Join us on this step-by-step mini-series, How To Buy A Jet. In Part 1, host Derik Savage sits down with Jason Spoor, Founder & President, Aspen Aero Group, to help you decide if ownership makes sense.

You’ll learn how to match your travel mission to the right path: charter, jet card, fractional, or whole ownership, while weighing budgets, operating costs, availability, optics, financing, and tax planning.

We also cover realistic timelines, five-year cost outlooks, major inspections on pre-owned aircraft, and the team you’ll need to buy with confidence.

Learn more about Aspen Aero Group: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com/

Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com/

In this episode, Aspen Aero Group founder and president Jason Spoor steps from co-host to guest to share how a lifetime in aviation shapes smarter jet ownership. He traces his path from earning an A&P and flying professionally to leading corporate flight departments and advising buyers as a broker.

You’ll get practical guidance on entering private aviation, whether charter, fractional, or whole ownership, what to budget beyond the purchase price, and how Aspen structures deals so owners succeed long after closing. We also cover timelines to buy, vendor networks, and how to tell when owning a jet is right for you.

Learn more about Aspen Aero Group: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com/
Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com/

In this episode, we’re recapping year one of Own the Jet—the biggest themes, lessons, and takeaways so far. We’ve covered everything from interiors, financing, MROs, and FBOs to wing flex, smarter tax planning, and decoding aviation’s alphabet soup. And we’re just getting started!

Expect more trips, more industry experts, and more practical advice to help you buy, staff, and operate the right aircraft for your mission.

Guests (in order):

Roger Woolsey — https://www.millionair.com

Mark Masluch — https://www.bombardier.com

Preston Holland — https://prestigefinance.com/

Rebecca Fre-Hiwet — https://www.corpangelnetwork.org

KJ McCarter — https://www.aviationtaxconsultants.com/

David Zipkin — https://www.flytradewind.com

Sarah Mespelt Larranaga — https://sarahlarranaga.com/

Adam Slepian — https://www.ottoaero.com

Stephen Maiden — https://www.weststaraviation.com

Nada Ragland — https://aerolawcenter.com/

Lisa Stewart — https://www.campsystems.com

Matt Walter — https://www.guardianjet.com

Brought to you by: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com

Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com

In this episode, Linda Frankl of ADK Consulting & Executive Search explains how relationship-driven recruiting builds winning aviation teams. We dig into confidential executive searches, why culture fit beats a perfect resume, and what great Directors of Aviation actually do.

Linda shares how ADK evaluates leaders beyond the resume, including self-recorded candidate videos, real-world decision making, and communication under pressure. We cover airports, FBOs, and corporate flight departments, the talent squeeze from the airlines, and why AI can assist checklists but cannot replace leadership, compliance, or judgment.

You will also hear how ADK’s network opens doors in a small industry and what to prepare before you hire.

Learn more about ADK: https://adkexecutivesearch.com/

Brought by: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com/

Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com/

In this episode of Own the Jet, Sarah Larranaga, aviation designer and engineer, lifts the curtain on bespoke jet interiors and exteriors for brands, celebrities, and business leaders.

Sarah explains how safety and certification drive every decision, how to work with OEMs and completion centers, and why weight and range are the real currencies of design. From pink leather seat details to steam showers and display credenzas, Sarah shows what is possible, what is smart, and where to compromise.

You will hear stories from high-profile projects, including Paris Hilton’s aircraft and campaigns for global brands, plus what is next with a WWE Bombardier 6500.

Whether you want a subtle refresh or a full tear-down rebuild, this conversation will help you buy right, scope clearly, and design an aircraft that works for your mission.

Connect with Sarah Larranaga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mespelt-larranaga-08904b6b/

Brought by: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com/
Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com/

In this episode of Own the Jet, Matt Walter, Managing Partner at Guardian Jet, explains how a consultative brokerage helps buyers make smarter decisions from day one. He covers when to move from charter or fractional to whole ownership.

Matt lays out how to vet a broker in an unregulated market, the value of acting as your acquisition agent, and the tradeoffs between the “best deal” and the “best airplane.”

Whether you are a first-time buyer or leading a flight department, this conversation shows how the right guidance turns a complex purchase into a confident investment.

To learn more about Guardian Jet, visit https://www.guardianjet.com

Brought by: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com
Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com/

In this episode of Own the Jet, Stephen Maiden, CEO of West Star Aviation, shares how a top independent MRO keeps business aircraft safe, reliable, and flying.

Stephen breaks down pre-purchase inspections, annual and major inspection cycles, and why minimizing downtime matters. He explains West Star’s one-stop capabilities for airframe maintenance, interiors, avionics upgrades, and complex modifications.

Whether you are an owner, a flight department leader, or new to jet ownership, this conversation shows how choosing the right maintenance partner protects safety, uptime, and long-term aircraft value.

To learn more about West Star Aviation, visit https://www.weststaraviation.com

Brought by: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com/
Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com/

In this episode, we hit the NBAA-BACE static at Henderson Executive Airport to spotlight what matters to jet owners right now: comfort, efficiency, and future of aviation. Bombardier walks us through Global-series wing flex and updates on the Global 8000 and U.S. service expansion. Epic Aircraft talks about the carbon-fiber E1000AX with Starlink Wi-Fi and Garmin Emergency Autoland. OTTO Aerospace unveils the Phantom 3500 super-mid concept targeting big range with dramatically lower fuel burn.

To learn more about the companies featured in this episode:

Bombardier — https://bombardier.com

Epic Aircraft — https://epicaircraft.com

OTTO Aerospace — https://ottoaerospace.com

Brought to you by: https://www.aspenaerogroup.com

Produced by: https://www.savagemedia.com