The Student Pilot Cast (mp3)

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Follow Bill as he progresses through his flight training. This is the audio only feed. The audio podcasts are NOT the same content as the video podcasts, so if you want all the content, please subscribe to both. The audio feed is more tied to the student experience, in cockpit training, with a few features and special events. The video feed includes in-cockpit video sometimes, but is more feature oriented and does not typically coincide as closely with the training.

Bill Williams


    • Sep 29, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 68 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Student Pilot Cast (mp3)

    SPC #66 – Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 21:32


    Today we talk about legacy, and legends of aviation. I recently found some old audio in the SPC archives from OSH 2011, and it brought me back, got me thinking about the legacy of some of the people we sometimes get to cross paths with. Some are important to the... Read more »

    SPC #65 – AFTA What?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 19:43


    Welcome back, SPC listeners.  I’m super happy to bring you a chat with Dan Justman from the airplane Owners and Pilots Association, or AOPA, about their program designed to help part 61 students and instructors with their training. AOPA is trying to tackle what is likely part of the reason... Read more »

    SPC #64 – Why Part Time?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 43:49


    For this episode I got a chance to talk to Nick Smith from Part Time Pilot, an online private pilot ground school that packs a lot of personalized value into a rather inexpensive service. Learn about how he’s taking a more personal approach to online training and also learn how... Read more »

    SPC #63 – OSH22 – The 700 Mile-Long Runway (Samaritan Aviation)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 22:54


    This is the audio version of the Student Pilot Cast audio Episode 63. The video version of this can be found in the video feed of this podcast, or in highest resolution on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/-GhDPNoQcj4 In this episode I get to talk to Mark Palm, the CEO and Co-Founder... Read more »

    SPC #62 – OSH22 – OK OAC

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 12:09


    The state of Oklahoma has gotten serious about aviation, STEM education, and the whole aeronautics industry. I talk here briefly with Grayson Ardies, Director of the Oklahoma Aeronautical Commision, about what the state is doing to further aviation education and aeronautics in general in the state. This is the audio... Read more »

    SPC #61 – OSH22 – State of Oklahoma and the Aviation Teacher

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 16:33


    The state of Oklahoma has gotten serious about aviation, STEM education, and the whole aeronautics industry. I caught up with a High School teacher in Oklahoma, Chris Eckler, to talk about what he’s doing in his school district with regard to Aviation Education and how he fell in love with... Read more »

    SPC #60 – OSH22 – Opener BlackFly

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 17:36


    In this episode I have an impromptu conversation with Celia Oakley of Opener. We had been hearing about their electric STOL aircraft but hadn’t planned on doing a feature on it until my crew took a spin in their 3D simulator and we found the evolution and the atypical flight... Read more »

    SPC #59 – OSH22 – Infinite Flight

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 32:17


    In this episode I catch up with Laura and Jay of Infinite Flight to talk about their flight simulator. We cover what it is, how it started, is it a tool or a game, and what’s coming next. This is a fun discussion about something I hadn’t really been keeping... Read more »

    SPC #58 – Fly High to Showlow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 43:52


    We finally make it to Showlow the morning after our diversion to Payson. I categorized this flight as a grateful nod to aviation and I dive into how I was feeling at this point in my flying career. I hope you enjoy this flight.

    SPC #57 – First Family Mission

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 64:26


    This one is awesome for me. I got to take my wife on our first mission together to the high country of Arizona for a weekend away with friends. Being the PIC on these flights was teaching me a lot, and on this day I had some weather decisions to... Read more »

    SPC #56 – Oshkosh Out and In, Part 2 (updated audio)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 45:22


    CORRECTION and UPDATE: I had published the episode 55 audio as episode 56 in error. On July 6th, 2022, I realized the mistake, and have updated this episode release with the correct file. Sorry for the inconvenience. Episode Description: Back to a cockpit audio episode this week, but you may... Read more »

    SPC #56 – Oshkosh Out and In, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 31:15


    Back to a cockpit audio episode this week, but you may be asking what it is since I finished my primary training episodes. Well, this is an Oshkosh arrival, the part two to the departure we did last week in episode 55. More explanation when we get into the episode…but... Read more »

    SPC #55 – Oshkosh Out and In, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 31:15


    Back to a cockpit audio episode this week, but you may be asking what it is since I finished my primary training episodes. Well, this is an Oshkosh departure and next week we’ll do an arrival…and yes, in that order. More explanation when we get into the episode…but I hope... Read more »

    SPC #54 – Zero Time to Airline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 65:50


    This episode is an interview with Stu Stevenson, Co-Owner of Thrust Flight, an ab initio flight school in the Dallas area with additional locations on the horizon. Stu is also one of the co-hosts and the creator of A Pilot’s Journey Podcast, and is a CFI, ATP, and generally great... Read more »

    SPC #53 – Checking my Ride

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 22:30


    Welcome back SPC listeners.  Big day today…time for my check ride.  It’s finally here…and after all these years, we’ll finally figure out if I made it or not.  Hope you enjoy Episode 53, “Checking my Ride.” Yup, the time had finally come to see if I had learned what I... Read more »

    SPC #52 – Am I Ready Yet?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 48:51


    Back to my training, we’ll be doing the second half of my makeup flight.  This is the continuation of the flight from Episode 50.  Enjoy episode 52, “Am I Ready Yet?” I was only a few days from me rescheduled check ride, and I was getting even more nervous and... Read more »

    SPC #51 – A Sit Down with a New Pilot – Tim Omta

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 73:13


    This week week’s episode is something a little different.  We’ll get back to part two of my Instrument make-up flight next week, but I wanted to throw in the audio from a sit-down I had with an old friend and colleague, Tim Omta, when we recently re-connected after several years... Read more »

    SPC #50 – Not Today, Baby!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 63:25


    This is episode 50, where you may have been expecting an episode about my check ride, but alas, there was a bit of a snag, so you can get all of the information in this week’s episode. This episode will include part one of some makeup flying and we even... Read more »

    SPC #49 – Wait, it’s Tomorrow?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 36:23


    In this episode we'll cover a quick flight to get the additional .3 hours I needed to be ready for my check ride. The previous day I had 3 flights (see episodes 46, 47, and 48 for those). Today I would do this one flight, and be studying like crazy... Read more »

    SPC #48 – How About a Third

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 44:59


    For this episode we'll be doing a dual flight with Lary, getting some of that hood time I needed, and practicing a takeoff under the hood. We'd be flying in N81658. Keep in mind this is now my 3rd training flight of the day and the fourth in the past... Read more »

    SPC #47 – The Check of Stage IV

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 54:40


    In this episode I’ll be taking you along for my fourth and final stage check with one of the chief pilots. This stage check, if successfully completed, would mark the end of my primary training and I would then be ready for my check ride with an examiner.  Of course,... Read more »

    SPC #46 – The Last Solo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 55:29


    Welcome back SPC listeners…this flight was the day after my dual flight with Lary from the last episode, episode 45, and I would be some solo practice on the same things, short and soft takeoffs and landings.  I'd be staying in the pattern for this solo.  Hope you enjoy Episode... Read more »

    SPC #45 – In the Pattern (or Chill, Dude)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 48:59


    In this episode, just three days after my last solo covered in episode 44, I was back in the cockpit with my instructor, Lary, and along for the ride on this one was my oldest Son who was around 10 at the time. We would stay in the pattern for... Read more »

    SPC #44 – Alpha Delpha, or Second to Almost Done

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 33:35


    Today I'd be flying in 2148Y on a solo flight to practice ground reference maneuvers as well as practicing some short and soft field landings. In fact, according to my part 141 training curriculum, this would just be my second to last solo flight before my check ride. We will... Read more »

    SPC #43 – A Family Affair

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 54:40


    Dropping episode 43 today, where I take you a long on a dual flight with Lary, my instructor, but I have two small visitors today as well. This episode is a bit nostalgic for me as I had my two youngest kids with me; ages 8 and 6. Of course,... Read more »

    SPC #42 – The Little Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 47:21


    Wow…what is this? Another episode of the Student Pilot Cast?!?! After all this time? Well, yes…let’s at least get through my primary training before another hiatus, shall we? Actually, I’ve got some plans even after that, so let’s see how it goes. In this episode I’ll take you along on... Read more »

    SPC #41 – The Anonymous CFI

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2016 19:28


    Hello, everyone. This is episode 40 of the Student Pilot Cast, The Anonymous CFI. This is a bit more brief than most episodes because I never got permission from the CFI I flew with this day to publish the content, so I’m sorry to say that any cockpit audio with... Read more »

    SPC #40 – Long Solo Cross Country, Part II (The Two Hander) [Updated]

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2016 40:58


    Look! Less than a week and another episode!  This is my return flight on my long solo cross country flight from Prescott (KPRC) to Chandler (KCHD) via Wickenburg (E25).  I transition a bit of the southern portion of the PHX Class B airspace as well. This was a great flight.... Read more »

    SPC #39 – Long Solo Cross Country, Part I (Say Request…Denied)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2016 56:39


    I’m back releasing podcast after my much too long hiatus.  Sorry for the delay, everyone. This is the first part of my long solo cross country flight which followed my stage III check.  I fly from Chandler (KCHD) west and north through the PHX class B airspace, and then on... Read more »

    SPC #038 – Thank You Sir, May I Have Another

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2011 40:36


    Welcome back, SPC listeners.  I’m glad to be back with you for another experience on my road to becoming a private pilot.  Today you’ll be coming along as I complete my 3rd stage check out of four.  As you know from my previous few episodes, I’d been preparing for this. ... Read more »

    SPC #037-Windy Solo Makeup Flight

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2010


    This is episode 37 of the Student Pilot Cast. Join me as I take a solo makup flight in some windy conditions the morning of my Stage III Check. In this flight I stay in the pattern and practice performance landings and takeoffs. As the flight went on, the wind kept... Read more »

    SPC #036-Podapalooza 2010 from Oshkosh

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2010 118:56


    It’s that time again…now that we’re home from Oshkosh, it’s time to share this year’s edition of Podapalooza.  This was recorded live on EAA Radio on Friday, July 30th, 2010.  Enjoy.

    SPC #035-Stage III Check Prep, Hijacked!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2010 40:34


    Welcome to episode 35, finally, of the Student Pilot Cast, “Stage III Check Prep, Hijacked”.  I’m Bill Williams, and I’m learning to fly in front of the world. Come join me as I prepare for my Stage III Check with a different instructor.  This has been updated to point to... Read more »

    SPC #034-Solo, Shorts, Softs, and FOD

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2009 32:44


    Hello again SPC listeners.  Today’s episode takes us on a solo training flight on a very busy day to practice performance landings and takeoffs (shorts and softs).  We have everything from FOD to go-arounds in this episode, so enjoy. I was nearing the end of stage III in my training,... Read more »

    SPC #033-Into the Night, Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2009 29:58


    This is part II of my night dual cross country flight.  This part takes us from Marana Airport in the far northern part of Tucson back to Chandler. [KAVQ-KCHD] I mentioned the Remos GX LSA flight from Oshkosh in this episode.  Here is the link to the Airspeed episode that... Read more »

    SPC #032-Podapalooza 2009, Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2009 36:58


    This is part II of Podapalooza 2009, the part of the show that was not broadcast live on EAA Radio.  This took place at Oshkosh, July 31st, 2009. If you are thinking about learning to fly, check out Air Freddy’s Learning to Fly Guide, an e-book that will answer many... Read more »

    SPC #031-Podapalooza 2009, Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2009 43:29


    Hello, everyone! Here is the first part of the audio from Podapalooza 2009 from Airventure in Oshkosh, July 31st, 2009.  This part contains the audio from the show that was broadcast live on EAA Radio.  After the radio station had to cut away, we continued Podapalooza and I will bring... Read more »

    SPC #030-Nexair Saratogo NX

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2009 12:14


    We continue my coverage of EAA Airventure with episode 30.  Today I present an interview with David Fetherston of Nexair Avionics about their new airplane, the Saratoga NX.  The NX is a rebuild from spinner to tail of Piper’s Saratoga, but with all new avionics, speed mods, etc.  It’s a... Read more »

    SPC #029-It’s About the People

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2009 9:08


    Airventure 2009 is over, but I’ve got a bit of good material from Oshkosh that I’ll be publishing.  This is the first of it.  In this episode, I confirm why everyone loves Oshkosh so much with a quick discussion with John and Christine Halbrook around the campsite one evening. Obviously,... Read more »

    SPC #028-Into the Night, Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2009 43:58


    Hello SPC listeners! Today we will follow my outbound leg of my dual night cross country.  I had to take a couple of weeks off because of extensive travel, including some family vacations.  I’m back now, though, but headed to Oshkosh this week.  This means lots of content coming up... Read more »

    SPC #027-Out of the Nest, Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2009 46:38


    This episode chronicles my return flight to Chandler from Tucson international, and is the second part of my first solo cross-country flight during my training.  There’s some interesting things that happen, and another bonehead move on my part with the radio.  Please enjoy this flight as I learn to fly... Read more »

    SPC #026-Out of the Nest, Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2009 54:55


    Today’s episode is a very special one as we’ll cover my first solo cross country.  It was a simple flight from Chandler to Tucson International, but a giant step for me in my training.  Join me as a learn to fly in front of the world in podcast episode 26... Read more »

    SPC #025-Across the Hills, Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2009 63:27


    This episode is the conclusion of my long dual cross-country training flight, or the last two legs.  We went from Prescott (KPRC) to Sedona (KSEZ) and shut it down to go have a late breakfast at the excellent restaurant.  Then it was on home to Chandler (KCHD). I hope you... Read more »

    SPC #024-Across the Hills, part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2009 46:31


    Hello, everyone.  I’m pleased to release audio episode 24 of the Student Pilot Cast, Across the Hills.  Follow me on the first leg of my long dual cross country from KCHD to KPRC right through the middle of Phoenix.  We’ve got a busy airspace in Phoenix and a really busy... Read more »

    SPC #023-Crossing the Country, Part 2, Coming Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2009 31:35


    In episode 23 we cover the return flight from Tucson International Airport (KTUS) to Chandler (KCHD) as part of my first dual cross country.  Leaving a class C airport was a bit different than working in my usual class B airport.  Busier airspace, bigger airplanes, departure controllers, approach controllers, and clearance... Read more »

    SPC #022-Crossing the Country, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2009 44:26


    Hello again, everyone.  I’m back with episode 22 about my first dual cross country flight during my primary training.  It was fantastic as I hope you’ll be able to tell from this episode.  I went from KCHD to KTUS, or Tucson International. I also mentioned Scenario Based Training in this... Read more »

    SPC #021-Good Freakin’ Flight

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2008 34:36


    I’m back SPC listeners!  I’ve had no time to produce new episodes for a while, but I forced myself tonight…and put off some other stuff.  So what we have is another training episode, Episode 21, “Good Freakin’ Flight”.  This is a solo flight that I took after returning from my... Read more »

    SPC #020-Tour de Phoenix-Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2008 35:17


    I’m back, after an exclusive one month tour of Europe, Scandinavia, and…no, that’s not true.  In fact, I’ve just been really busy, and haven’t had a chance to finish this episode up and send it out on the feed.  Bad me, I know.  So, we skipped September in the podcast…I’ll... Read more »

    SPC #019-Tour de Phoenix-Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2008 31:51


    Hello patient Student Pilot Cast listeners.  I’m back again with a training flight, which happens to be my first night flight…as well as a few other firsts.  We basically to take a tour of the Phoenix Valley at night.  Very cool. I broke this into two parts because it was... Read more »

    SPC #018-Podapalooza 2008-Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2008 59:28


    Here is the last part of Podapalooza 2008 from Oshkosh.  I hope you enjoy.  Thanks for listening, and please don’t forget to let me know you’re out there.  Leave me some feedback using the contact link near the top of the page.

    SPC #017-Podapalooza 2008-Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2008 52:41


    Hello everyone.  I’m happy to release part 1 of the 2008 edition of Podapalooza, which was recorded in Oshkosh at EAA Airventure.  Podapalooza is the gathering of aviation podcasters in Oshkosh each year.  As well as being released on this and many other feeds, this year it was broadcast live... Read more »

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