Jamail Larkins’ Journey from MSFS to Aviation Ambassador

By; Shawn Staerker

What if someone told you that playing video games could actually launch your career? For most of us, that sounds too good to be true. But for Jamail Larkins, founder of Aviation Start and aviation ambassador for the FAA, it all started with hours and hours of Microsoft Flight Simulator. His story proves that sometimes your biggest dreams begin in the most unexpected places.

Picture this: a 12-year-old kid from Augusta, Georgia, spending every afternoon after school glued to his computer, flying virtual Delta 777s from Atlanta to destinations across the country. That kid was Jamail, and he was “probably the very first generation of gamers that are out there.”

But Jamail’s story takes off when he decided to bridge the gap between virtual and reality. After two years of flight simulator obsession, he stumbled upon something that would change his life forever – the Young Eagles program. Through an online aviation chat room, a Delta Airlines captain told him about this amazing opportunity where kids could actually fly in real airplanes.

“After flying over my house, my middle school, I fell in love with aviation,” Jamail recalls of that first Young Eagles flight in a 1956 Cessna 172. But here’s the kicker – it wasn’t just the flying that hooked him. It was when the pilot “let me put my hands on the controls of an airplane” that everything clicked.

Most kids would accept that you have to wait until 16 to fly solo in the United States. Not Jamail. At 13, he decided to petition the federal government for an exemption to fly solo before his 16th birthday – something that had never been granted before.

He flew with over six different flight instructors and two designated examiners, all of whom wrote letters to the FAA saying this kid could safely handle an airplane solo. The FAA’s response? “We need more information” – which Jamail later learned was “a polite brush off.”

But here’s where his story gets absolutely wild. When he discovered that in Canada, you only need to be 14 to fly solo, he didn’t ask his parents for money. Instead, he wrote to over 100 aviation companies asking for sponsorship.

Ready for this? Ninety-three companies said no.

“Literally every week I was getting letters from different companies I had wrote and they were saying, ‘Good luck, but unfortunately we can’t support you,'” Jamail remembers. “But I kept on going.”

After that 93rd rejection, something magical happened – company number 94 said yes. Then it was like floodgates opened, and he raised enough money to head north.

By 18, Jamail had gone from flight simulator enthusiast to certified aerobatic pilot performing as the opening act for the Blue Angels. Think about that for a second – this kid went from his bedroom computer to sharing the stage with the most elite pilots in the world.

“It was probably one of the coolest experiences,” he says about performing aerobatics in front of 100,000 people. “You can imagine being at a pretty big size air show. It’s your very first show that you’re going to be performing at. And you’re the opening act for the entire show with the Blue Angels headlining it.”

But the story doesn’t stop there. Jamail Larkins’ unique journey caught the attention of national television, landing him a spot performing live aerobatics on the Late Show with David Letterman. Picture this: a live satellite feed hooked up to his aerobatic biplane’s cockpit while Letterman filmed the show.

While most college students are figuring out their majors, Jamail was already launching aviation businesses. At 21, he wanted to start an aircraft leasing company – buying planes and leasing them to flight schools. The challenge? Try walking into a bank as a 21-year-old asking for a seven-figure loan.

“How many banks laughed me out of their office literally because I was a 21-year-old kid,” he laughs. But just like with his Canadian adventure, rejection wasn’t the end of the story. He found alternative financing, proved his concept worked, and eventually built a seven-figure portfolio leasing aircraft to flight schools and major universities.

His advice for young entrepreneurs? “Do not give up just because you get the first few no’s.” Sound familiar?

Today, Jamail’s focus has shifted from personal aviation achievements to something much bigger – solving America’s aviation workforce crisis. As the FAA’s first ambassador for aviation and space education, he discovered some shocking statistics:

• 83% of all aircraft mechanics are scheduled to retire within the next 10 years
• 50% of commercial pilots will retire in that same timeframe
• The FAA needs to hire 54% of its workforce within five years

“If we want our Amazon packages to arrive every single day, if we want to be able to travel for business… there’s so many aspects of aviation that’s critical to every person’s actual life,” Jamail explains.

This realization led to Aviation Start – a comprehensive platform connecting people with aviation careers and the resources to pay for training. The biggest revelation? There’s over $20 million in aviation scholarships available annually that most people don’t know about.

Through Aviation Start, Jamail has created something that didn’t exist when he was starting out – a complete roadmap for aviation careers. Whether you want to become a pilot, mechanic, air traffic controller, or work in airport operations, the platform provides:

• Access to the largest aviation scholarship database
• Connections with flight schools and training programs
• Resources for equipment and supplies
• Clear pathways from “sitting inside of a desk one day while you’re in high school” to “walking into your very first day on the job”

The best part? It’s completely free at aviationstart.org.

Throughout his journey, one theme emerges clearly: Jamail simply doesn’t understand the word “no.” Whether it was 93 sponsorship rejections, countless bank denials, or FAA bureaucracy, he kept pushing forward.

“I just didn’t understand no,” he reflects. “A lot of people fall victim to giving up too quickly. If you have a dream, you have a goal, it’s important to see it through.”

This isn’t just motivational speak – it’s proven strategy. His career demonstrates that persistence, combined with adaptability and hard work, can turn even the wildest dreams into reality.

Jamail’s story shows us something powerful: your path doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. He thought he’d become an airline pilot but ended up as an entrepreneur, aerobatic performer, and workforce advocate. He discovered that “there was more opportunities out there than just flying for a living.”

For anyone feeling stuck or unsure about their future, Jamail’s advice is simple: “Keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities that may not necessarily be prevalent to you off the rip.”

The aviation industry is facing its biggest workforce challenge in history, which means unprecedented opportunities for young people willing to pursue them. Whether you’re drawn to the technical side, the business side, or just love the idea of working around aircraft, there’s a place for you.

Jamail Larkins’ journey from Microsoft Flight Simulator to aviation ambassador proves that extraordinary careers often start with ordinary interests. The key is recognizing opportunities, staying persistent through rejections, and never giving up on your dreams.

Ready to explore what aviation has to offer? Check out Jamail Larkins’ full interview on The Future in Flight Podcast to hear more about his incredible journey, including that mysterious aviation dream he’s working on that “we’re going to make a reality here in the near future.”

And remember – whether you’re 12 years old playing flight simulator or 22 years old looking for your next adventure, the sky really is the limit. Just ask the kid from Augusta who proved it’s possible to turn virtual flights into a very real career changing lives across the aviation industry.

Visit aviationstart.org to discover your path in aviation and access thousands of scholarships and opportunities. Your dream career might be just one click away.

Check out the full episode of The Future in Flight Podcast with Jamail Larkins here: Episode 25: Jamail Larkins