how the company operates behind the scenes. She handles all of Ignite’s accounting and manages various other administrative tasks.
Whether Sarah is in her office or greeting people at the front desk, her strong attention to detail and dedication to customer service remain constant. Outside of work, she enjoys immersing herself in books and cherishing time spent with her family.
Greg love
Certified Flight Instructor
Aviation has been an enjoyable and challenging career for Greg since 1967. Flying allowed him to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He has been fortunate to fly airliners and military aircraft, and has an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot Certificate).Greg is a gold seal flight instructor who is certified to teach instrument (CFII) and multi-engine
(MEI) ratings He is also an advanced ground instructor (AGI).He enjoys working with students at Ignite Flight on a part-time basis, and hopes to promote aviation to all interested future aviators.
Sydney Paulson
Certified Flight Instructor
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Sydney spent much of her time looking up towards the sky. Her passion for aviation grew while attending Central Washington University where she Majored in Commercial Aviation and trained towards her flight certificates. While not flying, Sydney enjoys being outside near the water with her dog Cooper. She is excited to share her
knowledge and experience with new aviators so they may discover the joy in flying
sam simoneau
Certified Flight Instructor
sam@igniteflight.com
Sam joins us from a small town in Kansas where she grew up near Wichita, the capital of aviation. Coming from a family full of military pilots, it was no surprise that she would want to follow in their footsteps. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences, Sam aspires to
finish the remainder of her ratings and eventually become a professional pilot. Sam loves spending her time at the airport making relationships with other fellow aviation enthusiasts and taking Chuck, her Cessna 150, to grass strips and on long cross countries to see her family.
Travis Schmid
Certified Flight Instructor
A transplant from the Pacific Northwest, Travis started flying over the vast forests and the beautiful coastal regions of Washington State. He continued his passion for flying through Central Washington University, earning more certificates and ratings along the way, until settling in as a flight instructor. Travis’ favorite part of flying and instructing has been enjoying the
awesome mountain views and grabbing a bite to eat at the many restaurants located at airports around Washington. Travis comes to Ignite Flight Academy hoping to share his experience of flight instructing, create new memories and meet new people. Outside of flying, Travis enjoys hiking and camping along remote mountain lakes, or spending a day floating down a river in the summertime.
Torrey Wilson
Certified Flight Instructor
Torrey has always wanted to fly but did not realize it was possible until coming across the Ignite Flight Academy booth at an airshow. She signed up for a discovery flight and has been flying since. She attended UNL where she received a bachelor of science in nutrition and then completed a master’s degree in leadership with Doane University.
In her free time, she enjoys riding her motorcycle, ultrarunning, backpacking and spending time with family. She is excited to help students reach their aviation goals.
Madison Parde
Certified Flight Instructor
Madison Parde was born and raised in Ceresco, Nebraska. A small town fifteen minutes North of Lincoln.
She recently graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a degree in aviation with
a concentration in professional flight. She plans to pursue a career as an airline pilot.
Outside of flight instruction, Madison is an enlisted member of the Nebraska Air National Guard.
She serves as a Logistics Planner for the 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is
responsible for developing, evaluating, coordinating, and monitoring logistic operations to include coordinating with various agencies and wing staff to identify deployment and redeployment support. In short, she helps “get the right things, to the right place, at the right time.” When she is not busy flying or working as a Logistics Planner, Madison enjoys physical activities to include biking, kayaking, and lifting weights in the gym.
She serves as a Logistics Planner for the 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is
responsible for developing, evaluating, coordinating, and monitoring logistic operations to include coordinating with various agencies and wing staff to identify deployment and redeployment support. In short, she helps “get the right things, to the right place, at the right time.” When she is not busy flying or working as a Logistics Planner, Madison enjoys physical activities to include biking, kayaking, and lifting weights in the gym.
Tyler Suing
Flight Training Support
Tyler grew up in Eagle Nebraska and is currently a junior at Lincoln East High School- where he enjoys studying history and physics. He has loved aviation since a young age, and has recently started training at Ignite to obtain his private pilot certificate. Tyler has goals to continue on with his training past his private pilot certificate with the goal of becoming a professional pilot in the future.
During his free time Tyler enjoys flight simulation, video games, playing tennis, solving Rubick’s cubes and percussion at his school, especially marching percussion, where he plays the marching tenors.
Grant Bowden
Flight Training Support
Grant was born and raised here in Lincoln and works part time while attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Grant has spent his whole life with his eyes to skies and loved aviation since he was young. He earned his Private Pilot Certificate at Ignite in 2021 and started working with us in 2023. Grant is seeking a career in military aviation through the US Air Force, which he plans to commission into upon graduating from UNL.
When he’s not working or studying, Grant spends his time lifting at the gym, hiking, listening to podcasts and being with friends and family.
Hanna Batres
Flight Training Administrative Assistant
Hannah grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota where her father was stationed and served in the US Air Force. She joins the Ignite Flight family as an administrative assistant to help us better serve our customers. Hannah is passionate, motivated, and has a heart for helping people fulfill their purpose. When she’s not at work, Hannah enjoys traveling to new places, babysitting, playing games, and binge-watching Friends.
Joey Heckathorn
Team Mascot
Joey can be found walking the halls of Ignite Flight Academy encouraging everyone and spreading sunshine everywhere! Joey’s favorite thing to say is “woof”.
about Lincoln, nebraska
Home to the Nebraska State Capitol and the University of Nebraska, the city of Lincoln is a Midwestern community that appeals to young professionals because of its trendy shopping, nightlife, affordable housing options, trails and recreational opportunities, and highly rated restaurants.
What more could you want, right?