Jason had run a construction company in New York for 10 years but had lost his passion for it.
His real interest was breaking into the aviation industry.
But every lender he approached said the same thing:
“You have zero aviation experience. Why would we fund you?”
So Jason and his employee Charlie got creative.
Eight months after joining Acquisition Ace, they bought a skydiving business in Maryland for $200K.
Here’s the full story 👇
Finding the Deal
Jason and Charlie knew traditional lenders wouldn’t fund an aviation deal without industry experience.
But skydiving operations use aircraft, manage pilots, and require FAA compliance, perfect for building aviation credibility.
They found Skydive Chesapeake in Eastern Maryland - an underperforming operation running 2-3 days per week with zero marketing and one aging aircraft.
The previous owner had neglected the business, but the assets alone (aircraft, parachutes, equipment) were worth $250K-$300K.
(In the Acquisition Ace community, members learn how to structure creative deals when traditional financing isn’t available. Want to learn these strategies? Book a call with our team here.)
The Deal Breakdown
Purchase price: $200K
Assets included: One aircraft ($180K value), all skydiving equipment, airport lease
Cash flow: Estimated $30K-$40K annually (mostly unreported cash)
Down payment: $10K each from Jason, Charlie, and a third partner (licensed skydiver)
Financing: Private lender at 12% interest-only with two lump-sum payments over three years
Their third partner (who has skydiving experience) took 65% equity and moved to Maryland to run operations, while Jason and Charlie split the remaining 35%.
Four days before closing, they still didn’t have financing…
So they tapped their entire networks, and finally found a construction industry friend who funded the deal.
What They’re Doing Now
They’re opening more days per week, adding a second aircraft, and implementing actual marketing (the previous owner did none).
Next week, they're putting a deposit on 35 acres across from the airport to build a campground — creating a second revenue stream and making "fun jumpers" (licensed skydivers) profitable.
Their goal: grow from $30K to $300K in annual cash flow within 2-3 years, then use this aviation experience to acquire a private jet company.
Their Key Lesson
“You get out what you put in. Be patient, be resilient, and you’re going to hear a lot of nos. But when the yeses hit, they hit hard.”
Jason and Charlie didn’t let “no aviation experience” stop them.
They found a creative path and executed on it.
Looking to close your first acquisition?
Join the Acquisition Ace community with 2,000+ members who are learning to find, finance, and close deals just like Jason and Charlie.
To see if our community is a good fit…
👉 Book a call with our team here.
Onward,
— Ben Kelly
