The Future in Flight Podcast

Summary
Helicopters aren't supposed to fly upside down, but Aaron Fitzgerald flies one that way for a living. In this Story Stop episode from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Shawn visits the Lightspeed Aviation booth. Aaron, the Red Bull helicopter pilot, talks about sharing the aerobatic box with aviation legends, why airshow crowds matter, and the juggling skills he learned from his grade-school PE teacher. Lightspeed's Eric Landry and Sarah Allen explain how ten thousand conversations a week become better headsets and stronger connections across the aviation community.
Then the show heads to Tecnam. We get a first look at the Rivale, a new airplane whose cowling opens like the hood of a sports car. Lesley Poberezny, granddaughter of EAA's founder, explains why Oshkosh feels like a family reunion. And Pilot Doma Andreka tells the story of the Runway to Oshkosh: ten airplanes crossing the country together, a P-38 pilot named Bill, and the moment Bill found his flock.
Key Points
Flying with ghosts: Every AirVenture performer flies in the same aerobatic box once flown by legends like Bob Hoover, and Aaron Fitzgerald doesn't take that lightly.
The only one right now: Aaron says he's currently the only pilot flying helicopter aerobatics at U.S. airshows. Even after years of practice, it's "not quite second nature."
Airshows plant the seed: Most pilots went to airshows as kids. Aaron sees the public-facing side of aviation as the place where the next generation gets inspired.
Juggling for focus: Aaron learned to juggle from Mr. Zorn, his grade-school PE teacher. It's a relaxing skill that also trains multitasking.
Quiet cockpits are safer cockpits: Cockpit noise causes fatigue, and tired pilots miss things. Active noise reduction helps pilots hear the tower clearly and make better decisions.
A headset that tunes itself to you: Lightspeed built a 12-frequency hearing test into its app. It saves a custom profile to the headset and helps keep pilots with hearing loss in the air.
Connecting the dots: Sarah Allen's approach to finding pilot stories is friendly persistence. She then builds a "Venn diagram" of people who support each other and the next generation.
The Rivale reveal: Tecnam showed the front end of its new Rivale: a cowling that opens like a car hood, a Continental CD-300 engine and a custom MT propeller.
Family-built airplanes: Tecnam's family story goes back more than 80 years in Italy, and the company is still family-run, with a pilot-first approach to design.
You don't need a certificate to belong: Lesley Poberezny isn't a pilot, yet she's been part of Oshkosh since before she was born. Her grandfather's philosophy was simple: turn every friend into family.
Find your flock: Doma, a first-generation pilot, ferried a Tecnam across the North Atlantic in December. He also led ten airplanes on the Runway to Oshkosh, where a 2/3-scale P-38 pilot named Bill found the confidence to join his fellow warbird pilots.
Timestamps
Time
Segment
00:07
Meet Aaron Fitzgerald and the helicopter that flies upside down
01:35
"I didn't invent any of this": the only U.S. helicopter aerobatic airshow pilot
03:20
Aaron's hidden talent: juggling, courtesy of Mr. Zorn
04:58
Eric Landry on 10,000 conversations and a headset that gives you a hearing test
07:04
Sarah Allen on finding pilot stories and connecting the dots
~09:20
Story Stop #2: Tecnam, plus a yellow-dot landing at Oshkosh (approximate, confirm in edit)
12:14
The Rivale reveal: an airplane you open like a sports car
14:35
Lesley Poberezny: almost born at Oshkosh
17:12
Pilot Doma: 45 hours over the North Atlantic in December
18:28
Bill and his P-38: "I found my flock"
Links
Hear the full interviews
AviNation YouTube channel, for complete Story Stop interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@AviNationUSA
Our Story Stop hosts and guests
Lightspeed Aviation: https://www.lightspeedaviation.com
Aaron Fitzgerald, Red Bull athlete page: https://www.redbull.com/us-en/athlete/aaron-fitzgerald
Tecnam: https://www.tecnam.com
Tecnam Rivale reveal coverage (General Aviation News): https://generalaviationnews.com/2026/07/24/tecnam-unveils-rivale/
Pilot Doma: @Pilot.Doma
More aviation
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: https://www.eaa.org/airventure
AviNation USA Magazine: https://www.avinationusa.com/
Follow the show
Subscribe to The Future in Flight Podcast wherever you listen and leave us a review!

Summary
What do noise-canceling headphones, the first Air Force One, and a brand-new aviation magazine have in common? Each started with someone who saw a problem and didn’t wait for someone else to fix it.
Shawn first sits down with Dan Gauger, the Bose engineer who helped turn Dr. Amar Bose’s sketch on a Swissair flight into the first noise-canceling aviation headset. Then he tells the story of the bold, unapproved cold call that put those headsets on the Rutan Voyager’s history-making nonstop flight around the world.
Next, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Shawn talks with Rob Clapper of the First Air Force One Foundation about Columbine II. It’s the Lockheed Constellation that carried President Eisenhower and made the “Air Force One” call sign necessary. The Foundation is restoring it to share with students everywhere.
Finally, AviNation editor-in-chief Jacob Peed opens the fall 2026 issue, which is the first from the magazine’s new Iowa headquarters. It features the cover story of Xavier Zeller, a young pilot who turned his own training struggles into an app to help others.
Key Points
Active noise canceling is feedback control. A microphone inside the ear cup measures pressure, and the speaker constantly adjusts to cancel the noise.
Dan Gauger’s advice for the AI era: master the fundamentals and keep exercising “the muscle inside your skull.”
After a military contract fell through, Dan and his partner Roman bet on general aviation. They cold-called Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager in Mojave without company approval.
Rutan Voyager flew around the world nonstop in December 1986 with Bose headsets aboard. What the team learned on that flight helped launch a product.
Columbine II carried Eisenhower, Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, and more, and it was the first time diplomacy really took to the air.
Dynamic Aviation sent a team to Arizona for a year to make the Connie airworthy and fly it home. The goal now is an immersive learning experience for students.
AviNation’s fall 2026 issue spotlights young people in flying, maintenance, engineering, and sales, because “if you can see it, you can be it.”
Jacob Peed’s advice: don’t be afraid to ask, because “no” just means “not right now.”
Timestamps
00:03 Cold open: Dr. Bose’s sketch on a Swissair flight
01:19 Dan Gauger, from astrophysics to feedback control
03:17 How noise canceling actually works
05:51 Prototypes, fighter jets, and a cancelled program
07:16 Meet the Rutan Voyager, “a flying fuel tank”
08:38 The tarmac demo and the “trout look”
11:45 The mystery of the soggy circuit boards
14:54 Columbine II, the first Air Force One
19:46 Rescuing the Connie from the desert
22:49 Jacob Peed and AviNation’s fall 2026 issue
Links
First Air Force One Foundation: https://www.firstairforceone.org/
AviNation USA Magazine: https://www.avinationusa.com/
Check Prep app:https://checkprep.com/
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: eaa.org/airventure
The Future in Flight Podcast: https://futureinflight.com/

Episode Summary
Day three of our Story Stop Tour at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 takes us to two booths with very different products and a surprisingly similar lesson.
First, we visit ALSIM, a French company that has been building certified flight simulators since 1994. Suliman from ALSIM explains what separates a professional training simulator from the flight sim on your laptop. He covers how engineers use real flight data and computational fluid dynamics to build a sim's flight model, and why real avionics and muscle memory are shaping the future of pilot training.
Then we head to the FLYTE tent, where an Australian sunglass company built by pilots arrived at Oshkosh with no stock and no tent and still built one of the best hangouts on the field. Co-owner Mick shares how aviators learn to stay calm when the red lights come on. Filmmaker and CFI Dakota Cyhaniuk explains why practice beats talent. Airshow pilot Patrick McAlee of Team Extreme Flight goes from the kid at the fence to the pilot in the cockpit. Natalia McAlee, host of the Wonder Women of Aviation podcast, explains why she wrote a kids' book to answer her own questions about aerobatics.
Key Points
Sims aren't video games. Professional simulators are certified by aviation authorities like the FAA and EASA, so flight schools can use them for part of a student's required training.
The flight model is the brain of the sim. ALSIM combines data from real flights with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to make its simulators respond like the real airplane.
Muscle memory matters. Sims built with real Garmin avionics put every screen and knob where it is in the airplane, so your hands learn the cockpit before you ever fly it.
What's next in sim training: higher-fidelity devices, mixed reality, and AI-powered tools that help both students and instructors.
Procedures beat panic. Mick's four-word reaction to warning lights ("Don't like that much") shows how pilot training builds resilience you can use anywhere.
Sometimes the best call is not to go. A 40-knot crosswind at Bryce Canyon turned into an overnight stay and a lifelong friendship.
Talent is mostly practice. Dakota Cyhaniuk says his aviation films got better one shoot at a time, the same way pilots improve one landing at a time.
Mechanics keep everyone flying. Patrick McAlee reminds young listeners that the shortage of mechanics and engineers is even bigger than the pilot shortage.
STEM + Art = STEAM. Natalia McAlee uses books, coloring pages, and simulators to get kids off their screens and thinking.
Timestamps
Time
Segment
00:00
Opening: from a hangar somewhere near the flightline
01:20
Story Stop #1: ALSIM, a flight simulator company from France
03:09
Are professional sims just expensive video games?
04:21
Building a flight model: real flight data + computational fluid dynamics
06:21
The future of sim training: muscle memory, mixed reality, and AI
10:35
Story Stop #2: FLYTE, and the shipment that never arrived
12:07
"Don't like that much": Mick on staying calm when the red lights come on
13:55
Dakota Cyhaniuk on why practice beats talent
15:50
Patrick McAlee: from the kid at the fence to the airshow pilot
18:19
Natalia McAlee on aerobatics, her kids' book, and STEAM
Links
Hear the full interviews
AviNation YouTube channel: full-length Story Stop interviews → https://www.youtube.com/@AviNationUSA
Story Stop #1: ALSIM
ALSIM: https://www.alsim.com/
ALSIM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsimflight/
Story Stop #2: FLYTE
FLYTE sunglasses: https://flyte.aero
Team Extreme Flight (Patrick & Natalia McAlee): https://extreme-flight.com
Wonder Women of Aviation podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5t8NwklCL4QDjqZFqikrBV
Dakota Cyhaniuk: Instagram @dakotacyhaniuk · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DakotaCyhaniuk
The event
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: https://www.eaa.org/airventure
Subscribe & review
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Summary
Day two of the Story Stop Tour takes Jacob and Shawn straight into the action at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for three conversations that all circle the same idea: somebody has to build the thing before the next generation can use it.
First, a stop at the SUN ‘n FUN booth to trace how the Aerospace Center for Excellence turns curious kids — like the members of the Lakeland Aero Club — into licensed pilots, with insight from ACE's Eric Crump and SUN ‘n FUN CEO Gene Conrad on what it actually takes to fund that pipeline.
Then it's over to LIFT Aviation, where marketing lead Cody Wozniak explains how a single pair of shoes turned into a full line of pilot safety gear, and aerobatic performer Patrick McAlee explains exactly why he wears every piece of it.
Finally, a visit to McFarlane Aviation, where engineer Val walks through the unglamorous parts — fuel primers, shimmy dampeners, flight control cables — that quietly keep general aviation aircraft flying.
Key Points
The Aerospace Center for Excellence's mission — "engage, educate, accelerate" — funds year-round programs (Storytime, summer camps, scholarships, the Lakeland Aero Club) entirely through net proceeds from the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo
Three Lakeland Aero Club members share how the program's glider-first training path shaped their paths in aviation — from powered flight, to aerobatics, to a seaplane rating scholarship
SUN ‘n FUN CEO Gene Conrad breaks down the scale of running the event: 3,000+ volunteers, 62 air traffic controllers, and a "logistical ballet" that funds ACE's "other 51 weeks"
LIFT Aviation's origin story starts with a single pair of pilot shoes at Oshkosh 11 years ago, built around a patented rudder-control heel slider
Aerobatic pilot Patrick McAlee explains why full safety gear — helmet, fire suit, visor, gloves — isn't optional, including a firsthand account of landing after an in-flight oil line failure coated his canopy
McFarlane Aviation's engineering team builds and bench-tests small, often-overlooked parts (fuel primers, shimmy dampeners, flight control cables) based directly on customer and pilot feedback
Timestamps
Time
Segment
0:00
Cold open — from the hangars at Oshkosh
0:43
Lakeland Aero Club: Blythe on gliders and stick-and-rudder training
1:18
Lakeland Aero Club: TJ on chasing aerobatics over the airlines
1:44
Lakeland Aero Club: Camille on her seaplane rating scholarship
2:35
Eric Crump on ACE's "engage, educate, accelerate" mission
5:08
Gene Conrad on running SUN ‘n FUN and funding "the other 51 weeks"
9:17
LIFT Aviation: Cody Wozniak on the company's "shoe in a box" origin
12:12
Patrick McAlee on why full safety gear isn't optional
15:34
McFarlane Aviation: Val on old-fashioned customer service
17:22
McFarlane Aviation: Val on expanding the shimmy dampener line
Links
Aerospace Center for Excellence
SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo
LIFT Aviation
Extreme Flight — Patrick McAlee & the Blue Demon
McFarlane Aviation

Summary
The very first Story Stop Tour episode drops Shawn right into the action on Day One of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, tracking down two brands that flew with the "Runway to Oshkosh" delivery crew.
First stop: Beringer Aero, where Shawn learns how a French racing-brake company became a leading name in general aviation wheels and brakes — and gets a plain-English lesson in braking physics and heat dissipation from the technical team.
He also has a chance to sit down with Doma Andreka, Chief Delivery Pilot for Tecnam US, about how Beringer’s brakes and wheels were a part of “every stop along the journey” of the Runway to Oshkosh flight.
Second stop: a household name that's been part of aviation since before the Wright brothers, where Shawn traces the company's path from an 1908 volcano-top flying competition to Allied maps in WWII to the Space Shuttle — before landing on today's lighter, more sustainable aircraft tires.
Plus, we talk to Patrick McAlee from Extreme Flight and Justin von Linsowe from Full Throttle Formation team about the practical application of Michelin aircraft tires.
Key Points
Origin story: The Beringer started in 1985 as a racing brake manufacturer for cars and motorbikes before pivoting fully into aviation in the early 2000s, eventually selling off its non-aviation business to focus on the aircraft market.
The color has a purpose: The brand's signature bright red (and other bold colors) comes from an anodizing pigment originally developed for UV-resistant signage — it just happens to also resist fading on brake components.
Braking, explained simply: Braking converts kinetic energy into heat through friction; using aluminum instead of steel helps the system dissipate that heat faster, which is the core engineering thesis behind the product.
US manufacturing expansion: Beringer’s North American operations, based in Greenville, South Carolina, recently received FAA PMA approval to begin manufacturing in the US, with a target of bringing production over from France in the near term.
An unlikely neighbor: That same South Carolina hub sits just a couple of miles from Michelin's North American aviation operations — two French-born aviation suppliers now next door to each other in the US.
Michelin's deep aviation roots: Michelin helped establish one of the first aero clubs in France, laid out the world's first concrete runway, ran the Michelin Cup (which the Wright brothers once won), supplied maps to the Allies for the Normandy invasion, and was the original tire supplier for the Space Shuttle.
Today's tire lineup: Michelin's current general aviation tire, developed in part through collaboration with the Beringer on the experimental market, is TSO certified even though the market segment it targets doesn't strictly require it — because Michelin tests every tire regardless.
Sustainability angle: Denser, firmer tire compounds mean better shock absorption for pilots and less rubber shed into the environment — a detail echoed by aerobatic performer Pat McAlee.
Community impact: The Full Throttle Formation Team started during COVID by flying smoke hearts over hospitals to thank first responders, and has since grown into a recognized home-built aviation air show act — including a flyover send-off for the US Men's Soccer team ahead of the World Cup.
Timestamps
Time
Segment
00:03
Cold open — introducing the Story Stop Tour concept
00:34
Setting the scene at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
01:03
Origin story of the Beringer, from racing brakes to aviation
04:35
The story behind the brand's signature color
07:23
Braking performance and the physics of heat dissipation
10:12
Runway to Oshkosh delivery flight recap with the chief pilot
13:00
Sponsor break — Flyte Sunglasses
14:20
Michelin segment begins — aviation history from 1908 to the Space Shuttle
20:44
Michelin-sponsored aviators — Patrick McAlee/ExtremeFlight and the Full Throttle Formation Team
26:44
Episode close and sign-off
Links
Beringer website — http://beringer-aero.com/
Michelin Aircraft Tires (aviation division) — https://aircraft.michelin.com/
Runway to Oshkosh video series — https://runwaytooshkosh.com/
Flyte Sunglasses (Flyte.aero, sponsor) — https://www.flyte.aero/
AviNation USA — https://www.avinationusa.com/
@pilot.doma on Instagram
@full_throttle_formation_team on Instagram
@extremeflight Extreme Flight / Pat McAlee on Instagram

Episode Show Notes
📝 Summary
In this episode, Shawn sits down with Rachelle Spector, founder of I HART Flying Foundation, a nonprofit scholarship organization dedicated to helping women advance, complete, and lead in aviation careers. Rachelle shares how a random Facebook message from a flight instructor in 2017 led to her first flight — and, less than a year later, to the launch of I HART Flying. Nearly ten years and almost half a million dollars in flight training support later, the organization has funded close to 50 HARTFlying scholars with a 98% completion and advancement rate. Rachelle walks through the "HARTLed" approach that sets I HART Flying apart — a completion model built on mentorship, industry connections, and ongoing support rather than a one-time check — and talks candidly about the workforce shortage driving demand for pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians industry-wide. The conversation also covers building a leadership team, the growing "HartNation" community, advice for young women entering aviation, and what keeps Rachelle up at night as the organization scales toward its ten-year milestone. The episode closes with a lighter round covering favorite in-flight snacks, dream aircraft (the F-22), and a dream co-pilot (John Travolta).
✨ Key Points
The origin story: Rachelle never planned to be a pilot. A flight instructor cold-messaged her on Facebook in August 2017 offering a free flight — she said yes, assuming he was joking, and has been flying ever since.
From idea to nonprofit in weeks: After pitching her "I HART Flying" concept to EAA at AirVenture in July 2017, Rachelle filed her 501(c)(3) and received her IRS letter of determination in about six weeks, awarding the first scholarship that December.
Impact by the numbers: Nearly 50 HARTFlying scholars, almost $500,000 in flight training support, a 98% completion/advancement rate, and roughly 250 qualified applications in a recent three-week cycle.
The HARTLed model: A completion-focused approach — advance, complete, lead — built around mentorship, strategic guidance, industry connections, and support before, during, and years after a scholarship, aimed at closing funding and continuity gaps rather than just cutting a check.
The workforce gap: Women make up just 5.5% of the global pilot population and 2.9% of aircraft maintenance technicians; Boeing projects a need for over 700,000 new pilots in the next two decades, alongside a 30,000+ worker shortage in aircraft maintenance.
HARTNation: More than an organization, Rachelle describes I HART Flying as a community — scholars, applicants, mentors, and supporters (including men) all championing one another, with new efforts underway like a "day in the life" social series to spotlight more journeys, not just winners.
Leadership and expansion: I HART Flying's board and selection committee include former HARTFlying scholars and industry leaders, including a former scholar now serving as head of pilot hiring at Frontier Airlines. The organization is expanding beyond flight training ahead of a 2027 milestone.
Advice for the next generation: Rachelle's core message — don't let anyone tell you there's something you can't do, do the work, and follow what brings you joy.
⏱️ Timestamps
Time
Segment
00:00
Welcome and introduction of guest Rachelle Spector
00:38
Rachelle's origin story — the 2017 Facebook message and first flight
04:15
Founding I HART Flying Foundation— the EAA AirVenture pitch and rapid nonprofit launch
07:39
Building the leadership team and early impact numbers
11:45
"It's not a capability problem, it's a continuity problem" — introducing the HARTLed model
12:28
The HARTLed model explained — selection process and scholarship cycles
21:10
HARTNation — community, mentorship, and supporting non-winners
29:26
The future of aviation — pilot shortage numbers and industry opportunity
32:35
What keeps Rachelle up at night — fundraising, growth, and resilience
34:40
Lightning round — favorite snacks, dream aircraft, and dream co-pilot
🔗 Links
I HART Flying Foundation: I HART Flying.org
I HART Flying on Instagram: @ihartflying
I HART Flying on Facebook: I HART Flying Foundation
Aviation Careers Podcast https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/
Aviation Start: aviationstart.org 
The Future in Flight Podcast: https://futureinflight.com/

📝 Summary
General aviation isn't just a way to get somewhere — it's a time machine. In this episode, Shawn sits down with Kirk Fryar, co-owner of Sarasota Avionics, to talk about how flying small turns a weekend into a real weekend (lunch with mom, a concert, and back home by Sunday), how international trips like Belize become surprisingly simple with the right handler, and why "get-there-itis" is one of the most dangerous mindsets in aviation. Captain Val of Skyline Baron Pilot shares her own pre-flight discipline and how her 1976 Baron 58TC, 79er Lima, gets her home to Quebec every year after Oshkosh.
Rachelle Spector tells the story of iHeartFlying, the scholarship nonprofit she built from a single free flight into nearly $500,000 in flight training support. What started as one chance encounter at EAA AirVenture in 2017 has grown into an organization with a 98% completion rate among its scholars, driven by Rachelle's belief that the real barrier in aviation has never been talent, but continuity of support.
The episode wraps with a highlight reel from the very first Story Stop Tour at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — seven days, a dozen-plus stops, and more conversations than we can count.
🔑 Key Points
General aviation compresses travel time dramatically — Kirk flew direct from Sarasota to a tiny airport in Winchester, TN, in 2.5 hours, versus a full day of driving and connecting flights commercially.
International GA travel is more accessible than most people think — a ground "handler" coordinates paperwork, fuel, and flight plans in advance, often arranged over WhatsApp.
"Get-there-itis" is a real hazard — the pressure to push through bad conditions or mechanical issues instead of turning back, which Kirk experienced firsthand with a failing alternator.
Modern avionics reduce pilot workload, not increase it — systems like Garmin's G1000NXi and autopilot suites are built with redundancy and let pilots focus on flying rather than managing instruments.
Preparation is everything — Captain Val's ritual of checking weather, oil, fuel, and rest days ahead of a flight is what makes long trips (like her annual run to Quebec) safe and repeatable.
One flight can change a life's trajectory — Rachelle Spector's nonprofit iHeartFlying grew from a single free flight in 2017 into an organization with a 98% completion rate among its scholars.
The barrier in aviation is continuity, not talent — iHeartFlying's "heart-led approach" supports scholars before, during, and years after their scholarship to prevent stalling out.
The first-ever Story Stop Tour at Oshkosh brought the show to more than a dozen partners and guests over seven days, from Michelin's aviation history to Red Bull's Aaron Fitzgerald to ultralight seaplane pilots at Air Cam.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction: general aviation as a "time machine"
00:43 — Kirk Fryar's 2.5-hour direct flight to Winchester, TN
01:29 — Flying internationally: handlers, paperwork, and a $400 trip to Belize
02:13 — "Get-there-itis" and Kirk's alternator scare
03:09 — How modern avionics reduce pilot workload
05:08 — Captain Val introduces 79er Lima, her 1976 Baron 58TC
06:06 — Val's annual post-Oshkosh flight home to Quebec
08:33 — Rachelle Spector's first free flight and the start of iHeartFlying
10:37 — The workforce gap: women in aviation by the numbers
12:29 — Story Stop Tour recap: seven days at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
🔗 Links
iHeartFlying (scholarships, volunteering, donations): iHeartFlying.org
Sarasota Avionics — https://sarasotaavionics.com/
Skyline Baron Pilot — https://www.youtube.com/c/SkylineBaronPilot
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh https://www.eaa.org/airventure
Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo https://flysnf.org/
Aerospace Center for Excellence https://aceedu.org/

Show Notes: "Live From AeroSummit 2026" — Part 2
The Future in Flight Podcast
Episode Summary
Shawn Staerker is back on the ground at AeroSummit 2026 in Miami for Part 2 of this field series, sitting down with three guests who are each closing gaps in aviation in their own way. First up, DeWuan Roberson of Bridge Air explains how a structured time-building program out of Glendale, Arizona is helping pilots bridge the gap between flight instructing and the airlines. Then Jacob Fenton of Tecnam joins Shawn to talk MOSAIC, the next generation of Tecnam's light aircraft lineup, and why the company's Italian design philosophy pairs beauty with performance. Finally, Stratus Financial co-founders Anthony Geraci and Brandon Martini share the whiteboard origin story behind their flight training finance company — and how that same instinct for community-building led them to create AeroSummit itself, plus a preview of their next event, Ascend, coming to Dallas this September.
Note: One more episode in the "Live From AeroSummit 2026" series is on the way.
Key Points
Bridge Air — DeWuan Roberson
Bridge Air operates a structured time-building program out of Glendale, Arizona, flying Pipistrel Alpha Trainers to help pilots move past the plateau around 200–300 hours toward airline minimums.
The program flows directly into Mesa Airlines and Republic Airways, giving CFIs a clear next step once they've hit a time-building wall.
Bridge Air flew one of its own Alpha Trainers from Glendale to Miami for AeroSummit — a roughly 29-hour cross-country flight for the fleet's 80-horsepower Rotax-powered aircraft.
Tecnam — Jacob Fenton
Tecnam is a three-generation, family-owned Italian manufacturer where every family member — and every engineer — flies.
The upcoming P2006T NG twin adds a third door, Rotax 912 iS engines, a new Garmin autopilot, and an ultra-lux Grand Lusso interior option; the P2008 NG will offer both 912 and 916 engine options.
Tecnam's new Astore, built for the MOSAIC light sport category, will be the first MOSAIC aircraft to offer an in-house-developed air conditioning unit.
Southern Cross now handles parts and service support for Tecnam's full U.S. fleet, stocking parts across multiple time zones stateside.
Stratus Financial & AeroSummit — Anthony Geraci & Brandon Martini
Stratus Financial was born out of a whiteboard session during COVID, after Anthony (a "recovering attorney") learned to fly under Brandon's instruction and the two identified a lack of financing access for flight training.
That same community-first philosophy led the pair to launch AeroSummit itself, built around the idea that a rising tide raises all ships across the industry.
Stratus, AeroSummit, and NAFI (the National Association of Flight Instructors) are partnering on Ascend, a new event coming to Dallas this September, priced affordably for students and flight instructors.
Both founders see MOSAIC and Part 141 modernization as catalysts for a coming "aviation renaissance" — more affordable aircraft, more accessible training, and a growing need for pilots even as new technologies like supersonic and point-to-point travel emerge.
Timestamps
00:00 — Cold Open: Live from AeroSummit 2026, Miami
01:30 — Intro to Bridge Air and DeWuan Roberson
02:15 — Interview: DeWuan Roberson, Bridge Air — time-building program, Pipistrel fleet, industry outlook
11:58 — Intro to Tecnam and Jacob Fenton
12:43 — Interview: Jacob Fenton, Tecnam — MOSAIC lineup, next-gen aircraft, family company legacy
29:58 — Intro to Stratus Financial / AeroSummit founders
30:43 — Interview: Anthony Geraci & Brandon Martini — Stratus Financial origin story, AeroSummit, Ascend preview
43:43 — Show Close: recap, series preview, subscribe & review CTA
Links
Bridge Air: bridge-air.net
Tecnam: tecnam.com
Stratus Financial / AeroSummit: stratusaerosummit.com
Ascend Flight Training Conference: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com/
AviNation USA: avinationusa.com

Episode Summary
What do a country music star, the world's greatest aviation celebration, and an AI-powered weather planning platform have in common? They all prove that aviation is about far more than airplanes—it's about people, purpose, and possibility.
In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, Shawn Staerker sits down with Nick Hoffman—country music artist, television host, and passionate pilot—to explore how childhood dreams, resilience, and a love of flying shaped his remarkable journey. Nick shares stories from growing up around aviation, overcoming rejection to build a successful entertainment career, earning his pilot certificate through determination, and finding peace in the cockpit.
Then, Shawn is joined by Dick Knapinski, Director of Communications for EAA, along with Jacob Peed, Editor-in-Chief of AviNation Magazine, for a preview of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. From KidVenture and Learn to Fly programs to unforgettable aircraft arrivals and the welcoming aviation community, they explain why AirVenture remains the world's premier aviation gathering.
The episode wraps with a spotlight on PlaneWX, where founder Mark Wolfgang discusses how artificial intelligence is helping pilots make smarter weather decisions days before departure, reducing risk and improving flight planning through personalized forecasting and mentorship.
Key Points
Nick Hoffman reflects on growing up immersed in aviation through family projects and annual trips to Oshkosh.
How rejection early in life became the motivation that fueled Nick's successful music and television career.
The creative ways Nick earned his pilot certificate by working at a local flight school.
Why flying provides mental clarity, focus, and spiritual renewal.
Nick discusses his song "Runways, Wings & Gasoline" and what aviation means to him.
A conversation about hearing protection, cockpit fatigue, and why Nick trusts the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset.
Nick introduces his "Deathbed Mentality" philosophy for living a life without regrets.
Dick Knapinski shares what makes EAA AirVenture Oshkosh unlike any other aviation event in the world.
An inside look at KidVenture, Learn to Fly Center, workshops, forums, and AirVenture's impact on future aviators.
Mark Wolfgang explains how PlaneWX combines AI, FAA weather products, aircraft performance, and pilot minimums to simplify weather planning.
How PlaneWX helps pilots reduce external pressures through early trip monitoring, passenger notifications, and mentor support.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introducing Nick Hoffman: Music, television, and aviation collide
03:00 – Learning to fly, finding peace in the cockpit, and the story behind Runways, Wings & Gasoline
05:30 – Protecting your hearing with the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset
07:20 – Living with the "Deathbed Mentality" and saying yes to adventure
10:40 – EAA AirVenture 2026 preview with Dick Knapinski and Jacob Peed
14:20 – KidVenture, Learn to Fly, and inspiring aviation's next generation
18:00 – PlaneWX: AI-powered weather planning with Mark Wolfgang
22:30 – Personalized weather briefings, pilot mentorship, and reducing flight risk
Links
Nick Hoffman
YouTube, Facebook & Instagram: Nick's Wild Ride
Music: Runways, Wings & Gasoline
Lightspeed Aviation
https://www.lightspeedaviation.com
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
https://www.eaa.org/airventure
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
https://www.eaa.org
PlaneWX
https://planewx.ai
AviNation Magazine
https://www.avinationusa.com
 

Summary
In the first installment of our special three-part Live from AeroSummit 2026 series, host Shawn Staerker sits down with three aviation leaders who are tackling one of the most overlooked aspects of flight training and pilot development: the human element.
Former A-10 pilot and mental performance coach Tammy Barlette explains why emotions, confidence, and self-awareness are critical aviation skills that deserve as much attention as stick-and-rudder proficiency. F-15E pilot, airline captain, and human factors expert Brandon Williams explores the power of debrief culture and how understanding human factors can dramatically improve safety, performance, and decision-making. Finally, Fly Orca founder and flight test engineer Adriana Barrigan shares how student pilots can reduce wasted time and money in training by taking ownership of the learning process and leveraging data-driven tools to improve efficiency.
Though their backgrounds differ, all three guests arrive at the same conclusion: better pilots start with better self-awareness, better reflection, and better habits.
Key Points
Former A-10 pilot Tammy Barlette discusses the role of mental performance training in aviation.
Why emotions can serve as an "early warning radar" for pilots.
The importance of self-awareness, confidence, and recovering from mistakes.
How military-style debriefing creates measurable performance improvements.
Brandon Williams explains human factors and why pilots make mistakes.
The concept of "Hack the Clock" as a tool to overcome startle response and regain composure.
Why debrief culture remains underutilized in general aviation flight training.
Adriana Barrigan shares how Fly Orca helps student pilots identify inefficiencies and reduce training costs.
The average student pilot may waste $5,000–$10,000 during flight training due to preventable inefficiencies.
A common theme emerges from all three interviews: take ownership of your progress, reflect honestly, and continuously improve.
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to AeroSummit 2026 and introduction to today's guests
02:45 – Tammy Barlette: From Air Force pilot to mental performance coach
09:15 – Managing pressure, confidence, and emotions in aviation
14:35 – Why debriefing is one of the most powerful tools for improvement
18:30 – Brandon Williams joins the show: Human factors and aviation safety
31:00 – "Hack the Clock": Managing startle response and high-pressure situations
36:20 – Adriana Barrigan discusses FlyORKA and improving flight training efficiency
43:30 – Debrief culture, student pilot success, and taking ownership of your training
Links
Featured Guests:
Tammy Barlette – Cross Check Mental PerformanceCross Check Mental Performance
Brandon WilliamsBrandon Williams Speaker
Adriana Barrigan & FlyORKAFlyORKA
Check out:
The Future in Flight Podcast
AviNation USA
Stratus Financial
Quote of the Episode:"Know yourself. Debrief honestly. Take ownership of your progress." — The common thread connecting all three AeroSummit conversations.