Aaron Myers Lyon

I'm fun loving, adventurous, and romantic. I love having a good time with friends and family. Flying is one of my greatest joys in life! I believe in learning from your mistakes. Having a plan for the future is only part of the equation, you need the perseverance to see it through.

I live in Pasco County Florida with my wife Nikki and our daugther Amelia Mae. I have been a private pilot for nearly 10 years and I still love it as much today as I did when I first started my training. In addition to my love of flying I am also an avid Aviation and Space art collector. I have been incredibly fortunate to have met countless astronauts, aviation greats, and artists.

I was first drawn to aviation art 6 or so years ago. While in Auburn working on my Bachelor's Degree, I came across some aviation art that really spoke to my passion for aviation, space, and the pioneers of the aerospace industry. The painting was from the Gathering of Eagles series which is commisioned by the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. After doing a little research I discovered that the artist was not only local but that he was an Auburn graduate. A short time later I had the pleasure of meeting artist Jay Ashurst. Since that time Jay and I have become great friends.

One of the things that I loved so much about Jay's art was the detail. Jay is always pooring over old pictures and diagrams, trying to make sure that he captures every detail no matter how small. The Gathering of Eagles series was started as a way for the ACSC graduating class to select and recognize some of the still living aerospace pioneers. These "Eagles" were invited to an event where they could share stories of their incredible experiences, and be honored for their contribution to the aerospace industry. Each year the ACSC would commision a new painting to recognize that years "Eagles". The painting included an individual portrait of each "Eagle" which would be displayed vertically along the sides of a larger center panel which featured a scene that included one aircraft for each "Eagle". Underneath the individual portraits the "Eagles" would hand sign each print in pencil. These prints were then sold to raise money for a scholorship that is awarded each year. The combination of incredible art along with with signatures from aviation greats, made the Gathering of Eagles series instantly appealing to me.

Over the past few years I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to put together a truely incredible collection of art. I have chosen to focus on pieces that incorporate not only beautiful art but also ones that include the signatures of those being recognized by the painting. Because each piece is commercially signed there can be no question about the authenticity.

My collection includes every Gathering of Eagles painting, from the program's inception in 1982 to present (most painted by Jay Ashurst); 4 paintings by Robert Rassmusen including, Apollo Navy to the Moon, Naval Aviation in Space, Naval Aviation, and Mercury the Pioneers; 3 paintings by astronaut Alan Bean including, In the Beginning, Reaching for the Stars, and Houston We Have a Problem; 1 painting by Ron Lewis titled Moonwalkers; 1 painting by Patrick Eby titled Mercury and Beyond; along with several pieces by Roy Grinnell, Rick Herter, and Mike Machat. I do have duplicates of a few pieces and would consider selling or trading. If there is something in particular that you are interested in just let me know.

I have just completed putting together a website for my friend Jay Ashurst. The website features a large inventory of aviation art that is available for sale as well as a portfolio showcasing some of his other work. You can find more information about him at www.JayAshurstArt.com.