Skybound RC

Jase Dussia returns to Skybound RC for his third appearance on the podcast. Over the years, Jase has built a reputation as one of the top aerobatic pilots in the hobby, but since our last conversation, he's taken on an entirely new challenge: launching his own aircraft company, Apex Aerotech. In this episode, we dive into the journey from sponsored pilot to business owner, what it takes to de...

Bryan Hebert is the owner of CK Aero, long-time F3A competitor, aircraft designer, and one of the most respected authorities in RC aerobatics when it comes to airplane setup and trimming. In this conversation, we discuss Bryan's journey into Pattern flying, his experience designing competition aircraft, the evolution of modern F3A, and the differences between monoplanes, biplanes, glow, elect...

Kevin Garland has been involved in RC aviation for more than 30 years and currently serves as IMAC President, Futaba Team Manager, and Contest Director for both the IMAC Nationals and the Tucson Aerobatic Shootout. In this episode we discuss the future of IMAC, the challenges facing competitive aerobatics, Electric IMAC, participation trends, IMAC Worlds, the upcoming Nationals in Muncie, and what...

A few days ago I shared a clip of Chris Randall's giant AeroScout and lots of people wanted to know how it was built, so I invited Chris on for a quick conversation about the project. Thanks Chris for joining me! In this interview we discuss: • How the idea started at his local RC club • Scaling a Horizon Hobby AeroScout up to 14-foot wingspan • Building the airplane from Home Depot insulatio...

Today on Skybound RC, I'm chatting with Kobe Cantin, an aerobatic pilot who's been in the RC game since 2012, and has worn just about every hat. Competitor, announcer, content creator, event organizer, and sponsor pilot. We get into his early days at Joe Nall, how IMAC shaped his flying, and why he eventually traded the flightline for the microphone. He also breaks down his RealFlight Fr...

Daniel Holman is one of the most respected names in RC aerobatics. In the early 2010s, his freestyle routines blended musicality, precision, and smooth, high-speed lines—helping push the sport into a new era of extreme aerobatics. As a long-time team pilot for Extreme Flight, Daniel became known for his graceful yet aggressive flying style and for pushing aircraft to their limits in top-tier compe...

Today I’m chatting with Santiago Pérez, one of the top RC aerobatic pilots in the world. Known for his low, aggressive 3D and razor-sharp precision, Santi flies as a team pilot for Extreme Flight and is a regular at world-class events like the Tucson Aerobatic Shootout. Beyond competition, he plays a key role in testing and refining Extreme Flight’s latest airframes—like the new Extra 300 series a...

Join me as I sit down with Antonio De Souza, one of RC aerobatics' most talented pilots. Originally from Brazil and now based in Atlanta, Antonio brings a unique perspective and flying style that combines European precision with modern 3D techniques. In this interview, Antonio shares his journey from flying at just 4 years old to becoming an Extreme Flight test pilot and Customer Service Mana...

Mirco Pecorari, the creative mind behind aircraftStudioDesign, shares his journey from childhood sketches to designing some of aviation's most iconic aircraft. His portfolio includes the Extra NG, Kimball's Pitts Python, Sharp's Nemesis, and the PilotRC Matrix. In this conversation, Mirco reveals: His early years in Modena's automotive design culture Design secrets from both fu...

Ben Fisher's journey in RC aviation is a testament to relentless innovation and technical excellence. From founding the iconic 3D Hobby Shop to his current role as co-owner and lead designer at Extreme Flight, Ben has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible in RC aircraft design. His deep understanding of aerodynamics and hands-on approach to testing has led to some of the...

Imagine a tool that not only helps pilots improve their flying but also changes the way we think about RC aerobatics competitions. *Flight Coach* does exactly that. By logging GPS and attitude flight data, it allows pilots to review their performance, pinpoint mistakes, refine maneuvers, and uncover areas for improvement like never before. Beyond training, *Flight Coach Score* unlocks exciting pos...

Dan Landis is a true aviation enthusiast with a lifetime of incredible experiences. From flying in a Cessna as a baby to competing in F3A at the U.S. Nationals, working as a full-scale flight instructor, piloting UAVs in Afghanistan, and shaping the RC hobby through his work at Hobbico, Dan's story is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Dan shares his journey and gives us an insider...

CARF Models has earned its place as one of the world’s premier RC model manufacturers, known for their expertise in composite planes—from aerobatic and scale props to some of the finest turbine jets. Their lineup, including the iconic Rebel series, 3D beasts like Mephisto and Diablo, and the lightning-fast Ultraflash, has taken the RC world by storm. In this episode, I sit down with Max Chrubasik,...

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Terry Wiles, a highly skilled RC pilot, scratch builder and model designer with 18 years in the hobby. With his unique combination of engineering knowledge, fabrication skills, CAD expertise, and flying experience, Terry stands out in today's ARF-dominated hobby. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of RC plane design - from initial concept...

At just 20 years old, Rory Tooley has already made a name for himself as one of the top freestyle pilots in the world. Starting his journey in RC at the age of five, Rory’s love for aerobatics quickly became evident, driving him to hone his craft both in the air and on the simulator. Representing an impressive roster of sponsors, including Extreme Flight RC and PowerBox, Rory has been part of prem...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tony Tan, Pilot-RC’s founder and president, to discuss the journey behind creating one of the most recognized names in RC aviation. We also dive into Pilot-RC’s innovative design process, its cutting-edge projects, and even some unreleased future plans. Joining us is Ryu Syntuphrom, world-class aerobatic pilot and Pilot-RC’s lead designer an...

Today I’m chatting with Brendan Gell. Along with his father, Rick, Brendan has been deeply involved in the RC community for decades. Together, they lead Advanced Radio, an Australian company renowned for developing cutting-edge electronic systems and accessories for RC airplanes. In our conversation, Brendan shares the story of how the company began, the challenges they've faced along the way...

Two years ago, Jon Holmes launched Two Brothers RC, a YouTube channel dedicated to maximizing the potential of RC planes. Through sharing insights on new airplanes, radio setups, and various tips and tricks, Jon aims to push the boundaries of both pilot skills and their models. Today, Two Brothers RC boasts nearly 100,000 subscribers, with Jon's audience relying on his expertise to navigate t...

If you’ve been into RC aerobatics for a long time you’re probably familiar with DownOnTheDeck.com (not around anymore) and the man behind it, Joe Hunt. Back in 2005 when I was starting in RC aerobatics, DownOnTheDeck was one of the go to places to find information about 3D flying and giant scale aerobatics. Joe Hunt not only posted videos of his own proficient 3D flying, after all, he’s a very ski...

FrSky is a manufacturer of radio control transmitters, receivers and electronics that became very popular years ago among the FPV drone community, and during the past couple of years has been taking over a larger percentage of the airplane market worldwide.  Today I’m talking to Steve Schlesinger, more commonly known as FrSky Steve. He’s the fixed wing segment manager for FrSky and one of the most...

Join us as we soar with Andres Leoni, a true pioneer pushing the boundaries of RC flight. From precision aerobatics to groundbreaking 4D maneuvers and top of the line jets, Andres's journey is one of relentless innovation and passion.  In our chat, Andres takes us on a journey through his RC evolution - from precision and freestyle aerobatics to elite-level competition in F3A and F3P. We&apos...

Today, we have a true legend in the world of RC aerobatics joining us: Andrew Jesky. From his humble beginnings flying at the age of 7 to becoming a household name in the RC community, Andrew has soared to remarkable heights of success. As a multiple-time US F3A National Champion, Team F3A World Champion, and Tucson Aerobatic Shootout Champion, Andrew's trophy shelf speaks volumes about his m...

After the Tournament Of Championships came to and end in 2002, the Tucson Aerobatic Shootout became one of most important RC aerobatic competitions in the world, with the best pilots gathering to compete in IMAC and freestyle. Today, I’m talking to Bryant Mack, 2 time Invitational champion as well multiple freestyle podium finisher. In our chat, we do a deep dive on precision aerobatics and IMAC a...

Today, I'm thrilled to be in conversation with none other than Nico Gastaldi, one of the best thrust vector aerobatic jet pilots worldwide. Coming to us from France, Nico brings his wealth of experience with hundreds of thrust vector flights on J-10, Mephisto, and Ares, offering us a masterclass in the intricate world of thrust vectoring aerobatics. Join us as Nico walks us through his proces...

On today’s episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with the mastermind behind The Lighter Side of RC, Jonathan Vogt. With an impressive 41,000 subscribers and counting, his Youtube channel takes us through the build process of some of the most amazing turbine jets you can find. In our chat, we delve into the inception of Jonathan’s channel and discuss the challenges behind his videos. We also...