SimpleFlight Radio

By Marc Epner, Al Waterloo

What's SimpleFlight Radio about?

Welcome to the SimpleFlight Radio show! We are here to help you define your personal aviation lifestyle. We've got the tips, pilot hacks and introductions to the people who give their aviation secrets.

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SimpleFlight Radio episodes:

06.01.2023
Reliving The Aviation Experience. Part One - In-Cockpit Audio Recording
Like most people that love aviation, I find myself addicted to the experience. Our community shares that passion regardless of all the other things that make us different. And it's that love that drives our desire to share the experience...
11.06.2022
Situational Awareness with Max Trescott
Apologies to our loyal listeners for the gap between shows. Schedules, Family, Work, and Life are competing for time. I love SimpleFlight and refuse to let it go. Thanks for your patience, while we work it out. In the meantime,...
06.04.2022
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Engine Out 5/31/22 (S10E3)
Yes, SimpleFlight Radio is still here. We took an extended break, but not without missing all of you. Some of you have found me with my YouTube channel, PF Flying. If you checked it out, you saw that I had...
12.30.2021
Aviation Journey's (Part 2), Bob Reynolds, 12/29/21 (S10E2)
As 2021 comes to a close, it's a good time to reflect on the year that was. As we made progress against Covid, the battle rages on. Still, 2021 was a great year for General Aviation. Many people have decided...
09.21.2021
Navigating Insurance, Wendy Wenk, 9/15/21 (S10E1)
As Oshkosh came and went in 2021, the Simpleflight Crew celebrated the completion of our 9th year. During the time of Covid, we didn't get a complete season out, but are very excited for our 10th season. So we wanted...
06.07.2021
Aviation Dreams Can Still Happen. June 6,2021 (S9E10)
Once bitten by the Aviation "Bug", pilots dream about flying experiences to come. It may be a particular mission or a specific make and model of aircraft that the pilot wants to fly. Dreams come in all shapes and sizes....
05.18.2021
Around The World - GA Style, Alex Gronberger, May 16, 2021 (S9E9)
For many GA pilots, a cross country trip usually means several hundred miles, a hotel room, and a return trip. But for a few people, a bigger calling exists. Join us on this week's episode as we are joined...
05.04.2021
Oshkosh! Our Community's Common Unity, with Dick Knapinski
The word Community is made up of two root words... Common Unity. That one thing that bonds people together. To an Avgeek, we share a love of aviation... and it is EAA's Airventure that unites us all in a special...
03.08.2021
Air Zoo @ KAZO, Fun To Say, Fun To See, March 7, 2021 (S9E7)
As the world starts thinking about getting back to normal, the question comes up, "What is normal?" For each of us, it's a different answer. Among the community of avgeeks, it generally means joining with other pilots in getting back...
02.01.2021
Taking Off In A New Direction, Jerry Meyer, January 31, 2021 (S9E6)
With 2020 behind us and with high hopes for a great 2021, what better way to change our mindset, than sitting down and talking aviation. During our last 9 seasons, the SimpleFlight crew has had the pleasure of hosting north...
12.15.2020
Year End Hangar Talk, December 13, 2020 (S9E5)
2020 has been a notable year. How is that for an understatement. For many of us, aviation serves as an escape from the pressures of daily life. It can be relaxing, energizing, and fulfilling, with an added benefit of providing...
11.03.2020
Pacific On The Right, Curtis Pierce, Nov 1, 2020 (S9E4)
After the last three shows on airplane ownership, it's only natural to talk about what comes next. And of course the answer is, TAKE A TRIP. But where? I suspect if I asked all of you, the answer wouldn't be...
10.13.2020
Ownership Part 3 - Leaseback, September 20, 2020 (S9E3)
The last two shows have focused on airplane ownership from both a sole owner and a partnership perspective. As we close out our trilogy, Brandon and Marc are joined by Steve Rogers, owner of a beautiful 2004 Glass Panel Archer. ...
09.15.2020
Plane Ownership - Part 2, Edward Forman, September 6, 2020 (S9E2)
As a follow up to our last episode, the SimpleFlight crew reached out to Edward Forman, a pilot that embarked on a mission to find a plane and some partners to help him build proficiency and get more utility out...
08.25.2020
Stay The Course, Andy Thome, August 23, 2020 (S9E1)
As SimpleFlight Radio starts its 9th season, we decided to sit down and revisit with Andy Thome, who was our guest twice in the last three months of 2019. At that time, Andy was going through an airplane purchase process...
07.28.2020
Bravo! Bravo! Bob Reynolds, July 12, 2020 (S8E18)
Covid-19 has impacted so many people across the globe in some physical or emotional way. The specifics are tough to recount. To say we need to find a way to "de-stress" is an understatement. For many of us, we find...
06.09.2020
An Electrifying Career, Wayne Temple, May 24, 2020 (S8E17)
There are a lot of paths to a job in aviation. Some are unconventional. And sometimes the job itself is unconventional. Welcome to this week's episode of SimpleFlight radio. Join us as Marc and Brandon spend time with Wayne Temple,...
05.15.2020
Ladies Love Taildraggers, May 10, 2020 (S8E16)
All pilots are passionate about aviation. It's the one thing that creates a bond. As Marc likes to say, it's our Common Unity. And that's what makes us a COMMUNITY. But it doesn't stop there. There are families within the...
04.21.2020
Build A Plane; Build A Life, Mike Ojo, April 12, 2020 (S8E15)
Marc commonly says that YouTube is his favorite app. The main reason comes down to access to education and people doing really cool things. And as no surprise, Marc spends a lot of time watching aviation videos. One of the...
04.07.2020
Beyond Pilot Error, Karlene Petitt, March 29, 2020 (S8E14)
With Covid-19 being so front and center in everyone's mind, it's very common and appropriate to hear people sending wishes for safety and good health. Certainly, SimpleFlight wishes the same for you and yours. The path to getting to a...
03.10.2020
OSH Mass Arrivals - Chip Gentry, March 8, 2020 (S8E13)
With our reoccurring theme of aviation bucket lists,, many would say flying into KOSH during Airventure is near the top of the list. But once you've done that, how do you top it? How about being a part of one...
02.11.2020
Flying Fun Alaska, Ray Weber, February 9, 2020 (S8E12)
It seems every pilot has an aviation bucket list. Sometimes its a type of airplane, an experience, or a destination. And sometimes it's all three. Regardless, the lists are wide ranging and not often duplicated. But there is an exception. ...
01.26.2020
Listener Potpourri, January 26, 2020 (S8E11)
With a late cancellation of SimpleFlight's guest, our listeners came to the rescue. We asked them if they had any questions, and they came through in spades. Armed with topics to discuss, we knew we would need help with the...
12.30.2019
Aviation Pathways, Jarred Dellinger, December 29, 2019 (S8E10)
When Marc earned his PPL in the mid-70's, he learned from young CFI's, who were on a path to the airlines. Getting a job was tough, as young pilots were competing with military pilots and those that were having their...
12.20.2019
Reflections 2019, December 19, 2019 (S8E9)
Happy Holidays!!! With the end of the year in sight, Brandon and Marc reflected on different areas of general aviation that have an opportunity to improve with just a little effort from all of us that love the industry so...
12.02.2019
From Plane Shopping To Purchase, December 1, 2019 (S8E8)
If you haven't listened to the October 13 podcast, we suggest you take a few moments and do so now. You'll get a chance to meet two members of the Leading Edge Flying Club (KPWK), who each have a dream...
11.18.2019
Carbon Cub To Chicago, November 17, 2019
For those of you that read Rinker Buck's memoir, "Flight of Passage", you'll understand the romance associated with a cross country flight in a Piper Cub. If you haven't read the story, you only need to love General Aviation to...
11.02.2019
Brrr, It's Cold Outside - Cold Weather Operations, October 27, 2019
With a forecast for snow on Halloween in Chicago, the topic of winter has entered our vocabulary too early this year. Yet, with its arrival, the topic of cold weather operations seems right on schedule. Non-pilots commonly ask if GA...
10.15.2019
Plane Shopping, October 13, 2019 (S8E5)
Whether it's Trade-A-Plane or Controller.com, many GA pilots spend a fair amount of time window shopping for their dream plane. It's fun and results in a smile. But then the spreadsheet comes into play as the prospective plane owner starts...
10.08.2019
Archie League Awards, October 6, 2019 S8-E4
Since 2004, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has been recognizing its members for extraordinary performance in turning a potentially bad situation into a "non-event". Or as they call it, "A Save". Named after the first Air Traffic Controller,...
09.24.2019
Al Palicki, Making A Difference For 40 Years, September 17, 2019
A wise person once made the statement that if your smile is bigger on Friday than it is on Monday, it's time to find a new job. Big smiles on Monday aren't that common, but neither is tonight's guest, Al...
09.04.2019
Getting Personal. Meet Brandon Anderson, September 3, 2019
The speed at which September arrived is indicative of the whirlwind summer the SimpleFlight crew experienced. Our tight schedules impacted the quantity of shows, but quality remained high. As we planned for the upcoming months it was clear that available...
08.05.2019
Getting To Know You - Boldmethod, August 4, 2019
Oshkosh 2019 is in the books!!! It was a record breaking event, with many noteworthy outcomes that are sure to fuel an exciting year in aviation. One item we like, is that OSH represents the anniversary of our first show,...
07.09.2019
Why Not Me - Andrew Holmes, July 7, 2019
For some of us, our aviation dream started with a goal to earn a private pilot certificate. On this week's SimpleFlight Radio episode, you'll meet Andrew Holmes, whose dream was to buy a jet, but knew that the process must...
06.20.2019
Point A to Point B, "The Experience" - June 15, 2019
Sometimes getting to sporting events is quite the hassle, often taking multiple days to enjoy a 3 hour game. Well now, the game has changed. Listen in to this week's episode of SimpleFlight Radio as Marc and Al sit...
05.29.2019
A General Aviation Journey, Kirke Machon, May 27, 2019
Pilots and Avgeeks share a special bond which can usually be described in one word.... Passion. In today's world, it's not uncommon to find pilots that are making their way back into the sky after an extended hiatus. What is...
05.14.2019
The People Behind an Airport - Jaime Abbott - Executive Airport Director
We often think of airports as just pieces of concrete, maybe a control tower, and a place to land. Its easy to forget about the people behind the scenes putting their best foot forward to make your airport run! ...
05.06.2019
Navigating The Process; Kseniya Polinsky, April 28, 2019
Ask most pilots, and they will tell you that learning to fly was one of the most rewarding and challenging things they have done in life. And while similarities exist, each pilot's journey is unique. Something that can be depended...
04.02.2019
Airline Dispatcher, James Tochihara, March 31, 2019
As a General Aviation pilot, many of us think of flight planning in terms of weather, NOTAMs, fuel planning, altitude selection, routing, timing, and ensuring the pilot and plane are capable of making the flight. From there it's executing the plan. ...
03.25.2019
Field of Dreams, Steve & Tina Thomas, March 24, 2019
It's a surprise to no one that the most common conversations in aviation, center on people and planes. And why not... it makes for great hangar flying. This week, Al and Marc were reminded of another very important aspect of...
03.12.2019
Beautiful By Design, Chris Custer, March 10, 2019
Ask a pilot, which is their favorite plane, and they may answer with a plane they've never flown before. We know that sometimes an airplane "speaks" to a person. It may be the history, the sound, the performance, or maybe...
02.18.2019
We More Than Me - Captain Nathan Dial
As President of the Leading Edge Flying Club in Chicago, Marc meets a lot of "avgeeks"; each with a story that connects them to our special aviation family. Recently Marc met Nathan Dial, an Air Force Captain who moved to...
01.22.2019
ADS-B - Its more powerful than you think! January 22nd, 2019
It feels like ADS-B is almost about ready to get started. We only have one year left before the FAA mandate in 2020 for ADS-B Compliance! Did you know that ADS-B has been an old idea built up of multiple...
12.17.2018
Go / No Go, December 16, 2018
This past week, Marc found himself at his airplane at 6AM in anticipation of a 7AM departure for some minor maintenance at an airport some two hours away. The only issue was his home airport (KPWK) was fogged in with forward and...
12.10.2018
Cockpit Complacency, December 9, 2018
This week, Al confesses to some troubles in the cockpit, that ultimately point to an enemy of a pilot .... Complacency! Marc and Al take the conversation to a deeper level and come to the conclusion, that the very things pilots strive for as part...
12.04.2018
The Flying Club Community, December 2, 2018
This week, Marc and Al had some special guests that made their way to the SimpleFlight studio at KPWK. Gavin Black, Andrew Haefner, Pierce Lane, and Bill Engelking flew from their respective home bases in Knoxville and Duluth for the...
11.29.2018
Final Approach - Bob Schmelzer, November 25, 2018
This week, we speak with Bob Schmelzer, who has spent the last 40+ years, flying for United Airlines. Just this past week, Bob turned 65, which by FAA rules, required him to retire from the airlines. With 27,000 of his 37,000 hours being...
11.19.2018
Jason Schappert of MzeroA, November 18, 2018
This week's show features Jason Schappert of MzeroA.com. As pilots around the world know, Jason Schappert is a CFII and ATP rated pilot. He is the founder of MzeroA.com, and author of eight aviation flight training books. In 2008, Jason was...
11.05.2018
Mark Baker - Leader & Avgeek, November 4, 2018
This week Marc and Al sat down with the President and CEO of AOPA, Mark Baker. AOPA has always been there for the General Aviation pilot, but the focus often seems to be centered on protecting our rights in Washington. It was great to talk...
10.30.2018
Connecting with AOPA! (Tom Haines) October 30th, 2018
Tom Haines! This week Marc and Al sat down with the Senior Vice President of Communication and Outreach for AOPA, Tom Haines. After 30 years of bringing aviation into the homes of pilots via magazines like AOPA Pilot, Tom helps us...

What's SimpleFlight Radio about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

SimpleFlight Radio episodes:

Reliving The Aviation Experience. Part One - In-Cockpit Audio Recording

Situational Awareness with Max Trescott

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Engine Out 5/31/22 (S10E3)

Aviation Journey's (Part 2), Bob Reynolds, 12/29/21 (S10E2)

Navigating Insurance, Wendy Wenk, 9/15/21 (S10E1)

Aviation Dreams Can Still Happen. June 6,2021 (S9E10)

Around The World - GA Style, Alex Gronberger, May 16, 2021 (S9E9)

Oshkosh! Our Community's Common Unity, with Dick Knapinski

Air Zoo @ KAZO, Fun To Say, Fun To See, March 7, 2021 (S9E7)

Taking Off In A New Direction, Jerry Meyer, January 31, 2021 (S9E6)

Year End Hangar Talk, December 13, 2020 (S9E5)

Pacific On The Right, Curtis Pierce, Nov 1, 2020 (S9E4)

Ownership Part 3 - Leaseback, September 20, 2020 (S9E3)

Plane Ownership - Part 2, Edward Forman, September 6, 2020 (S9E2)

Stay The Course, Andy Thome, August 23, 2020 (S9E1)

Bravo! Bravo! Bob Reynolds, July 12, 2020 (S8E18)

An Electrifying Career, Wayne Temple, May 24, 2020 (S8E17)

Ladies Love Taildraggers, May 10, 2020 (S8E16)

Build A Plane; Build A Life, Mike Ojo, April 12, 2020 (S8E15)

Beyond Pilot Error, Karlene Petitt, March 29, 2020 (S8E14)

OSH Mass Arrivals - Chip Gentry, March 8, 2020 (S8E13)

Flying Fun Alaska, Ray Weber, February 9, 2020 (S8E12)

Listener Potpourri, January 26, 2020 (S8E11)

Aviation Pathways, Jarred Dellinger, December 29, 2019 (S8E10)

Reflections 2019, December 19, 2019 (S8E9)

From Plane Shopping To Purchase, December 1, 2019 (S8E8)

Carbon Cub To Chicago, November 17, 2019

Brrr, It's Cold Outside - Cold Weather Operations, October 27, 2019

Plane Shopping, October 13, 2019 (S8E5)

Archie League Awards, October 6, 2019 S8-E4

Al Palicki, Making A Difference For 40 Years, September 17, 2019

Getting Personal. Meet Brandon Anderson, September 3, 2019

Getting To Know You - Boldmethod, August 4, 2019

Why Not Me - Andrew Holmes, July 7, 2019

Point A to Point B, "The Experience" - June 15, 2019

A General Aviation Journey, Kirke Machon, May 27, 2019

The People Behind an Airport - Jaime Abbott - Executive Airport Director

Navigating The Process; Kseniya Polinsky, April 28, 2019

Airline Dispatcher, James Tochihara, March 31, 2019

Field of Dreams, Steve & Tina Thomas, March 24, 2019

Beautiful By Design, Chris Custer, March 10, 2019

We More Than Me - Captain Nathan Dial

ADS-B - Its more powerful than you think! January 22nd, 2019

Go / No Go, December 16, 2018

Cockpit Complacency, December 9, 2018

The Flying Club Community, December 2, 2018

Final Approach - Bob Schmelzer, November 25, 2018

Jason Schappert of MzeroA, November 18, 2018

Mark Baker - Leader & Avgeek, November 4, 2018

Connecting with AOPA! (Tom Haines) October 30th, 2018