The Jonas Brothers

I flew Joe Jonas and his entourage from Joburg up to the town of Maun a few days ago in order to visit a ministry that he and the brothers support. If I hadn't been told he was a big deal, I never would have known it - he was a very mellow, kind, easygoing guy. A local paper did a story on it, which follows:

Local Pilot Soars to New Heights

The Batswanareadit?, June 10, 2010

by staff writer Andrew Weiseth

One man’s dream came true recently when Joe Jonas, of the world-renowned Jonas Brothers, was invited to Johannesburg, South Africa. The country’s President, Jacob Zuma was putting on a lavish, five day celebration in the brothers’ honor and Joe was invited there to represent his brothers. The festivals climactic point came when President Zuma brought out his giant scissors from his giant desk drawer and had Joe cut the ceremonial ribbon. Synchronized with the cumbersome snip were great cheers of celebration, trumpets and the “pardoning” of countless doves. The moment christened not only the city square’s new Jonas Brothers statue, but its official renaming to Jonasberg.

From here, Joe continued his global “Illumination Tour” with a flight north to Maun. Enter into the story, Pete Weiseth (Pilot). “When he boarded the plane I literally wet my pants, right there in my seat” said Pete. “He was surprising cool about it though. He actually signed the pants! They’re hanging in my garage now.”

“ …they were in my house but my family made me move them” Pete added sheepishly.

Flying and the Jonas Brothers have been Pete’s core passions for years now. “I’ve only loved flying longer than I’ve loved the Jonas Brothers because …well, I’m older than them” Pete said gazing dreamily at the wall. There hangs his photo (printed here) taken with Joe Jonas. Pete calls it “the most amazingly amazing day” of his life. His iron-on t-shirt, watch face, lanyard, his airplane’s dashboard and likely several other places have been branded with this photo as well.

When asked what other goals he had for his life Pete’s demeanor shifted radically. “What?! It’s like …it’s like you’re asking a climber at the [expletive deleted] peak of Mt. Everest!” After a long, uncomfortable pause his eyes fixed to the sky. Then he spoke again, as though to himself, “Has any mortal discovered an earthly zenith beyond this?” Hoping to move on we asked him about any strictly aeronautical dreams he might have. However by this point Pete was curled on the floor drooling, petting his “Precious Joe” photo (as he called it) and mumbling some repetitious, indiscernibly high-pitched phrase. The interview seemed to end at this point.

As for Joe Jonas’ future travels, we can only imagine the countless other pilots yet to fly him, and be flown by him as Pete was.