Air Facts Podcast: The Story Behind the Story
The Air Facts Podcast: The Story Behind the Story goes beyond the written articles at AirFactsJournal.com to bring listeners the voices and experiences of the contributors. Each episode features an interview with an Air Facts contributor, exploring what inspired their article, the lessons they learned, and what readers can take away from their experience. The podcast aims to provide deeper insight into the stories behind the articles.
Episodes
The Day the Sky Went Silent with Kathleen Thompson
On this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we’re joined by Kathleen Thompson, winner of the 2026 Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots, to discuss her powerful story “The Day the Sky Went Silent.”Kathleen’s story takes us along on her very first solo cross-country flight—an early milestone that quickly turns into a real-world test of airmanship and composure. What begins as a routine train
Dad's Logbooks with Gita Brown
In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we talk with writer, educator, yoga instructor, and student pilot Gita Brown about her moving story, “Dad’s Logbooks.”Gita shares how growing up around her father’s sailplane flying eventually led her to flight training later in life—after years of being afraid to fly. We discuss the emotional connection between pilots across generations, the meaning hidde
The First Passenger Flight You Never Forget
Taking your first passenger is a milestone every pilot remembers—but when that passenger is a family member, the experience takes on a whole new meaning.In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we talk with Zachary Sherman, a Boston-area private pilot who began flying in 2022. As a first-generation aviator, Zachary didn’t grow up around airplanes—but he quickly discovered a passion for flight and
When Special VFR Is the Right Call with Adam Boyd
Special VFR is often treated like a footnote in ground school—something you can do, but probably never will. In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we talk with Adam Boyd, 2025 National CFI of the Year, about why that mindset may be incomplete.Adam is an ATP, three-time Master CFI, Designated Pilot Examiner, and C-130 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot with the Arkansas Air National Guard. With more th
A Mooney Pilot’s Night IFR Wake-Up Call
On a winter night IFR flight home in his Mooney, fatigue, hunger, and deteriorating weather quietly stacked the odds against pilot Bob Hamilton. As ceilings dropped, icing threatened, and options disappeared, Bob was forced to confront a chain of decisions that led to one of the most intense moments of his flying career—saying “unable” to ATC and trusting his judgment to get the airplane safely on
Fate, Freezing Rain, and a Captain’s Decision with Chris Schaich
When freezing rain turns a routine regional flight into a life-or-death approach, airline captain Chris Schaich must make a split-second decision: divert into worsening weather or press on toward a runway he can’t yet see. In this gripping conversation, Chris shares what it’s like to face severe icing in the Saab 340, what he learned from the experience, and how fate—and solid airmanship—helped br
Flying for the Joy of It with Serrhel Adams
In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we talk with longtime contributor Dr. Serrhel Adams about his widely discussed article, Mea Culpa: Confessions of a Joyful Pilot. The piece struck a chord with readers for its honest reflection on why flying should sometimes be about joy—not just procedures and precision. Serrhel shares how his Cub flights over Northwest Arkansas help him reconnect with th
Effective Crew Resource Management with Capt. Mario Jimenez
In this episode of the Airfacts Podcast, we delve into the critical role of character and discipline in crew resource management with pilot and human factors expert, Capt. Mario Jimenez, FedEx (ret.). Drawing from his extensive experience as a naval aviator and human factors manager at FedEx, Mario shares insights on how character shapes a pilot's ability to manage resources effectively. He emphas
Colonel Dale “Boots” Hill on Combat, Command, and Calm Under Pressure
In this episode of the Air Facts podcast, we sit down with Colonel Dale “Boots” Hill, a decorated Air Force veteran and longtime Air Facts contributor. From flying 165 missions in the OV-10 Bronco during Vietnam to commanding F-16 squadrons and training the next generation of pilots, Boots brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. He shares the intense story behind one of his
Behind the Cockpit Door: Insights from Joel Turpin
In this episode our guest is Joel Turpin, a veteran pilot whose flying career spans everything from Piper Cubs and DC-3s to Boeing airliners and the Pilatus PC-12. In this episode, Joel shares stories from more than five decades in aviation and discusses his recent article, The Captain is Lying—one of our most-read pieces of the year. We talk about passenger perceptions, emergency landings, and ho
Alex Sack—Do Crash Videos Really Make Us Safer Pilots?
In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast we welcome Alex Sack, a commercial pilot and longtime contributor to Air Facts. Alex is known for his sharp insights and willingness to question the status quo, and his article “Do Crash Videos Make Us Safer Pilots?” was no exception. With more than 70 comments, it became one of the most discussed pieces on the site — raising important questions about how w
The Arrogant Pilot—Peterson Conway
Peterson Conway is one of the defense tech industry’s biggest power brokers, recruiting for some of the buzziest defense and hard tech firms in Silicon Valley. Conway regularly commutes from the Carmel area in California to Silicon Valley in his Cub. On one particular flight, in the early morning darkness, Conway failed to pull out a flashlight when he was checking his fuel gauge and, as a result,
