Water Flying Aviation Podcast

Sporty’s has just released an impressive and visually stunning new Seaplane Rating Course that features Patty Wagstaff as the lead on-camera instructor. Along with being a national aerobatic champion and popular airshow performer, Patty is an exceptional instructor and experienced Alaska seaplane pilot. Water Flying Podcast host Steve McCaughey, who was a video production consultant on the course and appears in several scenes, teams up with Patty Wagstaff and Bret Koebbe from Sporty's for a fascinating behind-the-scenes discussion of why the course is so good for both aspiring seaplane pilots and seasoned, rated pilots, and how it all came together.

At multiple locations from Alaska to Florida using 15 different seaplanes, the dedicated film crew and expert trainers spent more than a year creating the video.

The course was made possible with the considerable resource network of the Seaplane Pilots Association, and in recognition Sporty’s is donating multiple seaplane rating scholarships to the Seaplane Foundation. The course represents a new level of cooperation between Sporty’s, SPA and the Seaplane Foundation.

It’s worth your time to listen to Patty’s, Bret's and Steve’s insider talk about the most informative and entertaining seaplane training video that has ever been produced.

In this episode of Water Flying, host Steven McCaughey speaks with Nate Herbert from Black Moose Outpost about the unique experiences and opportunities available in the Canadian wilderness. They discuss Nate's background in bush flying, the impressive fleet of aircraft at Black Moose Outpost, and the challenges faced in bush flying operations. The conversation also highlights the luxurious accommodations and fishing and hunting experiences offered at the outpost, as well as the lessons learned in aviation and the importance of safety in remote flying.

Visit Black Moose Outpost's website at blackmooseoutposts.com

In this episode of WaterFlying, host Steve McCaughey and guest John Zimmerman from Sporty's Pilot Shop discuss the best holiday gifts for pilots in 2025. They explore various innovative aviation products, the importance of safety gear, and the significance of continuous learning for pilots during the winter months. The conversation also delves into personal experiences in aviation, the unique challenges of seaplane flying, and the value of mentorship within the aviation community.

Visit Sporty's Pilot Shop at Sportys.com

Special Discount Code: Seaplane

French seaplane owner and pilot Derry Gregoire joins Steve on this episode of the Water Flying podcast to discuss a seaplane event like no other: the Rassemblement Internatinal d'Hydravions de Biscarrosse.

Held every other year on an historic freshwater seaplane lake just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean on France’s southwestern coast, the International Seaplane Meeting Biscarrosse combines history, seaplanes, aerobatic routines, military fighter demonstrations, historic flights and so much more, all for a massive celebration of hydro aviation—water flying.

It’s a little-known fact that the very first seaplane flight took place in France, and Biscarrosse played an important part in France’s aviation history. Tune in for an enjoyable exploration of now-historic seaplanes that were developed in this small beach community with a Key West vibe, sand dunes, and some of the world's best wine and oysters.

Though seaplanes no longer are manufactured in Biscarrosse, the community now hosts one of the largest seaplane events in the world. It is a spectacle featuring seaplanes from across all of Europe. Visitors get to enjoy seaplane formation flights, a night airshow, a drone show, fireworks displays, concerts, food vendors, a dedicated seaplane museum, and so much more. It is a bucket-list event for seaplane enthusiasts especially, but also anyone enamored with aviation of any kind.

Get ready to be surprised when you learn about a thrilling example of a vibrant and hugely popular international seaplane event and the many adventures awaiting you in Europe.

Learn more about the Rassemblement Internatinal d'Hydravions.

Learn more about the Seaplane Museum in Biscarrosse.

Learn more about the Aquitaine Hydravions Seaplane AeroClub and School.

Super Petrel USA's CEO Roger Helton sits down with Steve McCaughey to explore his history, the development of the Rotax 916 engine and how it has helped make the Super Petrel XP the exciting LSA Flying Boat that it has evolved into.

With three decades of development and improvement the Super Petrel XP is an impressively capable two place flying boat that utilizes many unique design features such as its biplane design that not only improves performance, but also leads to virtually zero water spray impacting the propeller.

Learn more about the Super Petrel XP at the link below:

superpetrelusa.com

Join Steve's guest Darren Tilman for a deep dive into aircraft exhaust system maintenance, and how dynamic propeller balancing will increase the reliability of your aircraft systems, potentially protect you from inflight failures and reduce your operational costs.

Heat cycles, slip joints, vibration and aggressive throttle application and reduction all contribute to aircraft system and exhaust system failures. Exhaust systems have an average useful life that is probably much lower than most pilots assume.

Listen and apply this discussion to save money and increase the reliability and life of your aircraft systems.

This week on the Water Flying Aviation Podcast Steve McCaughey sits down with Sandy Loutitt inside his impressive turbine Antonov AN-2 amphibious floatplane. This one of a kind monster is over 13 feet tall, has a wingspan of 60 feet, holds 1,200 gallons of fuel and has a 3,000 pound useful load.

This isn't your average amphibious seaplane, it carries over 40 gallons of freshwater, has 2 generators , stove, heater, commercial refrigerator & freezer, carries an inflated tender with a 2 stroke outboard in a belly pod that launches it and so much more.

Recorded on the shores of Priest Lake, Idaho from the cabin of the 2 Solitude An-2 this show is a blast.

Learn more about the 2 Solitude Turbine AN-2 Amphibious Floatplane at www.2solitude.com

Tom Hamilton sits down with Steve McCaughey to exclusively introduce the Apex 600 horsepower diesel aircraft engine. Tom has a long history in aviation, he famously founded Stoddard Hamilton Aircraft in which he designed and produced the high performance and highly popular Glasair and Glastar series experimental aircraft. Tom developed a product line of composite aircraft floats which Aerocet produces today. Tom also started Quest Aircraft to develop and produce the Kodiak ten-place turboprop aircraft. The Kodiak received an FAA type certificate in 2007, and the company has gone on to produce over 330 aircraft to date. Tom continues his career in aircraft design with several new projects including the Apex diesel engine and Reach Aviation's AC6 aircraft.

Conversations with Tom Hamilton are always entertaining, educational and the announcement of the Apex engine is a really exciting opportunity for the aviation community.

All pilots want more performance from the airplanes they fly, especially seaplane pilots. In this episode of the Water Flying podcast Steve McCaughey sits down with Darren Tilman, President of Power Flow Exhaust Systems to explore one of the best but perhaps least known ways to unlock more power, gain fuel efficiency and reduce overall wear on aircraft engines. So what’s the secret? Upgrade the technology, quality and surprising lack of performance engineering that is characteristic of the exhaust systems fitted to most factory aircraft.

Steve's Super Cub recently was fitted with a new Leading Edge Exhaust Systems package from Power Flow Systems. It was during this process that Steve became so impressed with the manufacturing process, quality and dedication to the product and customer experience that is at the heart of Power Flow Systems approach to business that he insisted on doing a podcast to share what he has learned from Darren and his team.

Save $150 Today! Mention this podcast and receive a $150 off any Power Flow Exhaust system order until 12/31/2025.

In this episode of the Water Flying podcast, I have the great pleasure of sitting down with Darren Pleasance who recently became the CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest aviation non-profit advocacy organization in the world.

It has rewarding working with Darren on numerous advocacy issues, and could not be more thrilled to share his vast experiences, passion and vision for the future of AOPA under his leadership with our listeners.

Please take this opportunity to learn more about Darren. I am sure that you will be glad you did, and you will walk away with a massive appreciation for the captain at the helm of AOPA.