Princeton Flying School Podcast

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus.

In this follow-up episode Pete continued his conversation with Colin Unsworth, ex US Air Force Colonel, and retired FedEx Captain.

Pete and Colin discussed a wide range of aviation topics and shared stories regarding flight training, weather conditions, military operations, flying passengers, flying cargo, flight emergencies, and even a UFO sighting.

So without any further introduction, let’s join the conversation with Pete Rafle and Colin Unsworth.

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus.

In this episode Pete sat down with Bill Ducharme, born in 1930 and now quite possibly New Jersey’s oldest certified active private pilot. 

Pete and Bill discussed a wide range of aviation topics and shared stories regarding Bill’s early flight training, his experiences here at Princeton Airport, his love of Cessna airplanes, particularly the 152s, and his continued love of aviation all the way into his 90s. 

This episode is an enjoyable trip down memory lane, so without any further introduction let’s join Pete Rafle and Bill Ducharme.

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus.

In this episode Pete sat down with Colin Unsworth, ex US Air Force Colonel, and retired FedEx Captain.

Pete and Colin discussed a wide range of aviation topics and shared stories regarding flight training, weather conditions, military operations, flying passengers, flying cargo, flight emergencies, and even a UFO sighting.

So without any further introduction, let’s join the conversation with Pete Rafle and Colin Unsworth.

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus. In this episode Pete sat down with 1st Lt Robert McClellan, Commander of the Twin Pine Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

Pete and Rob discussed many of the benefits of being a Civil Air Patrol volunteer - whether a CAP Cadet or a senior member… whether a pilot or a parent… interested in aviation or aerospace, military customs and courtesies, even cyber. 

So without any further introduction, let’s join the conversation about the Civil Air Patrol with Pete Rafle and Robert McClellan.

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus. In this episode Pete invited Col. John ‘Skip’ Rawson, aviator, businessman, and one of the colorful characters here at the Princeton Airport for a Part Two Interview. 

Pete and Skip covered a lot of ground in their last interview, but Skip still had plenty of stories to share about the  planes he has flown including the J-3 Cub, T-28 A, Cessna 337, the T-6 trainer, Lockheed Hudson bomber, Cessna 170, Stearman Biplane, the B-17, and even the Japanese replica “Zero” which were reworked T6’s.

In Episode 6 of the Princeton Flying School Podcast Pete Rafle sat down with Jeff Slutsky, Chief Pilot of the Princeton Flying School. Pete and Jeff talked about the current state of flight training, as well as some of the experiences that they have encountered as flight instructors here at the Princeton Flying School.

We trust this podcast episode will be helpful and informative, and may at times even be entertaining for Princeton Flying School students and alumni here at the Princeton Airport. 

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus. In this episode Pete sat down with Col. John ‘Skip’ Rawson, aviator, businessman, and one of the colorful characters here at the Princeton Airport. As we will learn, Skip began flying in Cubs at the age of 14.  He later flew B 47's and Constellations in the Air Force.  Skip has also flown many types of airplanes as a charter pilot.  He is a member of the Tora! Tora! Confederate Air Force flight demonstration team flying Japanese Zero replicas. So without any further introduction, let’s join the conversation with Pete Rafle and Skip Rawson.

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus. In this episode Pete sat down with Naomi Nierenberg, co-owner of Princeton Airport. They talked about the history of the airport, the early days of the Princeton Flying School, and some of the colorful characters who played a part in the history of the airport.

Welcome to the Princeton Flying School Podcast with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus. In this episode Pete sat down with Jon Nierenberg to talk about his life in the Alaskan wilderness, as co-owner and operator with his wife Karin, of Earthsong Lodge, as well as Denali Dog Sled Expeditions. And of course they talked about the challenges and opportunities of Alaskan aviation.

Welcome to “From The Right Seat” with Pete Rafle, Princeton Flying School Instructor Emeritus. In this episode Pete shares a few flying stories and teaching tips gained from his 55 years in the air… including his years with Pan Am and TWA.

“From The Right Seat” with Pete Rafle is sponsored by the Princeton Flying School at the Princeton Airport and is produced by HG Media. If you enjoyed our podcast please share it with your friends.

“I’ve been flying airplanes since 1963. I joined the Navy and learned how to fly. In the Navy, I was assigned to a P3 squadron. I flew anti-submarine warfare. I was in Vietnam, ’66, ’67, then went to work for Pan-American World Airways, and then I went to TWA. I worked for two large airlines.

We moved down to New Jersey, lived in Hopewell, and my wife happened to buy me a gift certificate of an hour’s flight time at the Princeton Airport. I came over and Naomi Nierenberg, who was the head of the school, said, “What do you want to do?” I said, “I just want you to give me a safe for solo so I can rent an airplane.” She said, ” You’re an air transport pilot. I need a commercial pilot to give rides and lessons.” So I added on a single engine rating on to my air transport rating, that followed by a flight instructor rating, followed by an instrument flight instructor rating, and I started teaching here at Princeton Airport. That was 20 years ago. I have well over 4,000 hours in Princeton Flying School airplanes.” – Pete Rafle