Rick Herter (www.rickherter.com) is an artist with a pilot's soul.  Born in southwestern Michigan, Rick grew up with a sketch pad in hand and took his first airplane ride on his thirteenth birthday. That first air adventure with a former W.W.II bomber pilot at the controls would make a lasting impression on the young artist.

After graduating from Spring Arbor University with a BA in art in 1984, he took his artistic skills and began working in the commercial art and illustration arena. Herter's interest in aviation was never far away. Rick approached the air show director of an annual Michigan air show offering to create a commemorative air show poster. That first poster went on to win a national award and the following season, the artist was commissioned to create work for shows in Pittsburgh, Denver and Cleveland.  And the rest is history. 

Tune in and listen as Rick retells that history lesson to Rhonda and Marc, and all of our listening audience.  There's a story behind every painting, and his travels and experience in aviation are certain to paint us all green with envy. 

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
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​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Tonight's show is a real treat, and we're not just talking raspberry pie.  Some of you may know that raspberry pie actually refers to Raspberry Pi, a small single board computer.  Our guest, Sean Chuplis, owner of Crew Dog Electronics (crewdogelectronics.com), has produced an easy to assemble ADS-B receiver, which includes all necessary parts and software to bring ADS-B weather and traffic to your cockpit.  The "Stratux" is compatible with most Electronic Flight Bags (EFB). 

Sean's story doesn't stop there.  As a matter of fact, that's just the tip of the iceberg.  As an active reservist in the Air Force, he splits time between being a pilot for a major airline, flying the KC-10 refueler in the military, flying a G4, helping people realize their dream of flight as a CFI, and continuing his education through the military to understand the history of combat and how it can show us the future.    The SimpleFlight crew touched on all of his areas of expertise, including an interesting problem caused by drones. 

We hope you enjoy the show.  Please send your comments to help us understand what is important to you and how we best earn your listenership.

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
​
​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

If you're not from the Midwest, you may not know about Midwest Flyer Magazine, but then again, you may be a huge fan, as so many people are across the country.  For this week's show, Marc and Rhonda traveled to KMSN (Madison, WI) to broadcast live from Wisconsin Aviation to introduce you to Dave Weiman, editor-in-chief of this wonderful magazine.

Dave brings his readers hard-hitting editorials and columns from experts in aviation law, pilot health, flight training, aircraft maintenance, and airport development, to feature stories about pilots, planes, airport restaurants and travel destinations, and the most complete and current calendar of aviation events in the Midwest, 

Dave and his wife, Peggy founded “Wisconsin Flyer” magazine in 1978, renamed the publication “Midwest Flyer Magazine” in 1980, and expanded the area served from one to 12 Midwestern states and has grown from 12 black and white pages in 1978 to 64 color pages today!  But as its readers already know, its not about quantity, but rather quality.  Listen in and meet the man behind the words and pictures we have all grown to love. 

And a shout out to the fans that stopped by to listen to the show live.  Our sincere thanks to them and our kind hosts at Wisconsin Aviation.

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
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​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

You may not know it, but Austin Meyer (www.austinmeyer.com) may have found his way into your home.  Certainly it happens a lot.  How you ask?  Well as  founder and developer of X-Plane Flight Simulator, Xavion Glass Cockpit, and as Filmmaker of The Patent Scam Documentary,  and as an avid aviation enthusiast that built his own custom airplane, you may have brought him on your own via X-Plane, YouTube, or maybe just his blog. 

Certainly, the SimpleFlight crew made him part of our family as Rhonda and Marc talked to him about all things aviation and the impact he has had on all of us.  And it's not just about X-Plane.  When you listen to this week's show, you'll hear about Xavion, and wonder why anyone would fly without it.  There's a lot more and we're excited to share the story behind his aviation successes, and excited to have you join in on the conversation, through your comments and follow on questions.  Tune in this week to hear the rest of the story.

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
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​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

Doug Gust, who made a name for himself as one of the most accomplished ATV Motocross racing stars competing around the world for team Suzuki since the 1980s, took note of crop dusters when he would compete at races being held in the Midwest.  It was then he knew what he would do when retirement came around. 

And that he did, "Digger' Doug grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, and now combines his background of farming and his passion for power sports in his new career, Crop Dusting.

An excavator by trade, Gust built a private runway on his property, purchased a plane, took flying lessons, obtained his license and began flying himself to each of his races.  How many people do you know that builds a runway and buys a plane, before he even has his license? 

It's quite a story, and one that you will enjoy.  So push the PLAY button and listen to Doug himself speak to the highs and lows associated with the very challenging aspects of flying within feet of the ground at high speeds and steep maneuvers.  AWESOME!!!

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
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​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

If you haven't heard of Able Flight (www.ableflight.org), you're going to want to listen in this week!!!  Able Flight’s mission is to offer people with disabilities a unique way to challenge themselves through flight and aviation career training, and by doing so, to gain greater self-confidence and self-reliance.

Executive Director, Charles Stites, created the organization because he and his team believe that the life-changing experience of learning to fly is best shared, and therefore designed the Able Flight Scholarships to enable people with disabilities to pursue that experience.

In addition to Charles, we are joined by Justin Falls a 2016 graduate of the Able Flight program.  Since an accident that resulted in Justin becoming  a quadriplegic (with limited use of his hands), he has earned his doctorate, works as a pharmacist, and oh yes, he earned his sport pilot certificate at Purdue University (Purdue is a partner with Able Flight).  Awe inspiring!!!

Each year, Able Flight provides scholarships to deserving individuals, who have become disabled due to disease, accidents, and combat (among others).  The disabilities are diverse and for the class of 2018, includes individuals dealing with loss of limbs, paralysis, and loss of hearing.  

These participants are truly amazing people and serve as an example to us all about what the human spirit can accomplish.

We know you'll enjoy the show, so listen in and get ready to be inspired.  You'll be glad you did.

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
​
​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

On this week's show, the SimpleFlight crew welcomes Dirk Braun, who is digging into the history of the Grumman Albatross flying boats and the curious cast of characters who fly and preserve them today.

Dirk regards The Albatross as the ultimate adventure machine, and has set out to tell the story via a documentary.  Now in production, "Flying Boat" (https://www.facebook.com/flyingboatfilm/) will be Braun's feature debut. It will profile the pilots, history buffs and surfers who use them today while also exploring the aircraft's history. The Albatross was in its heyday in the 1930s, when its popularity coincided with the elegance and adventure of early aviation.  Braun says these are relics from the golden age of aviation.  They're like flying yachts."

What really came through to Rhonda and Marc is the sincere passion Dirk has for this endeavor.  As he said, it touched his soul.  So listen in and catch Dirk's contagious enthusiasm for what truly is a special mission for him.  We know you'll enjoy the show.

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
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​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!

Rod Rakic returns to visit with the SimpleFlight Crew.  But this time, it has nothing to do with his entrepreneurial endeavors with Open Airplane and Fly Otto.  Rather this time, we focus on his work with the Civil Air Patrol (www.gocivilairpatrol.com). 

The C.A.P. has one of the largest single-engine piston aircraft fleets in the world, operating 560 powered planes that fly about 100,000 hours annually in support of search and rescue, disaster relief,  air defense, cadet orientation flights and Air Force-assigned missions.

Its mission is often misunderstood, so listen in as Rod educates us on it's history and how its 58,000 members selflessly devote their time, energy and expertise toward the well-being of their communities, while also promoting aviation and related fields through aerospace education and helping shape future leaders through C.A.P.’s cadet program.  We know you'll enjoy the show, so take a listen and provide us feedback on what you liked best.

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​We hope you enjoy listening as much as we love talking to others who share our passion for aviation.  Please subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or your favorite broadcast source, and rate, review, and let us know what you think!
​
​​​​BLUE SKIES and TAILWINDS!!!