Plane + Pilot

Join host Cayla McLeod for the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast featuring longtime pilot, Master CFI, and FAAST Team representative Ken Wittekiend. From learning to fly in a 65-horsepower J-3 Cub to administering nearly 2,500 check rides across the country, Ken’s aviation journey is defined by humility and an enduring passion for flight. In This Episode, We Cover: Ken's Aviation Journey...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast! This week, Cayla McLeod comes to you straight from the ramp at the Valdez Pioneer Field (KVDZ) in Valdez, Alaska. McLeod sits down with veteran Alaskan bush pilot Denny Serie to discuss the realities, challenges, and thrills of flying in the Last Frontier. Whether you're a seasoned aviator or an enthusiast dreaming of the escaping to the...

Join host Cayla McLeod for a chilly episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, recorded right on flight line in Valdez, Alaska! In this episode, Cayla sits down with general aviation enthusiast, accomplished business leader, and author Darren Pleasance. Darren shares his journey from a 13-year-old kid fascinated by model airplanes to a corporate jet pilot, a leader at tech giants like Google and Cisco,...

In the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, Cayla sits down with Aviat Aircraft Vice President of Brand, Matt Hofeldt, for a candid conversation recorded during Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo. Together, they discuss all things Aviat, the iconic Husky, and how backcountry flying can open the door to a more adventurous aviation lifestyle. To learn more about Aviat Aircraft and the A-1C Husky, vis...

Welcome back to the Plane & Pilot Podcast! In this episode, Cayla sits down with Dr. Jon Miller, an Idaho-based backcountry pilot and emergency medicine physician, to bridge the critical gap between general aviation and survival medicine. Dr. Miller shares his unique journey from ski bum and raft guide to ER doctor and flight doc for the Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron. Recognizing a s...

In this episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, host Cayla McLeod sits down with country music star and lifelong aviator Aaron Tippin. While many fans know him for his chart-topping hits, aviation has always been at the core of his story. From his early days as a commercial pilot and flight instructor to his rise in Nashville, Aaron shares how flying shaped his journey—and continues to inspire his m...

In this special episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, host Cayla McLeod sits down with her boss, Ryan Ewing, who leads the entire aviation division at Firecrown. Ryan shares his lifelong passion for the industry and pulls back the curtain on what it takes to run a large group of legacy aviation publications.

Welcome back to the Plane + Pilot podcast. This week we’re sitting down with Danny Goggans, the official flight instructor and test pilot for American Legend Aircraft out of Sulphur Springs, Texas. Danny walks us through his 46-year aviation journey—from building and flying model airplanes as a kid to buying a Cessna 150 before he’d even soloed. In this episode, Danny shares the uniquely hands-on...

Join host Cayla McLeod as she sits down with Savanna Hunter—commercial pilot, flight instructor, and Director of Operations for the Tango 31 Aero Clube in McKinney, Texas. In this episode, Savanna shares her unconventional path into aviation and how she earned her private pilot certificate through Tango 31, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit where high school students earn “sweat equity” by restoring and maint...

In this episode of the Plane and Pilot podcast, host Cayla McLeod flies into one of the country’s most distinctive fly-in communities: The Landings at Pecan Plantation. Joined by Sales Manager Mike Murphy, Cayla tours this expansive 4,200-acre gated airpark situated just southwest of Fort Worth in Granbury, Texas. The conversation traces the community’s evolution from a historic 1940s pecan orchar...

On this episode of the Plane & Pilot podcast, Cayla is joined by Bill McGlynn, President of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF).With over 30 years in the cockpit, Bill shares his deep-rooted passion for the American backcountry and the vital mission to keep it accessible. They discuss the RAF’s history, the complexities of partnering with federal agencies like the BLM and US Forest Service,...

In this episode of the Plane and Pilot Podcast, we sit down with Shelly deZevallos, a fifth-generation Texan and third-generation pilot with a deep-rooted passion for aviation and public service. Based at the family-owned West Houston Airport, Shelly shares her unique journey from learning to fly at 14 to her extensive career in aviation policy and her current run for Congress.

In this episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, host Cayla McLeod sits down with aviation entrepreneur Mike Sasser at the Hank Sasser Breakaway Airport outside of Austin, Texas. Fresh off a diverse morning of flying, Mike shares his journey from a wide-eyed thirteen-year-old on an introductory flight to becoming a dealer for CubCrafters and the founder of Boomerang Air. Mike dives deep into the phil...

In this episode of the Plane + Pilot podcast, host Cayla McLeod sits down with Levi Noguess to recap his debut at the High Sierra Fly-In. Levi shares the story of his journey to the Dead Cow Lakebed in a borrowed Legend Aircraft Nomad, including a cross-country trek through New Mexico and Nevada that featured a unique Onewheel commute from the tarmac to his motel room. The conversation dives into...

Join host and Editor in Chief Cayla McLeod for an in-depth conversation with Gus and Courtney Thoreson, the owners of Heart X Outfitters. In this episode, we explore the vital intersection of general aviation and the rugged outfitting lifestyle throughout the remote Idaho backcountry. Gus and Courtney provide a unique look into their lives in the wilderness, discuss the real-world utility of their...

In the first episode of the Plane + Pilot Podcast, Editor in Chief, Cayla McLeod, sits down with seasoned backcountry instructor and tailwheel CFI, Aaron Foster, at the Missoula Montana Airport (KMSO) for a detailed chat on the high stakes and high rewards of backcountry flying. From the critical importance of front country and tailwheel training, to the nuanced etiquette required when flying over...