Omslagafbeelding van de show The Future in Flight Podcast

The Future in Flight Podcast

Podcast door Creative Relay Media

Engels

Cultuur & Vrije Tijd

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Over The Future in Flight Podcast

Ready to explore the skies and unlock your potential in aviation? The Future in Flight Podcast is your go-to weekly show for inspiration, education, and empowerment. Produced by Creative Relay Media and AviNation USA, this engaging podcast connects young adults, teens, and their families with the tools and insights they need to pursue fulfilling aviation careers and hobbies. Each episode features captivating stories, expert interviews, and practical advice, blending family-friendly entertainment with cutting-edge industry insights. From highlighting young achievers to diving into the latest aviation technology, The Future in Flight Podcast is your roadmap to discovering the endless possibilities in the world of flight. Whether you’re dreaming of becoming a pilot, exploring aerospace engineering, or simply curious about the aviation industry, this podcast equips you to take off toward your goals. Subscribe now and join a growing community of future aviators ready to soar to new heights!

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65 afleveringen

aflevering The Long Way Around: Josh Blair on Wrenching, Flying, and Coming Home to GA artwork

The Long Way Around: Josh Blair on Wrenching, Flying, and Coming Home to GA

🗒️ Summary What does it look like to build a life in aviation from the ground up — literally? In this episode, Shawn sits down with Josh Blair, founder of BlairCraft and a multi-rated A&P/IA with one of the most diverse resumes in general aviation. From soloing at 16 out of a small Southern Ohio FBO to hanging engines on Boeing 767s, running turbine R&D programs at the University of Notre Dame, and now restoring tube-and-fabric classics in Northern Indiana — Josh has done it all, and he's just getting started. Josh talks about the attention to detail he developed restoring his first car at 14, how that mindset carried directly into aviation maintenance, and why he took a $30,000 pay cut to get back to the airport he loves. He shares his passion for backcountry and STOL flying, his growing YouTube channel BlairCraft, and the big projects on the horizon — including a PA-16 Clipper hot rod and a ground-up restoration of a 1967 Mooney M20E. Oh, and there's a runway being carved out of the Indiana countryside. With an excavator. That he bought himself. If you've ever wondered whether the unconventional path can still lead somewhere great in aviation, Josh Blair is your answer. 🔑 Key Points * Attention to detail starts early. Josh restored his first car — a 1989 Firebird — at 14 years old, clear-coating under the hood and finishing it by his 16th birthday. That same mindset became the foundation of his approach to aircraft maintenance. * A local airport changes everything. Josh's first W-2 job was at PMH (Portsmouth Municipal, Southern Ohio), just seven minutes from his house. He soloed at 16 and had his private certificate ready by his 17th birthday. * The unconventional path is still a valid path. Josh spent time in food production maintenance at General Mills before a friend's text message pulled him into heavy airline MRO work on 767s — where he'd never used his A&P certificate until that point. * GE Aviation and turbine R&D. After heavy maintenance, Josh landed a position at GE Aviation working on CF6 engines (50,000 lbs. thrust), then spent seven and a half years at the University of Notre Dame Turbine Machinery Lab as a build lead across five research programs — with sponsors including GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, and Doosan Heavy Industries. * GA called him back — and he answered. Josh left the University of Notre Dame position and took roughly a $30,000 pay cut to return to general aviation maintenance full time, eventually earning his IA and launching BlairCraft. * The Spirit Engineering SE-1 is turning heads. Josh breaks down why this aircraft is generating serious buzz: approximately $69,500 new, 100 mph cruise on two gallons per hour, and a production approach unlike anything seen since the 1940s. * STOL community = family. Josh attended the High Sierra Fly-In solo (drove 29 hours each way), and describes the STOL and backcountry community as his "family reunion" — with Oshkosh as the annual centerpiece. * The runway build is real. Josh is actively clearing and grading a 2,600-foot private airstrip on family property in Northern Indiana using an excavator he purchased himself. * What's next for GA? Josh sees the biggest near-term shifts coming in engine options and fuel availability — noting the DeltaHawk diesel and the ongoing transition away from 100LL as areas to watch. ⏲️ Timestamps [00:00] — Welcome & Introduction: Shawn introduces Josh Blair, founder of BlairCraft, and sets up the conversation around Josh's wide range of aviation experience. [00:52] — How It Started: Josh's first W-2 job at PMH airport in Southern Ohio at age 16 — just seven minutes from home — and soloing within the year. [01:26] — The Car Connection: Restoring a 1989 Firebird at 14 and a half, and how that early obsession with detail directly shaped his approach to aircraft maintenance. [05:59] — From General Mills to 767s: How a text message from a high school friend pulled Josh from food production maintenance into heavy MRO work on Boeing 767s — his first real use of the A&P certificate he'd earned years earlier. [07:12] — GE Aviation & Notre Dame: Josh's path from CF6 engine teardowns at GE Aviation to leading five turbine R&D programs at the University of Notre Dame, with sponsors including GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Doosan Heavy Industries. [09:29] — The $30,000 Pay Cut: Why Josh walked away from a great university position to return to GA — and how he built BlairCraft and his IA out of that decision. [14:25] — Spirit Engineering SE-1 Deep Dive: What makes this aircraft stand out in today's market — price, efficiency, and a production approach unlike anything in decades. [17:27] — Building a Private Runway: Josh describes the ongoing project to grade a 2,600-foot private airstrip on family land in Northern Indiana using an excavator he sourced himself. [21:12] — What's Next: The PA-16 Clipper hot rod nearing completion, the 1967 Mooney M20E ground-up restoration, Oshkosh Creator Hub, and Josh's five-year outlook on GA engine and fuel changes. 🔗 Links * BlairCraft on YouTube: youtube.com/@BlairCraft [https://www.youtube.com/@BlairCraft] * High Sierra Fly-In: https://www.highsierraflyin.com/ [https://www.highsierraflyin.com/] * Rise and Roll Doughnuts (Shipshewana, Indiana): https://risenroll.com/ [https://risenroll.com/] * Future in Flight Podcast: https://www.futureinflight.com/ [https://www.futureinflight.com/] * Subscribe & Review: https://www.avinationusa.com/ [https://www.avinationusa.com/] * FLYTE: https://www.flyte.aero/ [https://www.flyte.aero/]

19 mei 2026 - 31 min
aflevering Find Your Flightline: Josh Blair, AeroSummit 2026, and Warbirds at SUN 'n FUN artwork

Find Your Flightline: Josh Blair, AeroSummit 2026, and Warbirds at SUN 'n FUN

📝 Summary What does it take to build a life in aviation when the path refuses to stay straight? This episode answers that question three different ways. We open with Josh Blair — founder of Blaircraft, A&P/IA mechanic, YouTube creator, and restorer of classic tube-and-fabric aircraft. Josh grew up in the Ohio River Valley, seven minutes from a small-town airport, and spent decades collecting skills across factory floors, heavy maintenance bays, GE Aviation, and a university turbine research lab before walking away from serious money — twice — to get back to the airplanes he loves. His story is about attention to detail, the long way around, and what a $30,000 pay cut looks like when it's actually a values decision. Then we head to Miami, because Aero Summit 2026 is coming — and if you're a student pilot, an aspiring aviator, or someone still figuring out how to fund the dream, this is the event the show is telling you not to miss. Powered by Stratus Financial, Aero Summit brings together flight school owners, CFIs, airline recruiters, FAA insiders, and students under one roof, with a dedicated student and CFI track built specifically for the next generation. We close on the Warbirds Ramp at SUN ‘n FUN 2026, where our friend Vanzell Jenkins — VanzAir — went on assignment and sat down with active military aviators from three branches of the armed forces: an A-10 pilot from the Air Force, a Blackhawk crew chief from the Army's 101st Airborne, and two pilots from the Air Force's First Reconnaissance Squadron — including a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot. Their origin stories are different. Their advice is remarkably consistent: start early, stay with the process, and debrief everything. 🔑 Key Points Josh Blair — Blaircraft * Grew up in Clarktown, Ohio — seven minutes from a small-town FBO; soloed at 16, earned his A&P, then spent years in food manufacturing and heavy maintenance (767s, GE CF6 engines, Notre Dame turbine research lab) before returning to GA * Took a $30,000 pay cut to leave research and get back to the airport — a values decision, not a sacrifice * Now specializes in tube-and-fabric aircraft restoration; YouTube channel Blaircraft covers restorations, backcountry flying, and events * Building a 2,600-foot private grass strip on his northern Indiana property — cleared 1,000 feet of trees with a $2,500 used excavator * Current project: Piper PA-16 Clipper restoration (bush gear, slats, carbon fiber prop, ~160+ hp). Next: 1967 Mooney M20E ground-up with a goal of Oshkosh 2029–2030 * Dream aircraft: J-3 Cub and Howard DGA. Dream passenger: Bob Hoover Aero Summit 2026 * Powered by Stratus Financial | May 20–22, 2026 | J.W. Marriott Turnberry, Aventura, FL | 300+ attendees, 30+ speakers, 25+ exhibitors * Dedicated Student and CFI Track featuring: $20M+ in scholarship resources (Jamail Larkin), AI career paths (Tom Lelyo), airline job market outlook (Kit Darby), and mental performance (Tammy Barlett, retired A-10/MQ-9 pilot) * Main stage themes: MOSAIC regulatory changes and AI in flight training * FIFP is a community sponsor; Shawn is the emcee; dedicated podcast area on site; AviNation on the floor * Registration: stratusaerosummit.com Warbirds Ramp — Sun 'n Fun 2026 with Vanzell Jenkins (Vans Air) * Lt. Col. "Strobe" — A-10 Warthog, USAF: Flying since age 9; Air Force Academy → A-10 via competitive pipeline; primary mission is Close Air Support for ground troops. "Find what you really want to do, then chase after that." * Cpl. Logan Wellingson — UH-60 Blackhawk, Army 101st Airborne: Age 23, crew chief, recently deployed over the Red Sea in Egypt/Sinai. Highlighted the Army Street to Seat Program as a direct high-school-to-cockpit path. "I wish I would have been out here right out of high school." * "Huggy" & "Nova" — U-2 Dragon Lady / T-38, USAF 1st Recon Squadron, Beale AFB: Oldest flying squadron in the US military; U-2 operates above 70,000 ft; ~16 pilots selected per year Air Force-wide. Huggy's standout advice: "Focus on the debrief. You will learn so much if you can break down why you made the mistake." ⏱️ Timestamps Time Segment 00:04 Josh Blair — Introduction; growing up seven minutes from a small-town airport 02:06 Josh Blair — Soloing at 16; A&P; food manufacturing; 767s; GE; Notre Dame research 04:06 Josh Blair — The $30,000 pay cut; returning to GA; tube and fabric restoration; Blaircraft 07:24 Josh Blair — Building the 2,600-ft private runway; PA-16 Clipper and Mooney M20E projects ~10:00 Aero Summit 2026 — What it is; Stratus Financial; dates, venue, Student and CFI Track ~14:30 Aero Summit — MOSAIC; AI in flight training; FIFP sponsorship; Shawn as emcee ~18:30 Warbirds Ramp — Vanzell Jenkins / Vans Air; Sun 'n Fun 2026 field interviews 19:36 Lt. Col. "Strobe" — A-10 Warthog; USAF; Close Air Support; advice to young aviators 23:50 Cpl. Logan Wellingson — UH-60 Blackhawk; 101st Airborne; Army Street to Seat Program 27:53 Huggy & Nova — U-2 Dragon Lady; 1st Recon Squadron; "Focus on the debrief." 31:18 Vanzell — Sign-off: "Evolve the life you're in." 🔗 Links * Blaircraft (YouTube):  https://www.youtube.com/@Blaircraft.Engines [https://www.youtube.com/@Blaircraft.Engines] * Aero Summit 2026 Registration: https://stratusaerosummit.com/aerosummit/ [https://stratusaerosummit.com/aerosummit/] * Stratus Financial: https://stratus.finance/ [https://stratus.finance/] * Kit Darby Aviation: https://kitdarby.com/wp/ [https://kitdarby.com/wp/] * Tecnam Aircraft: https://tecnam.com/ [https://tecnam.com/] * Vanzell Jenkins / VanzAir: https://www.youtube.com/@vanzair99 [https://www.youtube.com/@vanzair99] * AviNation: https://www.avinationusa.com/ [https://www.avinationusa.com/] * Future in Flight Podcast: https://futureinflight.com/ [https://futureinflight.com/]

13 mei 2026 - 34 min
aflevering Avionics Without Borders + SUN 'n FUN Field Interviews artwork

Avionics Without Borders + SUN 'n FUN Field Interviews

🎧 Episode Summary Get ready for takeoff! This episode takes you from a 10-year-old's dream at a Florida air show to a global aviation career that spans continents. Host Shawn Staerker sits down with Kirk Fryer, President of Sarasota Avionics, who transforms aircraft around the world—from Bangladesh flight academies to Greek military helicopters. Plus, we meet inspiring young creators like Be Snappy from Australia, who's building his aviation YouTube empire one interview at a time. From the Sun and Fun Aerospace Expo, we explore what it really means to build a career in aviation that doesn't stop at your home airport. Whether you're dreaming of installing cutting-edge avionics in far-off countries, creating content that connects the global aviation community, or just wondering how to turn your passion into a paycheck, this episode proves that the runway to your future extends way beyond what you can see from the tower.   ✨ Key Points * 🌍 Aviation careers can literally take you anywhere—Kirk Fryer has installed avionics in Bangladesh, Greece, Brazil, and beyond * 📱 Young creators like Be Snappy prove you don't need fancy equipment to start—just curiosity and a camera * ✈️ Modern avionics technology is making flying safer worldwide, from Florida flight schools to Cyprus Air Force helicopters * 🚀 The MOSAIC rule is creating exciting opportunities for accessible, affordable aviation * 🤝 Aviation is one of the most genuinely global communities on the planet—and there's room for everyone   🕒 Chapter Timestamps 0:07 — 1:48 | Kirk Fryer's Origin Story: From Air Show Kid to Global Avionics Expert 1:48 — 4:52 | Going Global: Bangladesh Installs and International Aviation Work 4:52 — 7:57 | Technology That Saves Lives: Modern Avionics Around the World 7:57 — 12:33 | Meet Be Snappy: Young Australian Creator Taking on Aviation YouTube 12:33 — 18:05 | International Visitors: FLYTE Aero Sunglasses from Australia 18:05 — 24:08 | Andy Litak and the Montaer MC-01: Affordable Aviation for Everyone   🔗 Links & Resources * Sarasota Avionics: https://sarasotaavionics.com/ [https://sarasotaavionics.com/] * FLYTE Sunglasses and Hats: https://www.flyte.aero/ [https://www.flyte.aero/] * Montaer Aircraft: https://www.montaeraircraft.com/ [https://www.montaeraircraft.com/] * Be Snappy's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeSnappy [https://www.youtube.com/@BeSnappy] * SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo: https://flysnf.org/ [https://flysnf.org/] * AviNation USA: https://www.avinationusa.com/ [https://www.avinationusa.com/]

6 mei 2026 - 28 min
aflevering "Community of Competitiveness" — The CAU Flight Team's Rise Through the Rankings artwork

"Community of Competitiveness" — The CAU Flight Team's Rise Through the Rankings

SUMMARY What does it take to fly a 1965 Cessna 150 across the country to compete against the best collegiate aviators in the nation — and do it with a smile on your face? Ask the California Aeronautical University Flight Team. In this episode, host Shawn Staerker sits down with Melissa Johnston, CAU's Director of Aviation Operations and flight team coach, along with team members Jackson Kaspar (Safety Officer and newly minted CFI) and Sebastian Bernal (Alumni & Community Outreach). Together, they trace the team's journey from a scrappy, student-motivated startup to a nationally recognized program earning sportsmanship awards four years running and eyeing a top-10 finish at NIFA Nationals. They cover what it's like to practice before class, study weather charts for cross-country VFR legs in a 150, build real friendships in a competition van, and why the Lightspeed Zulu 3 makes 26 hours of flying in three days a whole lot more survivable. Plus — dream aircraft, dream destinations, and the great in-flight snack debate. This one is for every young aviator who has ever wondered whether joining the team is worth the extra effort. Spoiler: it is. KEY POINTS * The Flight Team's Origin Story The CAU flight team was built from the ground up by students and one determined staff member. The university was initially uncertain — "What do you mean there's a flight team that competes against other universities?" — but early competition success and the program's networking value quickly made believers out of everyone. * What NIFA Is and Why It Matters NIFA — the National Intercollegiate Flying Association — is the NCAA of collegiate aviation. With roughly 80 member teams across nine or ten regions nationwide, it's the proving ground where the airlines come to find their next generation of pilots. CAU competes in Region 2 alongside San Jose State University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott), and Mount San Antonio College. * The Arc of Growth CAU's trajectory on the national stage tells the story clearly: 20th place at their first NIFA Nationals in 2022, up to 15th in 2023, a first-place landing competition finish, and four consecutive regional Sportsmanship Awards. Most recently, the team claimed its first-ever regional safety award — a milestone that reflects how deliberately this program has been built. * The Day-to-Day Commitment Flight team membership means early morning flight practices, late-night ground event sessions, and fitting schoolwork into whatever gaps remain. Sebastian's approach: a detailed agenda, followed to the letter. Jackson's: jump in with both feet in week three and don't look back. * Little Red — The Team's 1965 Cessna 150 "Little Red" is a 1965 straight-tail Cessna 150, Juliet model, and one of only two aircraft in the team's fleet. She's flown across the country to Oshkosh and back, competed at regionals (Jackson took second in the Power Off 180 in her), and serves as the team's unofficial mascot and biggest marketing asset. The Johnson Bar flaps are a feature, not a bug. * The Lightspeed Partnership The relationship with Lightspeed Aviation started at Oshkosh AirVenture, when team captain Matt Anderson and co-captain James Lopez struck up a conversation with Lightspeed's president — with Little Red as the conversation starter. The partnership grew from there into a full sponsorship, with the Zulu 3 headset now a cornerstone of the team's cross-country capability. Key benefit: active noise reduction (ANR) in a cramped, loud, 60-year-old Cessna is not a luxury — it's a game changer. * The Recording Capability Melissa and Jackson both highlighted the Lightspeed Zulu 3's flight recording capability as an untapped training tool — particularly valuable in complex airspaces like San Diego and Phoenix, where students can review ATC communications after the fact and identify exactly where things got confusing. * Fundraising The team raises funds through an annual fly-in (held at L62 Buttonwillow Airport), door-to-door outreach, cross-country flyer drops at FBOs, raffle prizes, and a beloved campus tradition: Pie Your CFI. A nonprofit, the Aero Foundation, serves as the team's primary vehicle for donations. Additionally, proceeds from Plum Crazy pilot Vicki Benzing's merchandise go directly to the team. * The Future of Aviation — and This Team All three guests agree: a pilot boom is coming. Aircraft are on order, airlines are building their fleets, and the industry will need trained, degree-holding aviators to fill the seats. Melissa's vision for the team: top 10 at Nationals. Jackson's: a national championship — maybe not in three years, but it's coming. * Safety Culture Jackson serves as the team's Safety Officer and makes clear that the team's safety culture is a group effort, not a title. Sebastian describes the heightened awareness flight team members bring to every preflight and every uncontrolled field. Melissa draws the line clearly on competition days: the hotel is for fun; the ramp is for focus. TIMESTAMPS Time Chapter 0:00 Cold Open — Quote Mash-Up Teaser ~0:20 Opening — Host Shawn Staerker ~1:45 Interview Begins — How the CAU Flight Team Got Started (Melissa Johnston) ~3:00 Why Sebastian Joined — Finding His People at Nationals ~4:30 Why Jackson Joined — Decided Before He Even Enrolled ~5:30 The Coach's Perspective — Daily Life on the Flight Team (Melissa) ~7:30 The Student's Perspective — Practice, Commitment, and Early Mornings (Sebastian) ~8:40 Building Team Bonds — Competition as a Community (Jackson) ~10:45 The Operations Challenge — Managing a Flight Team Alongside Full University Duties (Melissa) ~13:00 What Is NIFA? — Breaking Down the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (Jackson) ~14:50 Traveling with the Team — Van Rides, Plane Rides, and Roswell Nachos ~17:45 The Red Baron Sportsmanship Award — What It Takes to Win It Repeatedly (Melissa) ~20:10 Flying Little Red — The 1965 Cessna 150 Experience (Jackson & Sebastian) ~23:00 The Lightspeed Aviation Partnership — How It Started at Oshkosh (Melissa) ~24:55 The Zulu 3 in Action — ANR, Comfort, and 26 Hours Across the Country (Jackson & Sebastian) ~27:30 The Recording Capability — A New Training Tool for Student Pilots (Melissa & Jackson) ~29:25 Fundraising — Fly-Ins, Poker Runs, Pie Your CFI, and Plum Crazy (All) ~34:40 Academics Meets Competition — How Classroom Skills Transfer to the Flight Line ~37:40 The Future of Aviation — Pilot Boom, Degree Value, and Pathway Programs ~40:15 The Flight Team in Three to Five Years — Top 10 and Beyond ~42:25 Safety vs. Competitiveness — Building a Culture That Does Both ~46:25 The Fun Stuff — In-Flight Snacks, Dream Aircraft, and Dream Destinations ~55:00 Closing — Host Shawn Staerker / Lightspeed Aviation Thank-You / CTA LINKS California Aeronautical University Website: caleroaviation.edu (confirm current URL before publishing) CAU Flight Team — https://www.instagram.com/cauflightteam/ [https://www.instagram.com/cauflightteam/] NIFA — National Intercollegiate Flying Association Website: nifa.aero [https://www.nifa.aero/] Lightspeed Aviation — Presenting Sponsor Website: lightspeedaviation.com [https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/] Plum Crazy / Vicki Benzing Website: https://www.vickybenzing.com [https://www.vickybenzing.com/plum-crazy.html] ArtCraft Paint—Website: https://artcraftpaint.com/ [https://artcraftpaint.com/] AviNaition USA—Website: https://www.avinationusa.com/ [https://www.avinationusa.com/]

29 apr 2026 - 53 min
aflevering Where the Road Ends and the Flying Begins — Bush Pilot Nate Herbert & Black Moose Outposts artwork

Where the Road Ends and the Flying Begins — Bush Pilot Nate Herbert & Black Moose Outposts

Episode Summary Shawn sits down with Nate Herbert, bush pilot and founder of Black Moose Outposts, a fly-in wilderness fishing and hunting operation based out of Red Lake, Ontario — the furthest northwest you can drive in the province. What started as a napkin sketch during COVID has grown into twelve camps and a fleet of nine aircraft, including de Havilland Beavers, Blackhawk Caravans, and a Pilatus PC-6 Porter on floats. Nate takes us inside what real bush flying looks like — from navigating months of wildfire smoke to landing on unmarked lakes with dark water and no weather radar. He shares how his dad lit the aviation fire in him (even though he spent most of his childhood getting airsick), what it takes to hire and train bush pilots, and why he believes bush flying is one of the most future-proof careers in aviation. Along the way, we get a look at Black Moose's fire suppression missions supporting Northern communities, the differences between flying a Beaver, a Caravan, and a PC-6 in the backcountry, and what it's like to hand the controls of a floatplane over to a 70-year-old guest living out a lifelong dream. Key Points Nate's Path into Aviation Nate grew up in Red Lake, Ontario — a town with deep bush flying roots going back to the gold rush era of the 1930s when its airport was the second busiest in the world behind Chicago. His dad was a pilot, and flying was simply transportation. Nate actually hated flying as a kid — chronic airsickness kept him miserable on every flight. The turning point came at age 15 when he overheard his parents say the family airplane would go to his cousin if he didn't get his license. He got it at 18 and never looked back. Red Lake and the Bush Red Lake sits at the end of the road in northwest Ontario — people in Toronto can drive to Florida faster than they can drive there. Everything north of Red Lake is accessible only by winter ice roads or aircraft. It's a place where aviation isn't a hobby — it's how you get to town, get to school, and get home. Black Moose Outposts Born out of a COVID-era conversation between friends about dream jobs, Black Moose was supposed to be two camps and one airplane. It's now twelve camps and nine aircraft. The operation runs May through October, with 90% of business being fly-in fishing trips. Offerings range from fully self-guided wilderness drop-offs with zero contact for a week, all the way up to high-end guided packages with private chefs and 24/7 hosts. Newer camps feature full indoor plumbing, individual room climate control, and family-friendly accommodations. The Fleet * Two Cessna 185s (one commercial with boat STC, one private) * Two de Havilland Beavers (piston, original radials — one with STOL kit, one military surplus) * One Blackhawk Caravan on Wipline 8750 floats * One Cessna Caravan EX with Yukon prop on Wipline 8750 floats * One Pilatus PC-6 Porter on Wipline 6100 floats Bush Flying Realities No live weather, no radar, no controlled airspace beyond a five-mile zone around Red Lake. Pilots have to read weather visually and navigate by instinct and experience. Smoke from wildfires was the worst veteran pilots had ever seen last season — not days, but months of reduced visibility. Nate's safety philosophy: smoke can be pushed carefully, but cloud and fog will kill you. Fire Suppression Flying Black Moose supports wildfire response across Northern Ontario — evacuations, gear supply runs, initial attack crew transport, and fire mapping at 50–100 feet above the trees. Last season, Nate's team flew the initial firefighting crews into a Northern community that had no water bomber support — the fire burned right to the edge of the sprinkler line his crews helped set up. Advice for Aspiring Bush Pilots Nate values work ethic over flight hours. Backgrounds in bush firefighting, welding, farming, or any demanding hands-on work carry more weight than a logbook full of hours. Float time helps get through the door, but Nate says he can teach the flying — he can't teach someone to work hard. The Future of Bush Flying Nate sees bush flying as one of the most secure aviation careers. Northern communities will always need air access, adventure tourism continues to grow, and the hands-on, unpredictable nature of the work makes it resistant to automation. Fun Questions — Quick Hits * In-flight snack: Small cans of tuna, Costco applesauce, Icon elk and bison jerky, and a Red Bull * Dream aircraft: F-16 or a Corsair (he's already flying his dream bush plane — the PC-6) * Flying companion: His dad — the one who lit the fire * Dream trip: Flying a Cub or PC-6 through Iceland Links * Black Moose Outposts website: blackmooseoutposts.com [https://blackmooseoutposts.com] * Nate Herbert on Instagram: @nateherbert * Wipaire (Wipline Floats): wipaire.com [https://wipaire.com] * AviNation: https://www.avinationusa.com/

14 apr 2026 - 43 min
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