What happens when you gather some of aviation’s brightest minds, innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs under one roof?

In this special episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker takes listeners inside AeroSummit 2026 at the JW Marriott Turnberry in Aventura, Florida. Rather than focusing on a single guest, this episode serves as a preview of the upcoming Live from AeroSummit miniseries, featuring insights from ten remarkable aviation leaders who are helping shape the future of flight.

From former military pilots teaching mental performance and resilience, to innovators reducing flight training costs, to organizations opening new pathways into aviation careers, this episode explores the people and ideas working to make aviation more accessible, effective, and inspiring for the next generation.

Along the way, you'll hear powerful lessons about self-awareness, learning under pressure, improving flight training, financing aviation dreams, finding scholarships, building aviation communities, and remembering why we fell in love with flying in the first place.

This episode is a celebration of aviation's future—and the people making it possible.

Building Better Pilots from the Inside Out

The Power of Debriefing

Fixing Flight Training

Making Aviation More Accessible

Accelerating Airline Pathways

Financing the Aviation Dream

Scholarships Are Waiting

Staying Current in Aviation

Growing the Aviation Community

Why We Fly

0:00 – 3:52 | Introduction to AeroSummit 2026 and the upcoming Live from AeroSummit series

3:53 – 12:57 | Tammy Barlett: Mental performance, self-awareness, and managing pressure

12:58 – 17:24 | Brandon Williams: Debriefing, learning from mistakes, and "Hack the Clock"

17:25 – 23:45 | Adriana Barragan and Fly Orca: Fixing inefficiencies in flight training

23:46 – 30:45 | Tecnam Aircraft, Bridge Air, and improving aviation accessibility

30:46 – 38:05 | Stratus Financial and solving aviation's funding challenges

38:06 – 45:32 | Jamail Larkins, Aviation Start, and scholarship opportunities

45:33 – 54:08 | RJ, Right Rudder Marketing, and building aviation communities

54:09 – 1:02:15 | Carson Vasquez, Aviation Mentors, and remembering why we fly

1:02:16 – End | Final reflections and preview of the Live from AeroSummit miniseries

Featured Organizations & Guests

Connect with The Future in Flight Podcast

✈️ Coming Soon: Live from AeroSummit — a special three-part miniseries featuring the full interviews from all ten guests highlighted in this episode. Subscribe now so you don't miss a single conversation.

In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker takes listeners on an unforgettable journey through aviation history, spaceflight logistics, and even the surprising origins of one of aviation’s favorite cockpit snacks.

First, field reporter Brolin McKay goes inside the world of NASA’s legendary Super Guppy at SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo. One of the strangest aircraft ever built, the Super Guppy is the last flying example of its kind — a massive cargo aircraft stitched together from components spanning multiple generations of aviation history. NASA crew member Greg explains how the aircraft supports missions like Artemis, transports oversized aerospace hardware, and continues flying decades after its original design.

The episode then shifts eastward for a flight to the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Flying aboard a Vans RV-9A with Ricardo Leon of Level Aviation, Shawn explores the legendary 15,000-foot runway originally built for returning space shuttles. Along the way, listeners get a pilot’s-eye view of Florida’s Space Coast, stories from shuttle history, and practical guidance for GA pilots hoping to visit KTTS themselves.

Finally, the episode closes with a surprisingly fascinating deep dive into the history of the granola bar — from 19th-century health spas to modern flight bags — and why it became one of aviation’s most enduring cockpit snacks.

What does it look like to build a life in aviation from the ground up — literally? In this episode, Shawn sits down with Josh Blair, founder of BlairCraft and a multi-rated A&P/IA with one of the most diverse resumes in general aviation. From soloing at 16 out of a small Southern Ohio FBO to hanging engines on Boeing 767s, running turbine R&D programs at the University of Notre Dame, and now restoring tube-and-fabric classics in Northern Indiana — Josh has done it all, and he's just getting started.

Josh talks about the attention to detail he developed restoring his first car at 14, how that mindset carried directly into aviation maintenance, and why he took a $30,000 pay cut to get back to the airport he loves. He shares his passion for backcountry and STOL flying, his growing YouTube channel BlairCraft, and the big projects on the horizon — including a PA-16 Clipper hot rod and a ground-up restoration of a 1967 Mooney M20E. Oh, and there's a runway being carved out of the Indiana countryside. With an excavator. That he bought himself.

If you've ever wondered whether the unconventional path can still lead somewhere great in aviation, Josh Blair is your answer.

[00:00] — Welcome & Introduction: Shawn introduces Josh Blair, founder of BlairCraft, and sets up the conversation around Josh's wide range of aviation experience.

[00:52] — How It Started: Josh's first W-2 job at PMH airport in Southern Ohio at age 16 — just seven minutes from home — and soloing within the year.

[01:26] — The Car Connection: Restoring a 1989 Firebird at 14 and a half, and how that early obsession with detail directly shaped his approach to aircraft maintenance.

[05:59] — From General Mills to 767s: How a text message from a high school friend pulled Josh from food production maintenance into heavy MRO work on Boeing 767s — his first real use of the A&P certificate he'd earned years earlier.

[07:12] — GE Aviation & Notre Dame: Josh's path from CF6 engine teardowns at GE Aviation to leading five turbine R&D programs at the University of Notre Dame, with sponsors including GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Doosan Heavy Industries.

[09:29] — The $30,000 Pay Cut: Why Josh walked away from a great university position to return to GA — and how he built BlairCraft and his IA out of that decision.

[14:25] — Spirit Engineering SE-1 Deep Dive: What makes this aircraft stand out in today's market — price, efficiency, and a production approach unlike anything in decades.

[17:27] — Building a Private Runway: Josh describes the ongoing project to grade a 2,600-foot private airstrip on family land in Northern Indiana using an excavator he sourced himself.

[21:12] — What's Next: The PA-16 Clipper hot rod nearing completion, the 1967 Mooney M20E ground-up restoration, Oshkosh Creator Hub, and Josh's five-year outlook on GA engine and fuel changes.

What does it take to build a life in aviation when the path refuses to stay straight? This episode answers that question three different ways.

We open with Josh Blair — founder of Blaircraft, A&P/IA mechanic, YouTube creator, and restorer of classic tube-and-fabric aircraft. Josh grew up in the Ohio River Valley, seven minutes from a small-town airport, and spent decades collecting skills across factory floors, heavy maintenance bays, GE Aviation, and a university turbine research lab before walking away from serious money — twice — to get back to the airplanes he loves. His story is about attention to detail, the long way around, and what a $30,000 pay cut looks like when it's actually a values decision.

Then we head to Miami, because Aero Summit 2026 is coming — and if you're a student pilot, an aspiring aviator, or someone still figuring out how to fund the dream, this is the event the show is telling you not to miss. Powered by Stratus Financial, Aero Summit brings together flight school owners, CFIs, airline recruiters, FAA insiders, and students under one roof, with a dedicated student and CFI track built specifically for the next generation.

We close on the Warbirds Ramp at SUN ‘n FUN 2026, where our friend Vanzell Jenkins — VanzAir — went on assignment and sat down with active military aviators from three branches of the armed forces: an A-10 pilot from the Air Force, a Blackhawk crew chief from the Army's 101st Airborne, and two pilots from the Air Force's First Reconnaissance Squadron — including a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot. Their origin stories are different. Their advice is remarkably consistent: start early, stay with the process, and debrief everything.

Josh Blair — Blaircraft

Aero Summit 2026

Warbirds Ramp — Sun 'n Fun 2026 with Vanzell Jenkins (Vans Air)

Time

Segment

00:04

Josh Blair — Introduction; growing up seven minutes from a small-town airport

02:06

Josh Blair — Soloing at 16; A&P; food manufacturing; 767s; GE; Notre Dame research

04:06

Josh Blair — The $30,000 pay cut; returning to GA; tube and fabric restoration; Blaircraft

07:24

Josh Blair — Building the 2,600-ft private runway; PA-16 Clipper and Mooney M20E projects

~10:00

Aero Summit 2026 — What it is; Stratus Financial; dates, venue, Student and CFI Track

~14:30

Aero Summit — MOSAIC; AI in flight training; FIFP sponsorship; Shawn as emcee

~18:30

Warbirds Ramp — Vanzell Jenkins / Vans Air; Sun 'n Fun 2026 field interviews

19:36

Lt. Col. "Strobe" — A-10 Warthog; USAF; Close Air Support; advice to young aviators

23:50

Cpl. Logan Wellingson — UH-60 Blackhawk; 101st Airborne; Army Street to Seat Program

27:53

Huggy & Nova — U-2 Dragon Lady; 1st Recon Squadron; "Focus on the debrief."

31:18

Vanzell — Sign-off: "Evolve the life you're in."

Get ready for takeoff! This episode takes you from a 10-year-old's dream at a Florida air show to a global aviation career that spans continents. Host Shawn Staerker sits down with Kirk Fryer, President of Sarasota Avionics, who transforms aircraft around the world—from Bangladesh flight academies to Greek military helicopters. Plus, we meet inspiring young creators like Be Snappy from Australia, who's building his aviation YouTube empire one interview at a time.

From the Sun and Fun Aerospace Expo, we explore what it really means to build a career in aviation that doesn't stop at your home airport. Whether you're dreaming of installing cutting-edge avionics in far-off countries, creating content that connects the global aviation community, or just wondering how to turn your passion into a paycheck, this episode proves that the runway to your future extends way beyond what you can see from the tower.

0:07 — 1:48 | Kirk Fryer's Origin Story: From Air Show Kid to Global Avionics Expert

1:48 — 4:52 | Going Global: Bangladesh Installs and International Aviation Work

4:52 — 7:57 | Technology That Saves Lives: Modern Avionics Around the World

7:57 — 12:33 | Meet Be Snappy: Young Australian Creator Taking on Aviation YouTube

12:33 — 18:05 | International Visitors: FLYTE Aero Sunglasses from Australia

18:05 — 24:08 | Andy Litak and the Montaer MC-01: Affordable Aviation for Everyone

What does it take to fly a 1965 Cessna 150 across the country to compete against the best collegiate aviators in the nation — and do it with a smile on your face? Ask the California Aeronautical University Flight Team.

In this episode, host Shawn Staerker sits down with Melissa Johnston, CAU's Director of Aviation Operations and flight team coach, along with team members Jackson Kaspar (Safety Officer and newly minted CFI) and Sebastian Bernal (Alumni & Community Outreach). Together, they trace the team's journey from a scrappy, student-motivated startup to a nationally recognized program earning sportsmanship awards four years running and eyeing a top-10 finish at NIFA Nationals.

They cover what it's like to practice before class, study weather charts for cross-country VFR legs in a 150, build real friendships in a competition van, and why the Lightspeed Zulu 3 makes 26 hours of flying in three days a whole lot more survivable. Plus — dream aircraft, dream destinations, and the great in-flight snack debate.

This one is for every young aviator who has ever wondered whether joining the team is worth the extra effort. Spoiler: it is.

Time

Chapter

0:00

Cold Open — Quote Mash-Up Teaser

~0:20

Opening — Host Shawn Staerker

~1:45

Interview Begins — How the CAU Flight Team Got Started (Melissa Johnston)

~3:00

Why Sebastian Joined — Finding His People at Nationals

~4:30

Why Jackson Joined — Decided Before He Even Enrolled

~5:30

The Coach's Perspective — Daily Life on the Flight Team (Melissa)

~7:30

The Student's Perspective — Practice, Commitment, and Early Mornings (Sebastian)

~8:40

Building Team Bonds — Competition as a Community (Jackson)

~10:45

The Operations Challenge — Managing a Flight Team Alongside Full University Duties (Melissa)

~13:00

What Is NIFA? — Breaking Down the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (Jackson)

~14:50

Traveling with the Team — Van Rides, Plane Rides, and Roswell Nachos

~17:45

The Red Baron Sportsmanship Award — What It Takes to Win It Repeatedly (Melissa)

~20:10

Flying Little Red — The 1965 Cessna 150 Experience (Jackson & Sebastian)

~23:00

The Lightspeed Aviation Partnership — How It Started at Oshkosh (Melissa)

~24:55

The Zulu 3 in Action — ANR, Comfort, and 26 Hours Across the Country (Jackson & Sebastian)

~27:30

The Recording Capability — A New Training Tool for Student Pilots (Melissa & Jackson)

~29:25

Fundraising — Fly-Ins, Poker Runs, Pie Your CFI, and Plum Crazy (All)

~34:40

Academics Meets Competition — How Classroom Skills Transfer to the Flight Line

~37:40

The Future of Aviation — Pilot Boom, Degree Value, and Pathway Programs

~40:15

The Flight Team in Three to Five Years — Top 10 and Beyond

~42:25

Safety vs. Competitiveness — Building a Culture That Does Both

~46:25

The Fun Stuff — In-Flight Snacks, Dream Aircraft, and Dream Destinations

~55:00

Closing — Host Shawn Staerker / Lightspeed Aviation Thank-You / CTA

California Aeronautical University Website: caleroaviation.edu (confirm current URL before publishing)

CAU Flight Team — https://www.instagram.com/cauflightteam/

NIFA — National Intercollegiate Flying Association Website: nifa.aero

Lightspeed Aviation — Presenting Sponsor Website: lightspeedaviation.com

Plum Crazy / Vicki Benzing Website: https://www.vickybenzing.com

ArtCraft Paint—Website: https://artcraftpaint.com/

AviNaition USA—Website: https://www.avinationusa.com/

Shawn sits down with Nate Herbert, bush pilot and founder of Black Moose Outposts, a fly-in wilderness fishing and hunting operation based out of Red Lake, Ontario — the furthest northwest you can drive in the province. What started as a napkin sketch during COVID has grown into twelve camps and a fleet of nine aircraft, including de Havilland Beavers, Blackhawk Caravans, and a Pilatus PC-6 Porter on floats.

Nate takes us inside what real bush flying looks like — from navigating months of wildfire smoke to landing on unmarked lakes with dark water and no weather radar. He shares how his dad lit the aviation fire in him (even though he spent most of his childhood getting airsick), what it takes to hire and train bush pilots, and why he believes bush flying is one of the most future-proof careers in aviation. Along the way, we get a look at Black Moose's fire suppression missions supporting Northern communities, the differences between flying a Beaver, a Caravan, and a PC-6 in the backcountry, and what it's like to hand the controls of a floatplane over to a 70-year-old guest living out a lifelong dream.

Nate's Path into Aviation Nate grew up in Red Lake, Ontario — a town with deep bush flying roots going back to the gold rush era of the 1930s when its airport was the second busiest in the world behind Chicago. His dad was a pilot, and flying was simply transportation. Nate actually hated flying as a kid — chronic airsickness kept him miserable on every flight. The turning point came at age 15 when he overheard his parents say the family airplane would go to his cousin if he didn't get his license. He got it at 18 and never looked back.

Red Lake and the Bush Red Lake sits at the end of the road in northwest Ontario — people in Toronto can drive to Florida faster than they can drive there. Everything north of Red Lake is accessible only by winter ice roads or aircraft. It's a place where aviation isn't a hobby — it's how you get to town, get to school, and get home.

Black Moose Outposts Born out of a COVID-era conversation between friends about dream jobs, Black Moose was supposed to be two camps and one airplane. It's now twelve camps and nine aircraft. The operation runs May through October, with 90% of business being fly-in fishing trips. Offerings range from fully self-guided wilderness drop-offs with zero contact for a week, all the way up to high-end guided packages with private chefs and 24/7 hosts. Newer camps feature full indoor plumbing, individual room climate control, and family-friendly accommodations.

The Fleet

Bush Flying Realities No live weather, no radar, no controlled airspace beyond a five-mile zone around Red Lake. Pilots have to read weather visually and navigate by instinct and experience. Smoke from wildfires was the worst veteran pilots had ever seen last season — not days, but months of reduced visibility. Nate's safety philosophy: smoke can be pushed carefully, but cloud and fog will kill you.

Fire Suppression Flying Black Moose supports wildfire response across Northern Ontario — evacuations, gear supply runs, initial attack crew transport, and fire mapping at 50–100 feet above the trees. Last season, Nate's team flew the initial firefighting crews into a Northern community that had no water bomber support — the fire burned right to the edge of the sprinkler line his crews helped set up.

Advice for Aspiring Bush Pilots Nate values work ethic over flight hours. Backgrounds in bush firefighting, welding, farming, or any demanding hands-on work carry more weight than a logbook full of hours. Float time helps get through the door, but Nate says he can teach the flying — he can't teach someone to work hard.

The Future of Bush Flying Nate sees bush flying as one of the most secure aviation careers. Northern communities will always need air access, adventure tourism continues to grow, and the hands-on, unpredictable nature of the work makes it resistant to automation.

Fun Questions — Quick Hits

Get ready for takeoff with Kirk Fryar, head of Sarasota Avionics and Maintenance, as he takes us behind the scenes of one of aviation's biggest events - SUN ‘n FUN! In this high-energy episode, Kirk shares what it's like to bring 30 team members to Florida's premier aviation showcase, complete with golf cart convoys and epic booth setups. From sponsoring aerobatic legends like Patty Wagstaff and Skip Stewart to showcasing cutting-edge avionics in a beautifully restored 1965 Piper with a full G3X system, Sarasota Avionics goes all-out to make SUN ‘n FUN unforgettable.

This conversation takes an incredible turn as Kirk opens up about his global aviation adventures - from installing avionics in Bangladesh to working with the Cyprus Air Force in Greece, and building relationships across Brazil's massive aviation community. Whether you're curious about the future of aviation under new MOSAIC rules, want to know what survival gear every pilot should carry, or just love hearing about aviation culture around the world, this episode delivers non-stop excitement. Plus, get the inside scoop on where to find Kirk's team at SUN ‘n FUN, including a special autograph session with aerobatic pilot Melissa Burns!

0:00 — 2:30 | SUN ‘n FUN Prep - 30 People, One Mission

2:30 — 8:00 | Patty Wagstaff Stories and Aerobatic Sponsorships

8:00 — 15:00 | Mosaic Rules and Aircraft Upgrade Opportunities

15:00 — 22:00 | The Evolution of Avionics Technology

22:00 — 28:00 | Going Global - International Aviation Adventures

28:00 — 35:00 | Bangladesh to Greece - Working Worldwide

35:00 — 42:00 | Brazil's Amazing Aviation Culture

42:00 — 47:00 | Survival Gear and Backcountry Flying Tips

47:00 — 49:00 | Where to Find Sarasota Avionics at SUN ‘n FUN

Sarasota Avionics: www.sarasotaavionics.com

Sarasota Avionics IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarasotaavionics/

AviNation USA: https://www.avinationusa.com/

SUN ‘n FUN: https://flysnf.org/

SUN ‘n FUN STOL Basecamp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STOLBasecamp

Patty Wagstaff Aviation School: https://pattywagstaff.com/school/

Melissa Burns autograph session: Thursday at Hangar C (time TBD)

New Swamp Food Court: Hangar E at SUN ‘n FUN

Ever heard the sound of a de Havilland Beaver buzzing over water at dawn? For most of us, that's pure adventure movie material. But for Nate Herbert, growing up in Red Lake, Ontario—once the world's second-busiest airport during the 1930s gold rush—that was just another Tuesday morning. In this incredible episode, we dive into the wild world of bush flying with one of Canada's most authentic aviation voices, exploring how a kid who used to hate flying (seriously, he'd puke off the floats) became the pilot behind Black Moose Outpost's fleet of nine aircraft serving 12 remote wilderness camps.

From emergency wildfire response to luxury fly-out fishing adventures, Nate's story proves that the most authentic paths in aviation often start with the most unexpected motivations. His advice for aspiring bush pilots? Forget the romance—focus on character, hard work, and the reality that in bush flying, no two landings are ever the same.

Plus, we explore the legendary de Havilland Beaver in our Vintage Aircraft Spotlight and preview our upcoming SUN 'n FUN coverage that's going to be absolutely epic.

0:00 — 1:18 | The Sound of Adventure: Growing Up in Red Lake

1:18 — 2:12 | From Hating Flying to Protecting Family Legacy

2:12 — 3:26 | When Aviation Becomes Your Social Life

3:26 — 4:40 | Pandemic Dreams to 12 Camps and 9 Aircraft

4:40 — 6:45 | The Reality of Float Plane Operations

6:45 — 8:08 | Fire Season: When Adventure Gets Serious

8:08 — 9:03 | What It Takes to Fly in the Bush

9:03 — 16:35 | Vintage Aircraft Spotlight: The de Havilland Beaver

16:35 — 19:47 | SUN 'n FUN Preview: Field Coverage and Live Broadcasting

What happens when a single rule change unlocks an entirely new generation of aircraft—and new opportunities for people who dream of flying?

In this episode, host Shawn Staerker explores one of the most important developments in modern general aviation: MOSAIC, often called Sport Pilot 2.0. You’ll learn how this long-awaited FAA modernization could allow aircraft to fly faster, carry more passengers, and cost less to operate—while opening the door for more people to enter aviation without a traditional medical certificate.

But the conversation doesn’t stop on the flight line. Shawn also introduces listeners to aviation entrepreneur Tom Lelyo, who took an unexpected path from youth ministry to selling private jets—and built a thriving career in aviation sales along the way. His story reveals a powerful truth: you don’t have to be a pilot or mechanic to succeed in aviation.

And in our monthly history segment, we travel through the remarkable milestones of March—from the first successful parachute jump from an airplane to the invention of liquid-fueled rockets, the birth of Top Gun, and the daring solo flight around the world by Steve Fossett.

This episode is about innovation, opportunity, and the many different doors into aviation—some technical, some entrepreneurial, and some still waiting to be discovered.

Thank you to our long-time show supporters—TL Sport Aircraft, builders of modern, efficient aircraft designed to expand access to flight training and recreational aviation. Explore their lineup and see the future of light aviation up close at the upcoming SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo 2026.

Understanding MOSAIC (Sport Pilot 2.0)

How MOSAIC Could Change Flight Training

Spotlight: Modern Light Aircraft Innovation

Aviation Careers Beyond the Cockpit

This Month in Aviation History (March)

🕒 Chapter Timestamps

0:00 – 1:54 | Introduction: The future of aviation and the promise of MOSAIC

TL Sport Aircraft:

AVSales Talent:

AviNation USA:

Creative Relay Media:

SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo: