A view inside the College Park Airport museum.
A view inside the College Park Airport museum. (WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson makes a touchdown catch against New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium, Sunday Nov. 5, 2023 in Foxborough, Mass.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson makes a touchdown catch against New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium, Sunday Nov. 5, 2023 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini
A view inside the College Park Airport museum.
A view inside the College Park Airport aviation museum. (WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter
Newly acquired Washington Commanders cornerback Jonathan Jones (middle right) literally flew into the College Park Airport in Maryland on Tuesday, where he greeted a few dozen fans gathered at the aviation museum. (WTOP/Alan Etter)
WTOP/Alan Etter
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Newly acquired Washington Commanders cornerback Jonathan Jones literally flew into the College Park Airport in Maryland on Tuesday, where he greeted a few dozen fans gathered at the aviation museum.
The point was to inspire people, especially young people, to become pilots.
Jones, 31, has been flying for three years and is a private pilot capable of flying on instruments. He uses the discipline he has learned from playing football while flying.
“I can remember the first time they let me take the controls, it was a feeling like I should have been here before … so I just fell in love with aviation at that point,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of pressure (playing football), there’s a moment that you have to block all of that out and focus.”
Jones, who played college football at Auburn University, signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He was picked up by the Commanders in the off season.
“Since I was a kid, I always had this dream of becoming a pilot,” said 16-year-old Abdur Rahman, who is originally from Sudan. “Is there any advice that you can give me?”
“You understand the opportunity that you have,” Jones responded. “Don’t ever forget that.”
The College Park Airport and associated museum is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world.
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