What happens when the engine mount on your bush plane breaks mid-flight? Or when you run out of gas 43 miles offshore on the Arctic sea ice at -30°F?In this episode you’ll hear:-Why staying calm in harsh flying conditions can save your life.-What happens when you grab a live wounded wolf with your bare hands-The genius (and slightly insane) way to inflate a flat aircraft tire with a campfire 🔥-How a four place Cub is better than a regular one.-What it really takes to live, fly, and survive in Alaska’s backcountryThis episode is packed with jaw-dropping tales of old-school aviation, wilderness grit, and survival smarts. At the heart of the episode is the Ellis family, masters of landing on strips, glaciers, and gravel bars so unimproved, most pilots wouldn’t even consider them. Their hard-earned wisdom came not from textbooks, but from bent props, and long walks.Today, we’re joined again by Kirk Ellis, he’s here to share with us more of the incredible stories and lessons he’s learned through a lifetime of operating in these conditions.

Join our email list: https://coffeeinahangar.comSponsor Sport Aircraft Seats: https://sportaircraftseats.comIn this episode of Coffee and a Hangar, we sit down with Guy Morgan — a lifelong bush pilot, fisherman, and mechanic who spent his career navigating the brutal weather, shifting winds, and volcanic terrain of the Alaska Peninsula. 🌋 From dodging volcanic eruptions to flying in hurricane force winds, Guy’s stories are jaw-dropping — and his aviation wisdom is priceless.We discuss:How Guy started flying at 14Narrowly missing a fatal crash due to quick thinkingWhat it takes to land in multiple wind directions on a short stripLessons from Alaskan pilot Babe AlsworthWhy staying safe sometimes means stepping outside the FAA’s rulebookThe mindset needed for frequently landing, taking off, and flying in 100+ mph windsThis episode is packed with flying insights and stories you won’t want to miss!

Join our email list: https://coffeeinahangar.com

Sponsor: https://sportaircraftseats.com

Grab his book: https://www.amazon.com/No-Sequel-Life-Heart-Pilot/dp/B0CY9N9YYJ

Devil's Canyon Rescue Podcast:

-Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PnrNkWcp7glYggwSFb0PE?si=3Q-vZhT4Q1yusdGQZQamYA&nd=1&dlsi=77417b5616cb42f9

-Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2AdzZGmi4DvqjZnJ80WbBY?si=rTmbMJR-Sw-LFHEc050e7Q&nd=1&dlsi=ede29b39c07342d1

In this episode of Coffee In a Hangar, meet Jerry Jacques — bush pilot, hunting and rafting guide, lodge owner, and author of No Sequel to Life. Jerry’s adventures blur the line between Alaskan legend and survival epic.

We dive into:

Jerry’s runaway trip to Alaska at 16

Nearly drowning in a Class V+ rapid named Devil's Canyon

Flying illegally for years before getting caught by the FAA — and how that saved his life

A wild story of a gravel bar landing crash… that was intentional

Living alone in a trapper’s cabin — starving — before being rescued and adopted by an Alaskan Native family

The deep cultural and survival significance of salmon in rural Alaska

A death defying rescue in Devil's Canyon with his Helio Courier

Ending up on the front lines in Ukraine

Whether you're into aviation, off-grid survival, whitewater legends, or just jaw-dropping true stories, this one is a must-listen. Jerry Jacques might be the most adventurous man we've had on yet!

Sponsor: https://sportaircraftseats.comSign Up For Our Newsletter: https://coffeeinahangar.com

In this episode of Coffee in a Hangar, our guest Phil Shoemaker shares stories and lessons from his 50+ year long career. Here are a few topics you can expect!

1. How he accidentally became a big game hunting guide after just three days on the job — when his mentor was arrested for murder.

2. The pressure of flying high-paying hunting clients into remote areas, often right to the edge of what’s safe — and the hard calls that come with it.

3. Defending client’s from vicious bear attacks.

4. Close calls while flying in Alaska’s rugged backcountry.

Many of his lessons weren’t learned in books — they came from experience, and sometimes, just barely walking away.

Also, we are about to make some big additions to the coffee in a hangar brand. If you want to stay informed on possible live interviews, new merch, and something that just may have to do with coffee, Visit our website. Go to coffeeinahangar.com and sign up for our mailing list.

When a downdraft flipped his Super Cub in the middle of the Andes, Que Que Parodi spent 27 hours stranded in a snowstorm—alone, underdressed, and fighting to survive. That’s just one of the wild stories in this episode of Coffee and a Hanger.Que Que describes the moment he stumbled upon a video about bush pilots in Alaska. Watching Paul Claus fly a Super Cub through remote Alaskan wilderness inspired him. This was what he was meant to do.Que Que is the founder of Patagonia Bush Pilots, a rapidly growing backcountry flight school in Argentina. With only six years of flying under his belt, he’s built a fully certified operation: a cargo and taxi business, a licensed flight school, and a repair station—all from scratch. But Que Que's story starts way before aviation, as a professional snowboarder filming in active volcanic craters, building custom drones for forest fire surveillance, and hustling his way into aviation by pure grit and innovation.This episode is an incredible ride—raw, inspiring, and packed with bush flying spirit. Don't miss it.

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