Today we bring a fun interview with a really cool pilot, aircraft and aviation business owner, who’s fortunate to fly from his own backyard runway, leaping into the Oregon wilderness for all the off-airport flying adventures one can handle! Brendan O’Mara of CRAZEDpilot.com shares his experiences flying Kitfox aircraft, the reliability of Rotax engines, what it’s like to operate into his 16% grade grass-runway in his backyard, and a whole bunch more.

Time to saddle up and get your listen on for this Episode 54 sponsored by ForPilotsOnly.com.

Don’t forget to share this episode by clicking that Like, Share, Tweet button to spread the love!

Pre-Flight

Announcements

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

No Picks of the Week were included in this interview episode.

This Episode Is Sponsored By

The post SMAC054 – Backyard Flying, Kitfox Aircraft, Rotax Engines, CRAZEDpilot appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Today’s show is on the more serious and sober side as we discuss aviation accidents and how they’ve affected us on a personal level. Recently, co-host Victoria Zajko came to learn that 2 of the aircraft she flew during her flight training had been involved in fatal crashes where the pilot and occupants did not survive. Not long after that Victoria also lost her friend and wing walker Jane Wicker in a tragic air show accident in Dayton, OH.

These events spurred a back stage conversation amongst the co-hosts and today we share with you our own experiences losing friends and family in fatal aviation related accidents including how we’ve dealt with each situation and what keeps us in the saddle, behind the yoke, still flying.

Have you ever lost someone close to you in an aviation related accident? How did that experience affect you or change your views on flying? Please share your story with us in the comment section below.

So settle in for Episode 53 sponsored by ForPilotsOnly.com.

Don’t forget to share this episode by clicking that Like, Share, Tweet button to spread the love!

Pre-Flight

Announcements

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

Victoria – Aviation Forecast Discussion

Rick – iPro Aviator iPad Kneeboard

Len – AviationUniverse.us – check out Len’s interview with the owners: Episode 51a

Carl – Aviation Week

This Episode Is Sponsored By

The post SMAC053 – Aviation Accidents, How We Cope, What Keeps Us Flying appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

In Episode 51 we interviewed commercial pilot and co-founder of OpenAirplane, Rod Rakic, and learned about his flight adventures in Civil Air Patrol. Everything from how he got started to working his way up the ranks to mission pilot. Rod also shared some really neat information about the organization itself like how you can participate and many of the different types of volunteer opportunities available, even for the non-pilot out there.

Episode 52 is part 2 in this series where Rod explains everything there is to know about OpenAirplane and our predictions on how it’ll revolutionize the aircraft rental industry as you know it. Haven’t heard of OpenAirplane yet? Basically you’ll finally be able to rent an aircraft WITHOUT having to to do multiple checkouts for each FBO you fly out of. Yea, it’s the bomb, yo!

Now go grab a beverage, sit back, relax, and join us for Episode 52 sponsored by ForPilotsOnly.com.

Don’t forget to share this episode by clicking that Like, Share, Tweet button to spread the love!

Pre-Flight

Announcements

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

No Picks of the Week were included in this interview episode.

This Episode Is Sponsored By

The post SMAC052 – Insurance Discounts, Standardized Aircraft Rental Checkouts, @OpenAirplane appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Recently co-host Len Costa had an opportunity to visit Aviation Universe, a local pilot shop in Bensenville, IL. During his visit he met the shops owners, Lora Yowell and Richard Wells. What ensued was a fun interview detailing the history of the store, the owners background in aviation, meeting Orville and Wilbur (the dogs), and even a commuter train happened to find it’s way into the show.

Other topics include:

The store is located at 13 W Main Street, Shop #6, Bensenville, IL and available online at AviationUniverse.us. Follow AviationUnvrse on Twitter, Like Aviation Universe on Facebook, or join Aviation Universe on Pinterest.

The post SMAC051a – Len Costa Reporting From the Center of the Aviation Universe appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Today we interview commercial pilot and co-founder of OpenAirplane, Rod Rakic, to talk about his flight adventures in Civil Air Patrol. Everything from how we got started to working his way up the ranks to mission pilot. Rod also shares some really neat information about the organization itself like how you can participate and many of the different types of volunteer opportunities available, even for the non-pilot out there.

This interview with Rod is actually Part 1 of a 2 part series. Part 2 will release next as Episode 52 as we learn everything there is to know about OpenAirplane, especially how it’s going to revolutionize the aircraft rental industry as you know it. Good news is you’ll finally be able to rent an aircraft at any participating FBO in the country WITHOUT have to do any additional rental checkouts. Yea, it’s that awesome.

So grab a cold one and join us for Episode 51 sponsored by ForPilotsOnly.com.

Don’t forget to share this episode by clicking that Like, Share, Tweet button to spread the love!

Pre-Flight

Announcements

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

No Picks of the Week were included in this interview episode.

This Episode Is Sponsored By

The post SMAC051 – @RodRakic on Civil Air Patrol, Zombies, & Locator Beacons appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Holy takeoffs and landings, Batman – We’ve hit 50 episodes! To celebrate our 50th show each co-host spent time going through their pilot logbooks to find and share some of their 50th flying events. From their 50th logbook entry, to the 50th hour flown, 50th landing, 50th aircraft flown, and a whole heap of other 50’s! This is our golden episode, the show about 50’s, where we reminisce in logbook memories.

Don’t forget to share your 50th logbook events with us in the comment section below and click that Like, Share, Tweet button to spread the love!

Pre-Flight

Announcements

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

The post SMAC050 – The Show About 50’s – Our 50th Flight, 50th Hour, 50th Airplane, & More! appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

In this show Victoria shares her experiences flying with her new dog, Turbo, what to do when dogs become airsick, protecting their hearing, in-flight doggy gear, and other flying with pet considerations. Carl answers some listener questions about radar requirements on instrument approach plates and we talk about instrument approach lights. Then we wrap it up with a discussion about currency versus proficiency including some tips on how to stay safe when returning to the skies. That and more coming up right now!

Pre-Flight

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

The post SMAC049 – Puppy Puke, Radar & Instrument Approach Lights, Currency vs Proficiency appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Today’s show marks the triumphant return of our beloved and sassy Victoria Zajko as she fills us in on all the exciting news from her absence including the amazing statistics from 2013’s Women of Aviation Week Worldwide events. Rick’s recent flight with a CFI conducting simulated engine out procedures invokes an interesting conversation about pitching down when it may seem completely counterintuitive. And Carl wraps it up with a story and explanation about his first autolanding in the Airbus A320 on an ILS during 1,400 RVR. All that and more coming up right now!

Pre-Flight

From July 26-28th, 2013 the Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ will feature over 100 hot air balloons, flights, entertainment, headlining bands, fireworks, plus more. As one of the nations greats balloon events this is not to be missed.

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

The post SMAC048 – Victoria’s Back, Pitch Down Dummy, Autolandings appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Today’s show was broadcast LIVE from the deck of SUN n FUN Radio on Thursday April 10th, 2013 on 1510AM Lakeland, FL. We’ve edited the audio and packaged it as Episode 47 in case you weren’t able to join us when we were live, so this is our replay for your listening enjoyment!

Pre-Flight

Due to technical difficulties at show beginning, you’ll hear Carl Valeri and Larry Overstreet leading the show until Sean Moody, Rick Felty, and Len Costa were able to patch in.

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

No Picks of The Week were included in this LIVE episode.

The post SMAC047 – LIVE From the Deck of SUN n FUN Radio 2013 appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

Today’s show was dual-recorded from the United States and Australia as host Len Costa traveled Down Under. During his holiday in Oz he met up with Steve and Grant of Plane Cray Down Under, an Australian aviation podcast about “Looking at the world of aviation from an Australia/Pacific point of view,” at which time they collaborated on an episode to discuss the differences between USA and Australian aviation. Join us in for this in-depth look at how they do it on the other side of the world!

Also be on the lookout for some photos above the Yarra Valley, Australia from Len’s hot air ballooning excursion – COMING SOON.

Pre-Flight

Cruise Flight

Show Notes

After Landing Checklist

~ Picks of The Week ~

The post SMAC046 – The SMAC Down Under – An Australian Edition appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.