Sponsor https://sportaircraftseats.comWelcome to the Coffee in a Hanger podcast.In this episode, we sit down with Gary Heert, a former school teacher from Kotzebue, Alaska, who spent his evenings and weekends flying through the unforgiving backcountry, often bending more than just a few rules (and airplane parts). From homemade runways and makeshift repairs to flying crippled aircraft out of the wilderness—Gary’s stories guarantee to be memorable.Highlights include:-Crashing a plane in the middle of nowhere and rebuilding it on-site with a tripod and an axe-Flying a damaged aircraft 45 minutes with oil leaking out just to land as the engine seized up-Hauling moose meat and making sketchy takeoffs-The history of polar bear hunting in Alaska and russiaThis episode is a crash course in what it means to live the true Alaskan bush pilot life. Don’t miss this mix of adrenaline, humor, and pure frontier spirit.

Welcome to the Coffee Hangar Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Glenn Curtis — a veteran pilot with over 50 years of flying experience across Alaska’s wildest skies. From daring floatplane rescues in Cook Inlet, flying President Bush, to surviving a terrifying emergency landing in the tundra, Glenn’s incredible stories will captivate anyone fascinated by aviation and adventure.🎙️ What you’ll hear in this episode:-How Glenn went from a novice floatplane pilot to mastering some of Alaska’s most challenging landings-Intense moments flying medevac missions and making split-second decisions under pressure-How his 8 year old daughter predicted the crash landing that left his plane upside down.-The golden era of floatplane flying at Lake Hood in the 1970s-Lessons learned from Alaska’s aviation pioneers-Behind-the-scenes insight into the Exxon Valdez oil spill response and floatplane operationsWhether you’re a pilot, aviation enthusiast, or just love real-life survival stories, Glenn’s unique perspective and humble storytelling will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Alaska’s Legendary Bush Pilot: Terry Holliday

In this unforgettable episode of Coffee and a Hanger, we sit down with Terry Holliday—Alaska Aviation Hall of Famer, Wright Brothers Award recipient, Craig Taylor Award recipient, and living legend of the Alaskan skies. His story begins in 1957 when, at just 12 years old, he wandered into a canvas tent in Anchorage and met a man rebuilding an airplane engine. That chance encounter set him on a lifelong path of flight, adventure, and survival.Terry recounts growing up in Anchorage, learning to weld with a coat hanger, rebuilding aircraft engines alongside his father, and learning to fly the hard way—without GPS, relying only on instinct and the land. But it was the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake—one of the most powerful quakes in North American history—that became a defining moment in his life.

When the ground tore open and buildings collapsed, Terry didn’t run—he stepped into chaos to rescue the injured. Hear how that experience shaped his philosophy: when someone’s in trouble in the Alaskan wilderness, you don’t wait, you go. It showed him that his mechanical skills, his courage, and his instinct for survival could continue to save lives. Weather, darkness, remoteness—none of it mattered.

Terry shares harrowing stories, hard lessons, and the deep bond between man and machine, forged in some of the harshest and most beautiful landscapes on Earth.

#alaska #flying #aviation

Bush Flying Legends & Survival: Mike Meekin's 50-Year flying JourneyWelcome to the Coffee and a Hangar Podcast! Today, we sit down with Mike Meekin, a bush pilot with over 50 years of experience navigating some of the most challenging terrains in aviation. With 11 TBO’d engines on just one plane, Mike is the definition of experience, skill, and survival in the mountains.From parachute failures and near-crashes to mastering the art of short-field landings, this episode is packed with thrilling stories, hard-earned wisdom, and real talk about what it takes to fly in some of the most treacherous weather and terrain Alaska has to offer. With over 25,000 hours of experience flying Cessnas, PA-18 Super Cubs, and many other bush aircraft, Mike Meekin is a well of knowledge.💡 Topics we cover:✅ The myth of "No Old Bold Pilots"✅ Critical go-around decisions & risk assessment✅ The mental game of mountain flying✅ Harrowing stories from the Alaskan backcountry✅ The legendary pioneers of bush flying✅ The importance of good equipment and maintenance ✅ STOL Landing & STOL TakeoffsPlus, get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our aircraft seat shop, where we craft high-quality seat upholstery for pilots like you!

Sponsor: SportAircraftSeats.com

Sponsor: https://sportaircraftseats.com

https://sportaircraftseats.com

In this episode of the Coffee and a Hangar Podcast, we're excited to welcome Adam Grenda, a seasoned pilot, big game hunter, and trapper hailing from King Salmon, Alaska. Adam dives deep into his unique journey of learning to fly in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, all under the mentorship of legendary bush pilot Ron Hayes. Adam reflects on the impact Ron had on his career, offering valuable lessons from the heart of Alaska.

We explore everything from Adam’s terrifying near-crash incident to his lifelong passion for hunting, which began at a young age. His stories perfectly capture the blend of adventure, danger, and the rugged beauty that defines life as a bush pilot in Alaska. Adam shares his experiences flying the iconic Super Cub, the lessons he learned through trial and error in the air, and how those early hunting experiences paved the way for his guiding career in Alaska’s tough terrain.

Adam also shares in detail his harrowing Super Cub crash at age 20, recounting how, as a young pilot with just 3 hours of tailwheel experience, he made some split-second decisions that resulted in a total wreck. He candidly talks about the mistakes he made during that flight, including ignoring basic safety measures and overconfidence in his abilities. Yet, from that near-fatal accident, Adam emerged with hard-earned wisdom that shaped the rest of his career, teaching him the importance of critical decision-making, especially in the erratic conditions of bush flying.

Through the ups and downs of his flying career, Adam reflects on the importance of humility, proficiency, and the constant drive to improve. His story is not just about surviving, but thriving in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy these epic tales of bush flying, and true backcountry adventure, straight from the Alaskan frontier.