Capt. John J. Sax: First Formation Flight

A story about Capt. John J. Sax's first formation flight, and one of his guiding mantras.

We’d like to take a moment to share another cherished John story with our followers. This foundation’s mission extends beyond providing aviation scholarships in honor of Capt. John J. Sax – it’s also about sharing his inspiring journey. Our aim is to inspire others to relentlessly pursue their dreams, embodying the qualities exemplified by John in their own lives as a tribute to his legacy.

This photo captures a significant moment – John’s first formation flight as a civilian pilot, prior to his commissioning to become a Marine Corps Aviator. Each milestone achieved by John brought him profound joy, as unmistakably expressed by his radiant, uncontainable smile captured in this image.

A core belief John held throughout his life was the importance of continuous growth and forward movement. He advocated embracing discomfort, as comfort and growth rarely coexist. Whether it’s attending ground school, purchasing your first copy of the FAR/AIM, building your first model, or embarking on a solo flight, we hope you will feel encouraged to celebrate each step towards the achievement of a new milestone or accomplishment.

We often echo our mantra, “with all we do, we honor him,” and along with that comes the courage to venture into the unknown and welcome new challenges. Today, we invite our followers to find inspiration in John’s story, joining us in honoring him by taking meaningful action – no matter how large or small.