Forever on the Fly

Fred North: Behind the Scenes Welcome to the season finale of the Forever on the Fly Podcast! What a journey the second season has been delving into the lives of some seriously awesome pilots and human beings…and of course we want to finish Season 2 strong with our next guest!He has accumulated over 18,000 flight hours over his 30+ year career. 15,000 of those were spent shooting for over 160 films and countless commercials making him one of the biggest names in aerial cinematography history. Additionally in 2002, he set the world record for altitude flown in a helicopter climbing to a whopping 42,000 feet in an AS350B2!

What to say, what to say about our next guest. She was the very first African American female Black Hawk pilot for the North Carolina National Guard. But not only is she a trail blazer, she's someone that exudes her love for aviation in everything she does. She's the definition of a leader through and through. Not only has she displayed immense courage and leadership commanding and coordinating helicopter rescue missions during multiple catastrophic hurricanes, but when she's not out saving lives and serving our nation, she's bringing her leadership skills home by working as a personal trainer and accountability coach to the masses. We all know that being a pilot puts a strain on relationships. We typically have to uproot our lives every few years chasing those flight hours. Well, Lindsey puts her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health with a focus on couples and family counseling to work in her new book, Level Your Wings: A pilot's guide to healthy relationships. She's here to chat about her career in the National Guard, favorite fly ing stories, her new book, and stick around until the end of the episode where Lindsey will share her top 5 relationship nuggets from one aviator to another.  

Wow what to say about our next guest! He is an Aviation Hall of Famer and 4X Air Racing Gold Champion.  He's flown over 23,000 hours in more than 270 aircraft types, flight-tested over 685, and even built 3 of his own! He has been to every country in the world...except one! Listen in to find out which. He likes to live on the edge and is a living example of what it takes to be a true leader. Peter's company, High Performance Aircraft Group, manages several corporate jets, provides his clients with custom-tailored, high-intensity world tours, and performs flight test services for several manufacturers, including the U.S. and foreign militaries.He is also the film producer of multiple Discovery Channel productions and starred in a lead role in the "Dangerous Flights" series. Additionally to being a producer, he is also a published author! His book “Relevant” is a "Behind The Curtain" Thriller inspired by true events that reveal eye-opening top-secret encounters and the greatest lessons in leadership.He is here to talk about his air racing career, leadership, stories of his global aviation adventures, and more. Stick around until the end of the episode where Jose and I give some at home pointers on how you can build your confidence in and out of the cockpit!

Have you ever wondered what your life would look like as a utility helicopter pilot flying in Alaska? What kind of a schedule could you have? What challenges you would face? What is it like to drop off a group of heli skiers on a snow covered mountain top? Well…you have come to the right episode my friends. Today we are bringing to you a pilot who found his path with Pathfinder, an Alaskan based helicopter company who flies various missions from exploratory drilling, heliski, firefighting and more…He is here to chat about his life as a utility pilot, stories of his most challenging and exhilarating flights, and the pros and cons to flying in the most remote regions in Alaska. 

What is up Av Nerdation! Welcome to Season 2 Episode 8 of the Forever on the Fly Podcast! Jose is back and joins in for a special interview with helicopter pilot Mike Tomlinson. Mikey goes way back with Jose and Diane to their Papillon days. He was their lead pilot and colleague who has now flies the AW109 in support of transporting Columbia River Bar boat Captains (otherwise known as bar pilots) out to cargo ships in the Astoria, Oregon area. Cape Disappointment is home to some of the most treacherous waters in the world, and sees about 2,552 hours of fog a year—the equivalent of 106 days—making it one of the foggiest places in the U.S.  Only a few of these types of operations exist in the world, so join us exploring the unique life and niche helicopter job that is being a Bar Pilot .... PILOT! Diane also recently returned from her first international helicopter ferry, so stick around until the end of the episode where she shares what to expect when crossing borders. Lessgo! 

John Gray and Jeff Ratkovich, hosts of the Hangar Z Podcast, join me for a brutally honest conversation about important subjects like mental health and how it is perceived in the aviation industry, the pros and cons of how some law enforcement agencies run their aviation departments as to raise awareness and hopefully spark a positive change in the industry. We also discuss the importance of Just Culture, and how companies should be held accountable and to a high standard when it comes to open door policies. Make sure you check out their podcast, Hangar Z Podcast, which is a fantastic show  dedicated to public safety aviation found on all major podcasting platforms. I am here for it! Lesssgo!

A million words come to mind when describing our next guest….leader, aviatrix, inspirer, maaaajorly awesome human being! With over 1500 hours in the F16, including 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of Operation Resolute Support and Operation Freedom's Sentinel, there's no doubt that this woman is a true hero and patriot. She's Currently flying her second season with the USAF's Thunderbirds, paving the way  as Lead solo pilot flying the #5 jet out of Nellis AFB, and serves as the squadron's chief of standardization and evaluation. In this episode we dive into the Major's journey through ROTC, the USAF, Thunderbird training, and her favorite aspects of being a Thunderbird. Stick around at the end of the episode we will discuss internal and external pressures and the art of proactive preflight procedures that will help you slow down to facilitate a safer flight!

Whaaaats up AV Nerds! I can't believe we are already on SEASON 2 EPISODE 5! Mind bloowwn away with so many amazing guests, and our next one is no exception. Are you a helicopter pilot? Are you thinking about making the switch to the airlines? Well this episode is for you! We're here to chat with Scott Gendron; USCG rescue swimmer veteran, former helicopter pilot, previous Skywest Captain,  and current 747 new hire at Kalitta Air. Have you ever wondered what your path could look like to transition into the airlines from a helicopter career? We're here to get you the scoop on what it was like for Scott, and how long it took him to go from helos to heavys. Later in the episode Diane and Scott reminisce on some crazy stories from the good old Coast Guard days. Stick around until the end of the episode for a summary of the Restricted ATP requirements that you will need if you are planning to change up your career. **Episode Rated PG13 for some adult language**

This week our guest joins us from Valdez, Alaska with her story! She has flown everything from Robbies, Hughes 500s , 412s, AS350s, to most recently her personal Bell 505. She's here to share her journey from traveling the world as a pro snowboarder, to how she developed in the aviation world beginning in Hawaii to starting her own utility helicopter company based in Valdez, AK. In this episode we dive into bush flying in Alaska, and her journey in starting her own utility helicopter company in Alaska. Also...have you guys seen that Bell 505 that looks like a candy cane? Well that's Leigh! She just picked up her new heli and flew an epic cross country journey from Mirabel to the Bahamas, through the midwest, up the coast of Canada to finally reaching her home in Alaska——dang what a journey of inspiring people and bringing joy along the way. Oh and by the by,  she's also a BA señorita Gravity  pilot getting ready to throw on her racing gear. You guys may know her as @Leighyogipilot on Instagram...handstanding her way around Alaska while spreading her inspiration around the world through her social media. Stay tuned at the end of the episode we are going to review required Aircraft and Pilot Documents and Maintenance Items! *Episode contains some material not suitable for children*

Full episode found only on IG @foreveronthefly !! 

Our next guest had a super unique introduction into the helicopter world. You guys ever seen Whale Wars? Yeah he was that dude flying the MD500 off the back of the Sea Shepherd's vessel assisting in whale conservation efforts from the North Atlantic, Galapagos, Gulf of California, all the way down to Antarctica. After his stint with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, he worked his way up from flight instructing in Robinsons to flying utility and firefighting in Hueys, 212s, and now is flying the infamous intermeshig K-MAX!He's here to chat about his experience with the Sea Shepherds , what its like to fly the K-MAX, utility pilot life, and we dive into the role helicopters play in environmental conservation. Stick around at the end of the episode, where we share a short ground lesson answering Susan from Instagrams question, "What do you do if you find something wrong on preflight? And are all items no fly items?" Let's talk 91.213!

Our season opener starts off strong with our next guest who joins us all the way from Australia! She's a leader in aerospace innovation, holding the title CEO of iJetPack. This real live iron woman will have you believing that literally anything is possible. She's here to share her life journey from building her career in digital innovation in the corporate space, her helicopter experience, to then starting her own jet suit company in the midst of Covid 19. She's currently training to set the Guinness world record for jet suit flight distance! She will be setting off on a 2112 mile journey across the continent of Australia which will no doubt test the limits of both physical and mental human capability. Check out her social to follow along on her amazing journey! www.helijen.com @HeliJen@iflyjetpack 

Today we give the floor to our good friend Scott Booth. On February 10, 2018 Scott survived a fatal helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon. The NTSB determined the cause of the accident to be loss of control likely due to Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness. For more information please refer to the official NTSB report. On this episode we wanted to give Scott the ability to share his story. It is one of courage, survival, and mental resolution.  Today Scott shares his recollection of the accident, his recovery, his struggles, his successes , and how music has aided in his mental recovery.  He hopes to be an inspiration to anyone out there who has experienced extreme trauma, and shares a beautiful message of courage and strength. Thank you for trusting us with your story, we love you! SEASON 1 THAT'S A WRAP! Thank you guys so much for listening in, we appreciate your support and encouragement. We hope you enjoyed the first season of the Forever on the Fly Podcast, and we will catch you next time!! Fly safe out there!

Self proclaimed "normal every day helicopter pilot" Falko Baguhl,  takes us through his absolutely not normal pilot journey. From flying the Alouette, the S55T, the Bell 204, to now flying the AW169 in support of offshore windmill farms off the coast of Emden, Germany. In this episode we cover a variety of topics from discussing his path, day in the life of a windmill pilot and its unique challenges, his transition from the FAA license to the EASA license, his experience with the Deep Water Horizon tragedy, and finally the dangers of icing and why it should be avoided. Stick around for the end of the episode, Jose and I will give a brief lesson on the different types of icing, their dangers, and what to do if you ever encounter it. 

The lady of the hour, Stacy Sheard, currently sits as Chair of the board for HAI (Helicopter Association International). Her passion for uniting the international VTOL community, and her imagination for the possibilities that the future holds for this industry makes her an invaluable visionary for the AV family. She brings her extensive experience to the table as an Army veteran with time flying a wide range of helicopter platforms such as the UH-60, S76++, Bell 430, and the AW139. Her passion for mentoring has led her to teach workshops on the importance of networking at HAI's annual HeliExpo, and currently teaches a much needed military to civilian workshop for pilots transitioning from military to civilian pilot jobs. In this episode we discuss her experience, her visions for the future of VTOL, resume building & networking, and her Mil to Civ workshops. Stick around until the end of the episode, where Jose and I discuss our personal take on the future of pilot jobs, and provide names and dates of the top 3 aviation networking events of 2021-2022. 

Our guest this week is an aviation Youtube star and F35 Pilot that not only has explored how fast, but how high he can fly! In this episode, Justin "Hasard" Lee takes us through his journey of becoming an F35 fighter pilot for the Air Force, going supersonic, the centrifuge, and G-lock. Justin is an avid educator, and he gives us his pointers on better decision making, the importance of a good debrief, and Jose and I just cant help but to teach Justin a little something about helicopters! School will be in session at the end of the episode, where we will talk about how to perform a good debrief, and how doing one can benefit you as a pilot. Thanks for listening! 

Here at the Forever on the Fly podcast we not only celebrate pilots, but the men and women behind the curtain. The ones turning wrenches, keeping our aircraft flying, and keeping us safe in the skies. Melvin Williams not only is a pilot, but an instructor B737 Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P ) for Delta. Mel is here to share his incredibly unique journey on his path to Delta, how he made his plan to finance his flight training, how to handle those checkride jitters, and his aerobatic dreams for the future. You guys might know him as @melthetraveler on Instagram, if you don't already go ahead and give him a follow! Stick around until the very end of the episode for Diane and Jose's top 10 ways to handle those checkride jitters!

If you don't know who @iflyheli is on Instagram, you better get on the app and look him up ASAP. I always say the one thing I love most about aviation is its ability to bring good people together. York Galland is just one of those people you meet along the way in the industry that shines his love for helicopters through and through, and has a passion for sharing the experience of helicopter flight with others. He joins us today to share his experience with personally owning and operating an R44,  R66, Bell 505, and EC130T2. We get into a pros and cons discussion of owning each of these helicopters, and why he chose to recently upgrade from a Bell 505 to an EC130T2. On this episode we also delve into what happens when your original flight plan and weather brief goes down the tube, and you have to recognize your own hazardous attitudes to put the ego aside in order to deviate from your original plan to land the helicopter safely. Stick around to the end of the episode for a quick ground lesson on how to obtain a proper weather brief, identifying possible hazardous attitudes and their antidotes, what you should be looking for on a high and low reconnaissance while choosing an off airport landing site in the event of a forced landing. 

Isaac Etherington takes us through his journey to becoming an EMS, or what is now called Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA),  pilot.  He has flown HAA from the badlands of the Dakotas, to the mountains of Yellowstone, to the beautiful state of Oregon. His unique range of experience makes for an exciting episode where we dive into the life of a medical pilot. In this episode we cover juicy subjects such as Crew Resource Management (CRM), external and internal pressures a medical pilot might face,  the importance of good crew cohesion and the formula for a solid crew brief, and an emergency situation we will just nickname- DUCK TALES! Whether you are interested in flying medical services or not, this episode offers some great information and fun content. Enjoy, and thank you for listening!

This week's guest hails all the way from the fjords of Norway! He is a very talented utility pilot, safety manager, and photographer. On this episode, Tom shares his unique journey to becoming a utility pilot in Norway, and the benefits of working as a load master for a few years prior to getting into the right seat on complex utility missions. We all know flying helicopters is not a typical job, and we operate them in risky environments. As the safety manager for his company, Tom has the opportunity to create a work environment that orbits around safety. We really dive into the importance of risk assessments and aeronautical decision making by providing a couple of real life scenarios on how to mitigate risks. Hope you enjoy the episode! 

This week's episode highlights US Coast Guard pilot Miranda Fay. She is here to chat about what it takes to become a US Coast Guard aviator, the challenges involved, stories of her first lives saved, the value of mentorship, and her work as a mentor for Big Brother's Big Sister's of America.  Following a tale of inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions, we really dive into the importance of obtaining an instrument rating, and share a brief lesson on spacial disorientation and the leans. Join us on this educational and inspiring story of a woman who fulfilled her dream, and has now begun her life saving journey. 

Anthony Oshinuga is a competition air racer and aerobatic artist. In this episode he shares his journey to becoming a sponsored air racer, how he and his sponsor Epic Fuels are doing their part for the Covid-19 crisis, how he is inspiring young black Americans to pursue their dreams in aviation, and his advice to aspiring competition aerobatic pilots. Get that extra bit of inspiration you might need today, and listen in! 

John "Rain" Waters is a former lead F16 demonstration pilot for the Air Force turned 777 cargo pilot. In this episode, John discusses the challenges of life on the road, transitioning from the F16 to the Boeing 777, his experience as the F16 demo pilot, and reminisces on a humbling flying experience overseas that he hopes serves as an important reminder to other experiences aviators. Other topics covered: The importance of "Just Culture" in aviation, aeronautical decision making, and John's podcast "The Afterburn Podcast". 

Aaron Fitzgerald is a helicopter and airplane pilot with over 26 years of flying experience. He has worked in every facet of the helicopter industry from utility to charter work. Currently, he owns and operates an aerial production coordination company, and works as a SAG stunt pilot for TV and Film. He has also taken up the job of being Red Bull's one and only American Aerobatic Helicopter pilot flying the BO-105 helicopter on the Flying Bulls team! On this episode, Aaron reminisces on his most memorable production and aerial coordination job, what it takes to become a production pilot for TV and Film, what he has been up to with Red Bull lately. You don't want to miss this one!