E181 - Beyond the Check Ride - Building Real World Pilot Judgment 10.11.2025 40:31

In this episode of Behind the Prop , hosts Wally Mulhern and Bobby Doss dive into one of the most important and often overlooked stages of a pilot’s development — the period right after earning a Private Pilot Certificate , when decision-making truly begins. While training provides structure and supervision, real pilot-in-command judgment is built through solo experience, reflection, and continuou...

E180 - Flight Planning the Night Before: Your Key to a Smoother Cockpit 27.10.2025 41:16

In this episode, Wally Mulhern and Bobby Doss take listeners deep into the mindset and methods behind effective flight planning. They break down how professional pilots think, plan, and prepare—long before the engine ever starts. Wally explains why smart flight planning begins weeks in advance , sometimes as early as 20 days before departure , especially for longer trips. He shares how to select f...

E179 - A Day in the Life of a Flight School Owner 13.10.2025 51:41

In this episode, host Bobby Doss and co-host Wally Mulhearn dive deep into what it truly takes to run a modern flight school day to day. Bobby offers a transparent look at the enormous scope of responsibilities behind United Flight Systems—from facilities and fleet management to staff culture and student success—illustrating that being a flight-school owner is far more than “counting gold bars.” T...

E178 - Barry Knuttila, King Schools President & CEO 29.09.2025 43:06

What happens when a tech executive with a passion for flying gets the chance to combine both worlds? In this episode of Behind the Prop , hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn welcome Barry Knuttila, President and CEO of King Schools, to explore that exact story. Barry recounts his early flying background, how a corporate collapse unexpectedly redirected his career, and the fateful moment he reached...

E177 - Mastering Energy Management for Approaches and Landings 15.09.2025 34:14

Mastering energy management is one of the cornerstones of becoming a safe and confident pilot. In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn unpack the topic in detail, showing how altitude, airspeed, and power all work together as “energy assets” that must be carefully managed throughout every phase of flight—especially on approach and landing. Drawing from countless check ri...

E176 - Darren Pleasance, AOPA President & CEO 01.09.2025 50:39

Aviation Career Foundation & Philosophy Darren Pleasance's aviation journey began serendipitously at age 13 in Livermore, California, sparked by witnessing model airplane flying in a local park (02:32) Boy Scouts aviation merit badge provided first airplane flight experience with troop leader who was also a flight instructor Airport proximity advantage allowed daily after-school bicycle rides to L...

E175 - Pre-Solo Pitfalls & Prep 18.08.2025 33:46

Do you have a solo coming up soon? Check out this week's episode and grab some great tips and tricks to make sure you're prepared for your big day!

E174 - Oshkosh Recap & MOSAIC 04.08.2025 34:56

This week we look back on our incredible week at Oshkosh 2025 and talk about the brand new MOSAIC program, and what it means for you as an aviator!

E173 - Operation Airdrop 21.07.2025 25:50

Check out more from Operation Airdrop here -- https://www.operationairdrop.org

E172 - Live Show/Checkride Prep Q & A 07.07.2025 58:33