ABOUT MIKE

Mike Mainiero is the founder of M2 Aviation Specialty, bringing together a career rooted in professional airmanship with a passion for high-performance and heritage flight. By trade, Mike is a Boeing 777 Captain for an international cargo airline, along with extensive operational experience in the charter and private sectors in both jet and turboprop aircraft. His commitment to safety and precision is foundational, evidenced by his background aiding with the development of advanced jet Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) in business jet aircraft. This rigorous professional background complemented with 7,000 flight hours and experience in over 100 aircraft makes and models brings about an operational excellence and discipline across all facets of aviation that Mike is a part of.

 

His flight passion lies in specialized and demanding aircraft. Mike performs the M2 Airshows act in the high-performance Sukhoi Su-29, having trained with the Sukhoi West Demo Team to master the aircraft's capabilities. His diverse experience is further showcased by his involvement as a member of the Patriots Jet Team, performing non-aerobatic formation demonstrations in the Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros. Additionally, Mike is a highly experienced PIC in the B-25 Mitchell, flying historical demonstrations at airshows across the country with the Commemorative Air Force.

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Complementing his pilot credentials, Mike is an accomplished aviation photographer, specializing in dynamic air-to-air sequences since the early 2010s. His unique advantage as a highly skilled formation aerobatic pilot coupled with his photographic background ensures the definitive shot is captured. This combination of deep technical understanding and artistic vision allows M2 Aviation Specialty to deliver breathtaking imagery of piston and jet aircraft that truly captures the soul of flight.