Airplane Geeks Podcast

A replay of our conversation with USAF Maj. Brian Shul from Airplane Geeks Episode 375. Guest Brian Shul served as an Air Force fighter pilot from 1970-1990. Shot down during the Viet Nam Conflict, and unable to eject, he rode the plane into the jungle and was seriously burned in the ensuing fireball. Lucky to be alive, he spent a year in the hospital and was told his flying days were over. Miracu...

A replay of our conversation with Reyné O’Shaughnessy from Airplane Geeks Episode 671 about pilot mental health. Guest Reyné O’Shaughnessy was a commercial airline pilot for over 34 years with a Fortune 50 company. She was a captain on the B767 and logged over 10,000 hours of total heavy jet flight time. Her experience also includes the A300/310, B727, and B747. Reyné founded Piloting 2 Wellbeing...

A replay of our conversation with Jeff Bolton, originally published as Episode 570 on September 18, 2019. Guest Jeff Bolton is the first person ever to film a B-2 stealth bomber cockpit tour narrated by the pilot in-flight. He also filmed a B-2 aerial refueling from the bomber’s cockpit. Jeff has also taken a camera inside the B-52. Jeff tells the stories of the men, women, and families of the Uni...

A replay of Episode 89 with guest Amy Laboda, published on March 16, 2010. Guest Amy Laboda has been writing, editing, and publishing print, audio, and digital materials for more than 35 years. She’s an instrument-rated commercial pilot and an instructor. Amy lives and breathes aviation and we chat with her on a range of topics. This is a full replay of Episode 89 and provides a look at what the A...

A replay of our conversation with Eileen Bjorkman from Episode 618 published on August 26, 2020. Guest Eileen Bjorkman is an author who tells veteran stories, She’s a speaker and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with 700+ hours of flying time as a flight test engineer in 25 different types of military aircraft, primarily the F-4, F-16, C-130, and C-141. Eileen holds an Airline Transport Pilot rati...

The Spurwink Farm Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast is coming up on July 9, 2023. This annual event is hosted by EAA Chapter 141 on the 1,800-foot grass runway at the Spurwink Farm Airfield in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The farm is a 40-stall private boarding facility owned by the Sprague family. The fly-in runs from 0800 until 1100 AM. The pancakes are freshly cooked and the blueberries and maple syrup ar...

A replay of our conversation with Ward Carroll from Episode 680 , published on November 24, 2021.  Ward is a former F-14 Naval Aviator who spent 20 years as an F-14 Radar Intercept Officer. He is the author of the bestselling Punk trilogy about life in an F-14 squadron. Punk’s Fight, Punk’s War, and Punk’s Wing are widely considered to be realistic portrayals of naval aviators in the context of a...

Igor and Karen Sikorsky A replay of our conversation with Igor Sikorsky III from Episode 144 , published on April 19, 2011. Igor is the grandson of Igor Sikorsky, who many consider to be the father of the helicopter industry. Igor III flies a Skyhawk on floats. He and his wife Karen operate The Bradford Camps on Munsungun Lake in the North Maine Woods, a premier lodge in the North Maine Woods loca...

Breeze Airways Breeze Airways A220 Breeze Airways celebrated its inaugural flight at the Portland International Jetport (PWM) on May 17, 2023. Our Main(e) Man Micah spoke with: Lucas Johnson , Breeze Airways Chief Commercial Officer Julie Oliphant , Breeze Trainer Ryan Hamner , Breeze First Officer Paul Bradbury , Portland International Jetport Director Lynn Tillotson , president and CEO of Visit...

We speak with a retired USAF General about the challenges involved in providing Ukraine with F-16s. Guest Brig. Gen. John “Dragon” Teichert (Ret) Brigadier General John “Dragon” Teichert (Ret) is recently retired from the U.S. Air Force. He was the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, and was responsible for worldwide international engage...

A ruling in the Northeast Alliance antitrust suit, American Airlines flight attendants troubled by the “ConnectMe” app, new service and routes from Breeze Airways, Republic Airways to fine pilots who leave early, Cessna Citation Ascend unveiled, and a YouTuber charged in the crash of his plane. Aviation News Judge ends American Airlines-JetBlue alliance, says it is anticompetitive In a May 19, 202...

We look at human trafficking, how airports play into the issue, and what one organization is doing at airports to address the problem. Guest Betty Ann Hagenau is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC) and Airport Initiative . BAATC has observed a “Move, Work, Sleep” pattern in human trafficking cases and the organization has created a targeted approac...

We discover mission aviation from JAARS. In the news, airlines add staff in anticipation of the coming summer travel boom, Congress looks at increased educational funding for flight training programs, compensating passengers for preventable delays, and DOT’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard. Mission Aviation Mission aviation is the use of aircraft to transport people, supplies, and medical care...

This episode focuses on the “Queen of the Skies,” the Boeing 747. The last Boeing 747. Photo by @Jetcitystar. Boeing 747 We look at the history of the Boeing 747, some facts and figures, our memories of the plane, the 747 in the news, and we discuss a few of the accidents and incidents. We also have some personal photos of the Boeing 747 taken by our listeners. 35 Years Of Flight: Which Standard A...

Live and recorded ATC transmissions from LiveATC.net . In the news, the FAA Acting Administrator is stepping down, Airbus and Air France are cleared in the Air France Flight 447 accident, the FAA has some advice for terrain avoidance and warning systems, and ADs for Boeing 747-8s and B-17s. Guest Dave Pascoe is the founder and CEO of LiveATC.net , the world’s largest aviation radio voice dat...

Increased air turbulence from climate change, national aeronautics science and technology priorities, a sleeping Delta pilot is raided, international passengers skip immigration, prison time for shining a laser at an airplane, responsibility for aborting a takeoff, and flying with children. Clear-air Turbulence Aviation News Airline passengers could be in for a rougher ride, thanks to climate chan...

More states join the Justice Department antitrust lawsuit to block the JetBlue-Spirit Merger, a Delta flight aborts takeoff after another jet raises concerns, Shell cancels it’s plans for a SAF plant in Singapore, Delta uses its partnership with Lyft, and the FAA warns about summer travel disruptions. We also offer a little bit of aviation career advice and talk more about lap babies on airlines....

China reportedly flies an engine destined for the COMAC C919, the Airbus final assembly line in China delivers its first A321, a “Really Cool” airline is planned for Thailand, United and Archer plan eVTOL air taxi service in Chicago, still no permanent FAA Administrator, orders for the Osprey V-22 come to an end. Also, an Australia Desk report and interviews from the Point Mugu Air Show. C919, cou...

The Condor Airlines Director of Sales for the Americas describes the airline’s plans for the North American market and explains what an airline sales director does. In the news, we look at what happened at the recent FAA Aviation Safety Summit sessions, the Russian fighter and the MQ-9 Reaper drone, longer recording time for CVRs, and a push to ban lap infants on commercial flights. Condor Airline...

We look at how the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance advances an aerospace cluster. In the news, the American Airlines flight attendant union asks for compensation increases, the last year for the air races at Reno, and the first Boeing Dreamliners to leave service are being parted out. Also, an Australia News Desk report, the State of NASA, hydrogen fuel, Rolls Royce F130 engine testing, an Ae...

Status match and airline loyalty programs with an industry leader. Also, an alleged export control violation involving Russia, a hydrogen-powered regional airliner takes flight, Jetblue court cases, and an FAA system problem impacts check rides. We also have an Australia News Desk report from Avalon and a visit to an El Al MRO shop. Guest Mark Ross-Smith is an award-winning global airline loyalty...

Decarbonizing aviation with a Program Director from the International Council on Clean Transportation. Also, a venture capital fund to grow the availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the PT6 is 60 years old, GA aircraft shipment numbers for 2022, an AD for Continental engines, another close call at the airport, a plea to refrain from putting your pets through the TSA x-ray machine, and w...

An Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Certification program, actions from the FAA including a safety call to action, a request for increased hand-flying during normal operations, a new rule requiring airport safety management systems, and IT system fixes. Also, flying over Russian airspace. Guest Brooke Manley is an Air Traffic Controller and Adjunct Professor at SUNY Schenectady in New York. She...

We speak with Jon Ostrower, Editor-in-chief of The Air Current . He’s currently working with a team developing a new flight sim controller. In the news, how a Chinese balloon impacts Boeing, a United 777 departing Maui experiences a steep dive, American Airlines pilots refuse to be interviewed on tape, and more on unidentified objects that have been shot down. Guest Jon Ostrower is Editor-in-chief...

We talk about autonomous aircraft with an Xwing executive. In the news, Airbus and Qatar Airways settle their dispute over A350 paint problems, a personal eVTOL, the 2019 report that explains how Boeing lost its way, a close call with a B737 taking off and a B767 landing on the same runway, the F-22 Raptor gets its first kill, and a Boeing 737 has crashed fighting fires in Australia. Xwing Caravan...