Water Flying Aviation Podcast

Sporty’s has just released an impressive and visually stunning new Seaplane Rating Course that features Patty Wagstaff as the lead on-camera instructor. Along with being a national aerobatic champion and popular airshow performer, Patty is an exceptional instructor and experienced Alaska seaplane pilot. Water Flying Podcast host Steve McCaughey, who was a video production consultant on the course...

In this episode of Water Flying, host Steven McCaughey speaks with Nate Herbert from Black Moose Outpost about the unique experiences and opportunities available in the Canadian wilderness. They discuss Nate's background in bush flying, the impressive fleet of aircraft at Black Moose Outpost, and the challenges faced in bush flying operations. The conversation also highlights the luxurious accommo...

In this episode of WaterFlying, host Steve McCaughey and guest John Zimmerman from Sporty's Pilot Shop discuss the best holiday gifts for pilots in 2025. They explore various innovative aviation products, the importance of safety gear, and the significance of continuous learning for pilots during the winter months. The conversation also delves into personal experiences in aviation, the unique chal...

French seaplane owner and pilot Derry Gregoire joins Steve on this episode of the Water Flying podcast to discuss a seaplane event like no other: the Rassemblement Internatinal d'Hydravions de Biscarrosse. Held every other year on an historic freshwater seaplane lake just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean on France’s southwestern coast, the International Seaplane Meeting Biscarrosse combines...

Super Petrel USA's CEO Roger Helton sits down with Steve McCaughey to explore his history, the development of the Rotax 916 engine and how it has helped make the Super Petrel XP the exciting LSA Flying Boat that it has evolved into. With three decades of development and improvement the Super Petrel XP is an impressively capable two place flying boat that utilizes many unique design features such a...

Join Steve's guest Darren Tilman for a deep dive into aircraft exhaust system maintenance, and how dynamic propeller balancing will increase the reliability of your aircraft systems, potentially protect you from inflight failures and reduce your operational costs. Heat cycles, slip joints, vibration and aggressive throttle application and reduction all contribute to aircraft system and exhaust sys...

This week on the Water Flying Aviation Podcast Steve McCaughey sits down with Sandy Loutitt inside his impressive turbine Antonov AN-2 amphibious floatplane. This one of a kind monster is over 13 feet tall, has a wingspan of 60 feet, holds 1,200 gallons of fuel and has a 3,000 pound useful load. This isn't your average amphibious seaplane, it carries over 40 gallons of freshwater, has 2 generators...

Tom Hamilton sits down with Steve McCaughey to exclusively introduce the Apex 600 horsepower diesel aircraft engine. Tom has a long history in aviation, he famously founded Stoddard Hamilton Aircraft in which he designed and produced the high performance and highly popular Glasair and Glastar series experimental aircraft. Tom developed a product line of composite aircraft floats which Aerocet prod...

All pilots want more performance from the airplanes they fly, especially seaplane pilots. In this episode of the Water Flying podcast Steve McCaughey sits down with Darren Tilman, President of Power Flow Exhaust Systems to explore one of the best but perhaps least known ways to unlock more power, gain fuel efficiency and reduce overall wear on aircraft engines. So what’s the secret? Upgrade the te...

In this episode of the Water Flying podcast, I have the great pleasure of sitting down with Darren Pleasance who recently became the CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest aviation non-profit advocacy organization in the world. It has rewarding working with Darren on numerous advocacy issues, and could not be more thrilled to share his vast experiences, passion and v...

Almost live from AirVenture 2025! Steve McCaughey is joined by Steve Guetter to discuss the incredible  Fire Boss . Steve Guetter is not only the General Manager of  Advanced Flight Training & Leasing , he is also a  Seaplane Pilots Association  Board Member and Minnesota Field Director. Join a great discussion between the two Steves focused on the amazing pe...

JT Grainger of Sheridan Pilots 307 joins Steve McCaughey for a discussion on the challenges and rewards of flying high altitude lake operations in the school's Cessna 172 on Wipline amphibious floats . Based in Sheridan, Wyoming, JT is a SPA Field Director and passionate promotor of all things aviation. JT's school is the only seaplane training facility in Wyoming, and we are thrilled to see such...

In this episode of SPA’s Water Flying podcast Steve sits down with Dr. Loel Fenwick to discuss “The World's Most Beautiful Amphibian”, which happens to be Loel’s own Grumman G-73 Mallard—or maybe both of Loel’s Mallards. Recorded while sitting under the wing of one of Loel's G-73s at his gorgeous Tanglefoot Seaplane Base on the shores of beautiful Priest Lake, Idaho, this podcast will take listene...

On this episode of the Water Flying podcast Steve is joined by Addison Pemberton to discuss his amazing N3N seaplane. This round-engine biplane is the only one of its kind flying on a single mono-float. The N3N was the primary seaplane trainer for the US Navy from 1936 until 1961. It is a rare example of a military aircraft that was designed and produced by the US government and not an industrial...

Danny Seybert ,president of the Alaska Aviation Museum, joins Steve McCaughey on this episode of the Water Flying podcast to discuss growing up in a historic aviation family in Alaska in the 1970's. Danny's father Orin Seybert founded PenAir in 1955 which famously flew Grumman G-21 Gooses throughout the Aleutian Islands. The Alaska Aviation Museum has many great historic aircraft including a PBY,...

On this episode Steve is in Sausalito, California with Aaron Singer of Aero Adventures . Commodore Center Seaplane Base, where Aero Adventures operates, dates back to the romance of the Pan Am Clipper Ships. The base has an amazing safety record and a colorful history as the location where Otis Redding wrote " Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay ," and as a recording location for artists such as t...

Join Amanda and Steve McCaughey for a discussion about both the Clear Lake Splash-In and the growing vision and opportunities for seaplanes at this Northern California secret gem. Clear Lake is the largest lake fully within the state of California, with over 100 miles of shoreline, and yet the region is sparsely populated and under visited. Of specific interest to seaplane pilots, the lake has 100...

The SPA team is small, hardworking and known for moving mountains for our members. Slade joined the SPA team in 2021 and has traveled extensively supporting our mission, largely became our goto solution for maintaining, wrangling and implementing our technology needs amongst the many other demands put on the team. With great regret, but simultaneous support Slade will be leaving the team to pursue...

On this episode I am joined by Steve Anderson, President of Aviat Aircraft as we explore the Husky. Let's be honest, there are very few certified bush/seaplanes being made today. The Aviat Husky is a two place American made and owned aircraft that has the capability to fill a mission few current production aircraft. It boasts a higher gross weight than any other current two seat aircraft, a higher...

Jack Jacobson and Amy Fenwick from the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association join Steve McCaughey on this episode to provide a recap of the 2023 Tanglefoot Seaplane Splash-In on Priest Lake, Idaho. Perfectly calm, cool and clear weather welcomed over 30 seaplanes and their pilots. This amazing event which was hosted by the WSPA and Fenwick family at their amazing seaplane base nestled within the...

Whether we want to discuss it or not, having seaplane owners and operators being the best possible stewards of the environment is not an optional topic. The spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) is not limited to the waters of the United States, aquatic ecosystems arounds the world are being infected by non-native aquatic invaders. Sid Pinney from Turbo Float Pump has been working with the Seap...

SPA Board Member Harry Shannon joins Steve McCaughey to review our recent SPA advocacy tour through Alaska. During the trip SPA conducted numerous safety workshops, visited Alaska Seaplanes' amazing operation in Juneau and attended the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. The crew traveled over 2,500 miles during the three week trip that included stops in Anchorage, Palmer, Talkeetna, Fairbanks and Ju...

Toby Ortega from Alaska Seaplanes joins us to discuss what it is like to fly for this industry leading seaplane company. They operate primarily throughout the Southeast Alaska region. Alaska Seaplanes recently hosted SPA and provided us with a tour and introspection into their growing and amazingly well organized seaplane business while celebrating their 25 year anniversary. Operating over 15 airc...

Melissa Grabiec has had quite a journey since joining the Seaplane Pilots Association. As a traveling volunteer doing events across the country in her early 20's, to earning her ATP, and flying for a major airline, she is now starting her own seaplane service. Melissa started her seaplane journey, like many others, at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in 2012. Eleven years later, she is flying for a majo...

Paul Richards CEO of Clamar Floats joins Steve McCaughey for an exploration of the largest float manufacturer of experimental floats. Clamar has long been associated as a leader in composite float manufacturing for aircraft such as the Aircam, GlasAir Sportsman and many others. Innovative design, constant improvement and high quality are all traits of this company's quest to produce these great pe...