Hangar Talk

Join us this week as we talk to 2017 Miss Vermont Erin Connor and her push to see more women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Connor flew herself to the Miss America pageant earlier this year, and used aviation as a platform to talk about increasing the number of women in technology careers. Plus stick around for the week's headlines.

This week we talk to Jamie Patterson-Simes, owner of SkyTrek Alaska Flight Training, AOPA's flight school of the year. Hear about her incredible journey and dedication to bringing up the next generation of aviators. Plus stick around for the headlines.

The clocks are changing and the days are getting shorter. It's time to think about brushing up on your night flying skills. This week we chat with AOPA's Best Flight Instructor of 2017, Zoan Harcelrode, about her best night flying tips. Plus stick around for the week's headlines.

Pilots are supposed to avoid thunderstorms by 20 miles or more, right? For some brave pilots, not only do they not avoid thunderstorms, they seek them out. This week we talk to NOAA Hurricane Hunter pilot Kevin Doremus about the year's busy season, and what it takes to fly into the eye of the storm. 

Medical doctor, licensed pilot, astronaut, and mountain climber. Dr. Scott Parazynski has led a life of adventure far beyond what most of us could dream of. This week we catch up with Parazynski to learn about what it's like to be in space, serve as Senator John Glenn's physician, and what he's working on today. Plus stick around for the headlines.

This week we chat with Reno unlimited winner Jay Consalvi about his incredible race. Consalvi flew "Strega," just beating out rival "Voodoo." Hear what it's like to go 500 miles per hour just 50 feet from the ground. Plus stick around for the headlines.

This week we catch up for a brief chat with General Charles Boyd, a former POW in Vietnam who now keeps his flying decidedly less dramatic. Also stick around for the week's top headlines.

NASA's Kristen Erickson, who pulled together the agency's "Eclipse Across America" coverage, explains solar eclipse highlights; and catch up on the latest aviation news in this week's Hangar Talk podcast.

What's it like to fly close formation upside down, mere feet above the ground? This week David talks to Paul "Rocket" Hornick of the Phillips 66 Aerostars team. The team flies four Yak 52TWs in a dynamic routine that excites audiences everywhere they go. Plus stick around for the week's headlines.

It's Oshkosh week! Hundreds of thousands of pilots have descended on Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for EAA Airventure this week to celebrate everything that takes to the skies. We cover the best of the show, plus talk to a few show-goers on what makes Oshkosh special to them.

Now is the time to fight for the future of general aviation. This episode we dig into the battle over air traffic control with Jim Coon, AOPA's senior vice president of government affairs. Learn what's at stake and what you can do to help. Plus tune in for the week's top headlines.

This week we soar to the edge of space with Jim Payne from the Perlan glider project. Payne is trying to break the altitude record for soaring, currently at more than 50,000 feet. Also tune in for the week's top headlines.

You've read his columns in AOPA magazines for years, and maybe you've seen his talks. On this week's show hear flight instructor and funnyman Rod Machado talk about both his love for aviation and his frustration for its future. Plus tune in for the week's headlines.

BasicMed is here! This week we talk with AOPA's medical certification expert Gary Crump about BasicMed. What is it? What does it mean for aviation? And most importantly, what does it mean for you? Plus tune in for the week's top headlines.

Learning to fly is difficult. Learning to fly when you're missing an arm and a leg--that's in another league. This week David sits down with Adam Kiselewski, a Marine who lost two limbs in Iraq. Kiselewski hasn't let that slow him down. He's learned to fly, rides a motorcycle, and volunteers for many veteran's organizations. Plus the week's top headlines.

Have you ever thought about being an airline pilot? Or just wondered what the flying was like? This week we chat with Pete Bedell, a pilot for a major carrier. Bedell is a freelance contributor to AOPA Pilot and Flight Training magazines, and comes from a flying family. Also this week, BasicMed rolls out and we cover the top headlines.

Do you look up and admire those majestic hot air balloons as they calmly float by? Do the balloons with odd shapes make you wonder how flight is even possible? This episode David talks to Colin Graham, a world renowned hot air balloon pilot who flies shaped balloons everywhere from Albuquerque to Thailand. Plus tune in the headlines of the past two weeks.

What's the difference between an LP and an LPV approach? What's new about the Cirrus G6? And is technology really making lazy pilots? We discuss these questions and more this week with 2008 Flight Instructor of the Year and author Max Trescott. Trescott is an expert in glass cockpit technology, and teaches regularly in various Cirrus models. Hear his perspective on pilot skills and the latest news in this week's episode.

North Carolina's airport system is expansive, and some of the best sit on the string of barrier islands known as the Outer Banks. The popular vacation destination is a struggle to reach by car, but a joy to visit by airplane. This week we talk to Thomas Freeman and James Capps of the North Carolina's Division of Aviation about the history and attraction of these unique fields. Plus the week's top news. 

Cuba is physically close but culturally a world away. Off limits for decades, today visiting is relatively easy and well worth the trip. Plus, now you can fly yourself there! This week we talk to Cuba Handling's Eric Norber about how to get there, what to do when you're on the island, and why going to Cuba is such a unique experience. Plus tune in for the headlines of the week.