Apologies to our loyal listeners for the gap between shows.  Schedules, Family, Work, and Life are competing for time.  I love SimpleFlight and refuse to let it go.  Thanks for your patience, while we work it out. 

In the meantime, I continue to have so many wonderful conversations with pilots across the country.  One of my pilot buddies is Max Trescott and we tend to have wonderful philosophical conversations at the end of our respective days.  The focus is always on being better, safer pilots, and imparting that knowledge to others.  Max commented on how we should record our impromptu conversations as we drive from point A to point B.  So let it be written, so let it be done!  Let's call it Pilots In Cars (PIC)! Lately, I have been diving deep into Situational Awareness, as it appears to be an opportunity for pilots to take their skills to the next level.  Max and I dug into that recently and we had the good sense to record the conversation.  Max posted it on his podcast (aviationnewstalk.com) and I did the same here.  We're very interested in your comments, experiences, and questions, so please let us know what you think.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Blur Skies and Tailwinds!  

As 2021 comes to a close, it's a good time to reflect on the year that was.  As we made progress against Covid, the battle rages on.  Still, 2021 was a great year for General Aviation.  Many people have decided now is the time to start their aviation journey.  Flight Schools are extremely active and plane inventory & availability is tight as people start to check off bucket list items at a fast pace.  That not only goes for new pilots, but existing ones that are reaching new heights.

That is the case for Bob Reynolds.  As you may recall, Bob joined us in the summer of 2020 after taking advantage of the airline slowdown by landing at every Bravo airport in the lower 48 (except Regan).  And he didn't stop there.  Since then, Bob earned his Cirrus Vision Jet type rating and has been building time via some great adventures.   Join us on this week's episode as Bob talks about his new aviation journey, including the costs, challenges, and the joy of following his dream.  Our dreams may be a bit different, but Bob sets the standard by which all of us can measure ourselves regardless of the destination. We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

As Oshkosh came and went in 2021, the Simpleflight Crew celebrated the completion of our 9th year.  During the time of Covid, we didn't get a complete season out, but are very excited for our 10th season.  So we wanted to start this season with something we've not talked about previously and that is a hot topic.  After all our shows, we thought it would be an impossible task.  And yet, it was right there in front of us.  Aviation Insurance. Join us on this week's episode as we are joined by Wendy Wenk, President of Wenk Aviation Insurance (www.wenkaviation.com). With almost 40 years in the business, Wendy and her staff help aviators navigate the often confusing landscape facing pilots and organizations.  Especially since the dynamics have been turned upside down over the last few years.  Brandon and Marc sought to understand the world of coverage, premiums, dynamics and best practices.  Wendy's long term perspective was eye opening and informative.  We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.    We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

Once bitten by the Aviation "Bug", pilots dream about flying experiences to come.  It may be a particular mission or a specific make and model of aircraft that the pilot wants to fly.  Dreams come in all shapes and sizes. As a pilot gets a cadence going and becomes comfortable with their aviation life, a sense of contentment leads to a mental happy place and a zen-like experience.  Interestingly, new aviation experiences add to that feeling, but always seem centered on the same foundation of a love of aviation.  But then, when you least expect it, a new experience can come along that shatters the calm and replaces it with a high energy realization that there is more to achieve and now is the time to do something about it.

That's what happened to Marc after getting a chance to sit up front in a M-600 with a flying buddy.  Marc has flown other "next level" aircraft, but for some reason, this time resulted in a life changing moment.  The feeling, the sound, the decisions, the experience felt like a new world that was calling to him.  So listen in as Marc talks about it with Brandon and tries to understand what just happened.  The discussion also led down a path focused on different flying experiences and how aviation gives back based on what you put in.  It was a fun conversation.  We hope you agree. ​ We'd love to hear about your aviation dreams and any "life changing" moments that happened along the way.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

For many GA pilots, a cross country trip usually means several hundred miles, a hotel room, and a return trip.  But for a few people, a bigger calling exists.   Join us on this week's episode as we are joined by Alex Gronberger, who is about to join his wife and embark on an around the world trip in his 2009 Cirrus SR22.  His trip has already started, as he departed Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 4th, stopping in the Midwest to have his plane fitted with a brand new engine.   Just planning for a new engine provides a hint of the amount of preparation required to make the trip a reality.  Selling all of his belongings (including his house), having his wife earn her private ticket, asking for a one year sabbatical from his employer, and we can all start to feel the commitment and dedication that drove Alex to make this decision.  We may not be able to join Alex on his trip (checkout Earthrounders.com), but listen in and share in his excitement for this adventure of a lifetime.   ​ We'd love to hear about your aviation dream and the journey you took to achieve it.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

The word Community is made up of two root words... Common Unity.  That one thing that bonds people together.  To an Avgeek, we share a love of aviation... and it is EAA's Airventure that unites us all in a special way.  One of the signals of Airventure, is the release of the annual NOTAM.  As April came to a close, the NOTAM arrived making last year's disappointment a distant memory. 

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For attendees, Airventure is an awesome event which brings excitement and smiles to all that participate.  Have you thought about what it takes to put an event together that hosts hundreds of thousands of people?  Add to that the unknowns (e.g. weather, etc.) and an extremely dynamic logistical puzzle that impacts thousands of stakeholders.  It is then you start to realize the requirements for multi-faceted planning, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills. Enter, Dick Knapinski, Director of Communications for EAA.  As a 29 year veteran of the organization, Dick leads a team of people all focused on making Airventure something special for all of us, regardless of our connection.  Join Brandon and Marc as they sit down with Dick to hear how EAA pulls the event off, with nary a hitch.  We also get into a few behind the scenes stories that will leave you wanting for more.  Can't wait to share those stories at KOSH! ​ We'd love to hear about your favorite Airventure story.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

As the world starts thinking about getting back to normal, the question comes up, "What is normal?"  For each of us, it's a different answer.  Among the community of avgeeks, it generally means joining with other pilots in getting back in the airplane and finding destinations.

For many, an aviation museum is a special place, as it connects us with aviation across the generations.  There are many places of note across the United States, but one gem is found at the Kalamazoo Michigan airport (KAZO).  Never heard about it?  This is your chance to get up close and personal with what makes the AirZoo at KAZO (airzoo.org) a perfect destination for all those that love aviation and their friends and families. 

Join Brandon and Marc as they sit down with President and CEO, Troy Thrash and the AirZoo's Restoration Manager, Greg Ward.  It's obvious both these gentlemen love what they do and take pride in being part of a special team.  You'll learn what makes the museum tick, how it operates, and how the team includes the customer as part of the family.

Maybe a SimpleFlight meet-up @ KAZO is something that can happen in 2021.  Now that's a new normal we can all live with.

We'd love to hear about your favorite Aviation Museums and recommended destinations.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!

With 2020 behind us and with high hopes for a great 2021, what better way to change our mindset, than sitting down and talking aviation.  During our last 9 seasons, the SimpleFlight crew has had the pleasure of hosting north of 200 guests., with a focus on finding amazing people doing amazing things in aviation.   And this week's show is no different. 

In some people's opinion, the LSA market has not lived up to its expectations, but there are companies that saw the LSA as an opportunity to reach out to new customers and deliver on new missions.  One such company is Icon Aircraft (https://www.iconaircraft.com/). 

With Brandon running into technical challenges, Marc went solo in talking with Jerry Meyer, Director of Marketing for Icon.  While not a household name to many of us in GA, Jerry brings a strong background in aviation (naval pilot) and brand management to his role at Icon.  There were a lot of questions for Jerry and we invite you to listen in and learn about Icon's aircraft, it's culture, its go to market strategy, and what makes the company so special.  

We're wondering if any of you are flying the Icon A5 or other Amphib.  We'd love to hear your experience and have you enlighten the rest of us landlubbers about the joys of landing on a "wet" runway.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!

2020 has been a notable year.  How is that for an understatement.  For many of us, aviation serves as an escape from the pressures of daily life.  It can be relaxing, energizing, and fulfilling, with an added benefit of providing an attitude reset.  How ironic that various "shelter-in-place" or other constraints, served to limit aviation's accessibility just when it was needed most.

But with all that, there was plenty of positives and aviation did contribute many happy moments.  This week's episode gives Marc and Brandon an opportunity to look back and take note of the ups and downs that characterize 2020.

Like a relaxing Sunday flight, the guys just let the topics come to them and let the stress of 2020 melt away.  The conversation spanned a lot of topics, including training, maintenance, aircraft systems, pilot attitudes, etc.  We're interested in hearing how you spent the year of Covid, and if you found positive moments you can hold on to.  Please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio

In 2021, we plan to get back to weekly shows and tighten the relationship with our listeners.  Most important, the three of us wish you a new year filled with good health, happiness and lots of aviation.  Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!