10/22/2026
✈️ FORT SCOTT AIRPORT PILOT SPOTLIGHT ✈️
We're kicking off a new weekly series featuring the pilots and passengers who come through Fort Scott Municipal Airport — and our first spotlight is a hometown pilot.
Meet Nate Lyons of Fort Scott, Kansas. Nate is a commercial-rated pilot who flies a 1969 Piper Cherokee 140 — and he was born and raised right here in Fort Scott.
Aviation runs in Nate's family. His grandfather, father, most of his uncles, and many of his cousins are pilots or were connected to aviation one way or another. Nate earned his private certificate at 19, then stepped away from flying for a while. He came back to aviation in 2024 and has since earned his commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating.
His favorite thing about flying? "Flying is always fun. I love sharing that excitement with other people. There is a certain amount of pride that comes from earning a rating or expanding your knowledge and skillset as a pilot. I love that feeling, and I love the process."
What's next: Nate is currently working on his Flight Instructor certificate and is excited to teach new aspiring pilots. He's putting down roots right here at the airport, too — Nate is leasing five office spaces at Fort Scott Municipal Airport, where he's working to build a business that supports a flight school and leases aircraft to students, giving new pilots a place to learn and train close to home. As he builds time and experience, he also hopes to fly for a local Part 91 operation as a corporate pilot — flying for a living while staying close to home and his family while his kids are still young. And with a pilot in the family, the Lyons family is looking forward to traveling to places that might not have been possible before.
His advice for anyone thinking about learning to fly: "Just go for it. There are a lot of different paths to follow in aviation. Start close to home if possible. Go to your local FBO and talk to some pilots — we love to talk about aviation. We all started with that first flight. It takes time and persistence, but it's a passion worth pursuing."
Thanks for being our very first spotlight, Nate! Watch for a new feature each week — and if you fly into Fort Scott Municipal Airport, stop in and say hello. You might be next!
