Latest News and Mission Update

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On Monday May 1 at 8am EDT, Dean Matt (aka MuchoDeanAero aka The Pickleball Pilot), a Sarasota-based pickleball addict and pilot since high school departed Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and set a World Record:

                    Most States in which a Pickleball Game was played in a 30 day period:  44 States.

Most days, I played two Pickleball Games in two different states; some days:  Three! 

I flew my plane, a Turbo Cessna 206H six passenger aircraft while making 48 stops along the way.  

Local and national media covered this adventure and the local pickleball community.

Dean was joined by fellow pilots, members from the pickleball community, his wife and more at various stops along the way.  The result was a TONS ' O FUN pickleball and aviation-related adventure. 

Here's the Support and Traveling Team line up for The 48-48-48 Pickleball Challenge:

Mission Specialist and Technical and Weather Decision Support:     Shannon Yeager

Traveling Player, Videographer and Aircraft Support:

                          Stops   1 -    7 (Mobile, AL - Kansas City, MO):  Sarasota's Ron Kenan

                          Stops 15 - 18  (Portland, OR - Salt Lake City, UT): My wife, Luanne

                          Stops 22 - 28  (Sioux Falls, SD - Greater Kalamazoo, MI): Sioux Falls' Rod Anderson

                          Stops 29 - 40  (Greater Indianapolis - Providence, RI): Franklin Indiana's Kurt Lampke

                          Stops 41 - 48  (Darien, CT - Greater Tampa, FL):  California's Jimmy Santangelo

                          Stop 48 - (Greater Tampa, FL): Vince Golden and Luanne Matt

Co-Pilot:

                          Stops 8 - 12:  Barrington, IL and Daytona Beach, FL's CP Jois