Jon Counsell

Jon “Jughead” Counsell, a Moses Lake, WA native, is a retired USAF fighter, instructor and civilian pilot with over 13,000 hours experience in over 75 types of aircraft, gliders, helicopters and skydiving. Lt Colonel Jon “Jughead’ Counsell entered the Air Force in 1991 upon graduating from Central Washington University ROTC as a Distinguished Graduate. Over his twenty-year career Jon logged over 5,000 hours in the F-15C, T-6 Texan II, T-34C, T-38 and EA-11. Jon’s assignments have included flying North American Air Defense (NORAD) missions over Alaska, Instructing with the Navy at Pensacola NAS. Leading Large Force missions in the f-15 while stationed at Mtn Home AFB, ID. He served as Director of Safety for all Air Forces in the Republic of Korea before his final assignment as a T-38C Instructor Pilot at Laughlin AFB TX. Jon deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, logging over 700 hours in the EA-11, (Global Express) in 6 months. Jon flew and narrated airshows as a pilot flying L-39’s with the Patriots Jet Team for 11 years. Since retirement Jon has flown Global Expresses supporting US Gov’t laser mapping contracts and taught upset recovery training as a Master Aerobatic Instructor flying Extra 300’s. Jon is currently a Captain for Alaska Airlines where he specializes in South-East Alaska flying. Jon and his black lab Dakota are routinely found flying off-airport around the Pacific Northwest in his C-170. Thousands around the world enjoy watching their adventures at YouTube/Jughead Counsell. Jon provides specialized instruction on tailwheel, advanced handling, upsets and mountain flying out of Snohomish, WA. Jughead’s motivational story has been featured on Dateline NBC, Discovery Impact, National Geographic and numerous magazine and newspaper articles highlighting his survival of a supersonic ejection. Jon has been narrating airshows in his tails for over 20 years and has served as the voice and humor of the STOL competition at Oshkosh, Sun-N-Fun and National STOL Series events. Jon is also an accomplished STOL DRAG and Traditional STOL competition pilot, having won or placed in several events in his C-170. Jon is also an accomplished ferry pilot. When not flying, Jon relaxes upland hunting, cycling, snow skiing, fishing and hiking with his wife Marianne.