Flying was in Roy Halladay's blood. His father was a corporate pilot and Halladay loved the air from a young age.
"I grew up around airplanes and always wanted to get my license, but it didn't happen and I ended up playing baseball, so it wasn't one of the things I was allowed to do," Halladay said less than a month ago via ICON Aircraft.
"When I retired, that was one of the first things I wanted to do."
This quote is especially harrowing after Halladay passed away Tuesday in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. Halladay, who was 40, was in a single-engine ICON A5 that he owned. In fact, Halladay had just starred in a video for ICON Aircraft. His new plane was the first Model Year 2018 (MY18) A5 produced by the company.
This spot was released on Oct. 12 and is now cringeworthy.
It's hard to watch Halladay's wife, Brandy, say of her husband getting a plane, "I was very against it." She does add that after seeing her husband fly, she became very "excited" about the couple owning a plane.
Halladay, who won two Cy Young Awards and made eight All-Star Games as a pitcher for the Blue Jays and Phillies, was the only victim of the flight. He leaves behind Brandy and their two children.
Since the initial ICON Aircraft video came out with Halladay, he made the vehicle his Twitter cover photo. He also posted multiple photos and videos of views of and from the plane.
Can’t begin to explain all the breathtaking views I have seen thru the open windows of demo’s & now my very own Icon A5! Thx to all at Icon! pic.twitter.com/BZsXqcHFmt
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 13, 2017
What do clouds feel like? I didn’t know either until I got my new Icon A5! I’m getting bruises on my arms from constantly pinching myself! pic.twitter.com/BaObEUj3Xo
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 13, 2017
I have dreamed about owning a A5 since I retired! Real life is better then my dreams!! Thx Kirk & everyone @ICONAircraft pic.twitter.com/wkk6TtjAY4
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 13, 2017
Another above average view thanks to my Icon A5! Time it took to get from my lake to here 15min... Having a island to yourself.. Priceless!! pic.twitter.com/oWn7jCHC05
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 17, 2017
I’m really not big on posting pic’s of my stuff and I’ll never be on Cribs... but this A5 is so outrageous I’d feel guilty not sharing pics! pic.twitter.com/UUmZMfgsff
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 17, 2017
I keep telling my dad flying the Icon A5 low over the water is like flying a fighter jet! His response..... I am flying a fighter jet!! pic.twitter.com/30eVjz9eS6
— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 31, 2017
Captain @RoyHalladay took me on my first plane ride today! Great time flying! pic.twitter.com/LNoioHP87p
— matheu nelson (@matheu_nelson) November 5, 2017
A little flying with pilot Roy ✈️ @RoyHalladay pic.twitter.com/tOLxWyGldI
— Hud (@nolanhudi) November 5, 2017
Sheriff Chris Nocco of Pasco County gave a heartfelt tribute to Halladay while delivering news of his death:
Sheriff Chris Nocco confirms Roy Halladay's death after crashing his plane in the Gulf of Mexico. pic.twitter.com/iL8NnI571A
— NBC Sports Philly (@NBCSPhilly) November 7, 2017
As of 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday evening, ICON Aircraft was yet to publicly comment on Halladay's accident.
-- Follow Jeff Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband. Like Jeff Eisenband on Facebook.