When It All Comes Together

This year I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 UP Summit, representing Textron eAviation’s Pipistrel Aircraft and showcasing the Velis Electro, the world’s first fully certified electric airplane.

To stand alongside innovators, visionaries, and pioneers in aviation and space was nothing short of surreal. The Summit wasn’t just about the aircraft—it was about possibility. From discussions on redefining space travel to demonstrations of technologies once thought impossible, the energy in the room was electric in every sense of the word. You could feel the future taking shape.

What struck me most was the realization that I was no longer just watching from the outside. I was part of it. After years of training, late nights studying, chasing opportunities, and enduring setbacks, here I was—contributing, representing, and connecting with the very community that had inspired me from the start. It wasn’t a finish line, but it was a moment of affirmation. A reminder that perseverance pays off, and that every detour and challenge can still lead you exactly where you’re meant to go.