The Hangar Z Podcast

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . We're coming to you from the show floor at ECHO 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we're joined by Kenny Hall and Cody Klaehn from Dallas Avionics. Although they took very different paths to get there, both have become familiar faces throughout the law enforcement aviation comm...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . We're coming to you from the show floor at ECHO 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we're joined by Kenny Hall and Cody Klaehn from Dallas Avionics. Although they took very different paths to get there, both have become familiar faces throughout the law enforcement aviation comm...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus. In this special two-part series of the Hangar Z Podcast, hosts Jon Gray and Jeff Ratkovich explore how modern public safety agencies can overcome critical work force development hurdles. Joined by Roe Conn, chief of strategic initiatives for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Ryan Harbison, p...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus. In this special two-part series of the Hangar Z Podcast, hosts Jon Gray and Jeff Ratkovich explore how modern public safety agencies can overcome critical work force development hurdles. Joined by Roe Conn, chief of strategic initiatives for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Ryan Harbison, p...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . In this episode, we're joined by Chief Brandon Gillespie of the Modesto Police Department. Building on our previous conversations in Episodes 372 and 373 with Lieutenant Hicks and Lieutenant Souza, we take a closer look at the leadership behind the department's success.  Chief Gillesp...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . Celebrating the sixth anniversary of the Hangar Z Podcast, host Jack Schonely steps into the lead chair, alongside Jon Gray, for a comprehensive two-part panel dedicated to one of the most critical, yet frequently overlooked, elements of airborne public safety: Internal and external unit market...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . Celebrating the sixth anniversary of the Hangar Z Podcast, host Jack Schonely steps into the lead chair, alongside Jon Gray, for a comprehensive two-part panel dedicated to one of the most critical, yet frequently overlooked, elements of airborne public safety: Internal and external unit market...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by Vertical Plus editor-at-large Brent Bundy and Delaware State Police aviation commander Jeff Whitmarsh for a conversation about leadership, trust, and developing a high-performing multi-mission aviation unit. We brea...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus. In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by Vertical Plus editor-at-large Brent Bundy and Delaware State Police aviation commander Jeff Whitmarsh for a conversation about leadership, trust, and developing a high-performing multi-mission aviation unit. We break...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . Today’s episode was recorded at the Vertical Valor Plus booth, on the floor of APSCON in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are honored to welcome Wade Bourassa, pilot and supervisor of the Saskatoon Police Aviation Unit. Wade is the 2026 recipient of the Airborne Public Safety Association's Rob...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . Today’s episode was recorded at the Vertical Valor Plus booth, on the floor of APSCON in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are honored to welcome Wade Bourassa, pilot and supervisor of the Saskatoon Police Aviation Unit. Wade is the 2026 recipient of the Airborne Public Safety Association's Rob...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by L.A. City Fire Department (LAFD) pilot and safety officer Joel Smith for an inside look at the high-stakes world of LAFD Air Operations. Joel breaks down the tactical precision and intense training required to battl...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by L.A. City Fire Department (LAFD) pilot and safety officer Joel Smith for an inside look at the high-stakes world of LAFD Air Operations. Joel breaks down the tactical precision and intense training required to battl...

Welcome to this special joint episode of the Hangar Z Podcast and the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . In this special episode, Jon Gray of Hangar Z and Blake Shrider and Mike Fadale of the Valor Flight Crew, preview the 2026 ECHO Public Safety Aviation Conference . High-quality public safety aviation training doesn’t need a massive price ta...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus .  We're glad you're with us, because today we're pulling back the curtain on one of our favorite projects of the year—the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour through Florida. For this special episode, we've brought together the entire team that made the tour possible. Joining us a...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus .  We're glad you're with us, because today we're pulling back the curtain on one of our favorite projects of the year—the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour through Florida. For this special episode, we've brought together the entire team that made the tour possible. Joining us a...

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Valor Plus . For this episode of Hangar Z, recorded live at APSCON 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely sit down with Nicolas Ianiero, aircraft maintenance engineer with Canadian Helicopters supporting the York Regional Police Air Support Unit and the recipient of the 2026 APSA Technician of t...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . This is a three-part podcast! Make sure you listen to all three. Today, we're honored to welcome retired San Diego Police Department Chief Pilot Todd Jager. Todd is a true aviation professional with more than 10,000 hours of rotorcraft flight time, over 1,000 hours in fixed-wing aircr...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus . This is a three-part podcast! Make sure you listen to all three. Today, we're honored to welcome retired San Diego Police Department Chief Pilot Todd Jager. Todd is a true aviation professional with more than 10,000 hours of rotorcraft flight time, over 1,000 hours in fixed-wing aircr...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus .  This is a three-part podcast! Make sure you listen to all three. Today, we're honored to welcome retired San Diego Police Department Chief Pilot Todd Jager. Todd is a true aviation professional with more than 10,000 hours of rotorcraft flight time, over 1,000 hours in fixed-wing airc...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . On today's episode, we're honored to welcome Deputy Jonathan Lazada and Deputy Chase Gomez of the Indian River County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit. Jonathan and Chase are the recipients of the Airborne Public Safety Association's Aircrew of the Year Award, as well as the FLIR Vision Aw...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . On today's episode, we're honored to welcome Deputy Jonathan Lazada and Deputy Chase Gomez of the Indian River County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit. Jonathan and Chase are the recipients of the Airborne Public Safety Association's Aircrew of the Year Award, as well as the FLIR Vision Aw...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus .  In this episode we are heading to Modesto, California, to hear how a brand-new air support unit was built from the ground up, and how it’s already changing the way the department fights crime, protects officers, and serves the community. Lt Mike Hicks and Lt Kalani Souza were both involve...

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus .  In this episode we are heading to Modesto, California, to hear how a brand-new air support unit was built from the ground up, and how it’s already changing the way the department fights crime, protects officers, and serves the community. Lt Mike Hicks and Lt Kalani Souza were both involve...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Valor Plus .   In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by Clay Lacey of the Texas Department of Public Safety and Harald Brink of the Dutch National Police to explore the 25-plus-year legacy of Jack Schonely’s tactical training.    From individual officer safety to agenc...