Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest, she has returned to the Knoxville area.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

In a keynote speech during the second-day opening session at NBAA-BACE, “Shark Tank” superstar Daymond John shared his recipe for successful entrepreneurship. The 54-year-old businessman, investor, and television personality explained how he hustled his way to the top despite growing up financially strained and having no college education.&nbsp;
He summed up his advice for aspiring business aviation entrepreneurs in a fitting acronym, SHARK, which stands for: set your goals, do your homework, amor (or “love” in Spanish), remember your brand, and keep swimming.&nbsp;
“Now you in the aviation world understand setting goals, because you understand how to set an automatic pilot,” he said, adding that when an aircraft veers off course “the automatic pilot keeps bringing me back. What I realized in life is that we may set goals on numbers we want to hit, we may set goals on destinations and logistics, but we don’t set our personal goals.”
John explained he went from handing out flyers for just a couple bucks an hour and waiting tables at Red Lobster to building his own hip-hop-inspired apparel company, FUBU. When he created FUBU (“For Us By Us”) in 1992, he was working from his mom’s house, sewing hats and screen-printing t-shirts with his logo.&nbsp;
“I set a goal that no matter what, we're gonna live, die, and prosper in the world of hip hop,” he said. “Now the only problem was I couldn't rap, I couldn't sing, I couldn't dance, and I couldn't produce.” Yet he stuck true to his goal.&nbsp;
To market the brand, he convinced some upcoming hip-hop artists from his neighborhood in Queens, New York, to begin wearing FUBU, and the brand started gaining popularity. But it was no overnight success; it took almost 10 years, multiple near-collapses, and a $100,000 mortgage loan on his mom’s house before FUBU really took off. Today, the company is worth more than $6 billion.&nbsp;
Now a successful financier and businessman, John has an estimated net worth of $350 million and often travels in business jets. Although he no longer owns a jet, he frequently charters flights.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

'Shark Tank' Star Daymond John Shares Entrepreneurial Tips at NBAA-BACE

Daymond John shared his recipe for success

In a keynote speech during Wednesday’s opening session at NBAA-BACE, “Shark Tank” superstar Daymond John shared his recipe for successful entrepreneurship.

'Shark Tank' Star Shares Entrepreneurial Tips at NBAA-BACE

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pre-tax earnings for service group climb 20.6%

NetJets, FlightSafety Revenue Rises in First-half 2026

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Financing supports Eco Caravan certification and hybrid-electric APU development

Ampaire Raises $19 Million for Hybrid-electric Airplanes

Kerry Lynch

Moody's assigned a Ba2 credit rating, up from Ba3, while maintaining a positive outlook

Moody's Upgrades Bombardier as Balance Sheet Improves

Matt Thurber

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Decision support system helps pilots assess risks up to 14 days ahead of planned flight

PlaneWX Pilots Save with 5X5 Insurance Safety Rewards

Component sales boosted Beta’s second-quarter revenue

Beta Is Turning Its eVTOL Competitors into Customers

Charles Alcock

UK group says it will complete Valo eVTOL’s critical design review this year 

Vertical Extends Cash Runway with Fresh eVTOL Funding 

Buyers urged to seek guidance, consider financing before finding an aircraft

IADA Panel: Financing Has Evolved Beyond a Buying Tool

Howard Hardee

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

NBAA-BACE 2023

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