🎧 Episode Summary

What happens when a hand-built Shelby Daytona Coupe, a cross-country Cannonball Run, and a youth aviation nonprofit collide? In this episode, host Shawn Staerker takes listeners on an unforgettable journey where speed meets purpose and aviation becomes a force for generational change.

The story begins with Chris Holder (Concorde Battery Corporation) and Charlie Duffie (CJ Aviation)—two lifelong aviation enthusiasts undertaking a bold mission: driving a 408-horsepower Shelby Daytona Coupe coast-to-coast in just 31 hours to raise funds for Tango 31 Aero Club, a youth aviation program that has transformed dozens of young lives. Their run honors the legacy of Kevin Lacey, Tango 31’s founder, whose passion for mentoring underserved youth through aircraft restoration and flight training continues to inspire the aviation community after his passing.

From there, Shawn shifts gears—literally and figuratively—into aviation innovation, spotlighting Hartzell Propellers and their new Falcon Series, which brings century-old engineering expertise into the affordable aviation market by cutting propeller weight in half without sacrificing reliability.

The episode closes with a fascinating deep dive into one of aviation’s most important safety tools: the phonetic alphabet. Shawn unpacks its wartime origins, international testing, and why words like Alpha, Bravo, and Niner are carefully engineered to save lives in noisy cockpits and across language barriers.

This episode is about legacy, persistence, and community—and how aviation thrives when people refuse to let good ideas, or good people, be forgotten.

✨ Key Points

🏁 31 Hours for Tango 31

• Chris Holder and Charlie Duffie attempt a Southern Cannonball Run from Jacksonville Beach, FL to San Diego, CA.
• Goal: 31 hours, symbolizing Tango 31 Aero Club.
• Mission: Raise $1M to make Tango 31 self-sustaining after the loss of founder Kevin Lacey.
• Tango 31 students rebuild donated aircraft and learn to fly them—many go on to aviation careers.
• Over $70,000 in commitments pledged immediately after the mission was announced.
• Ultimate vision: Expand Tango 31 into a nationwide model for youth aviation education.

🛩️ Giving Back Through Aviation

• Kevin Lacey’s legacy lives on through the students he mentored.
• Over 40 youth have gone through Tango 31 since 2017.
• Alumni now work as pilots, A&P mechanics, and for companies like Cirrus Aircraft.
• “No pressure, no diamonds” becomes the guiding philosophy of the mission.

⚙️ Hartzell Propellers & Affordable Aviation

• Hartzell Propellers has been innovating since 1917.
• The Falcon Series is designed for engines like the Rotax 916.
• Weight reduced from ~40 lbs to ~20 lbs—major performance gains.
• Mission-specific prop design supports LSA, kit aircraft, and modern sport flying.
• OEM partnerships (CubCrafters, Van’s) can reduce costs for builders and pilots.

📡 The Aviation Phonetic Alphabet

• Developed through WWII and finalized internationally by ICAO and NATO.
• Designed to eliminate confusion across languages, accents, and poor radio quality.
• Examples:
  • Alpha (ALFA) for global pronunciation
  • Tree, Fife, Niner for clarity
• Used worldwide by pilots, ATC, emergency services, and beyond.
• One of aviation’s most successful safety innovations.

🕒 Chapter Timestamps

0:00 – 1:30 | Introduction: Speed, purpose, and aviation community 1:31 – 9:40 | 31 Hours for Tango 31: The Cannonball Run mission 9:41 – 11:00 | Honoring Kevin Lacey & the legacy of Tango 31 11:01 – 16:20 | Hartzell Propellers: Century-old innovation meets modern flying 16:21 – 22:30 | Propeller evolution, weight savings, and mission-based design 22:31 – 33:30 | The aviation phonetic alphabet: History, safety, and global impact 33:31 – End | Final reflections, community call-to-action, and closing thoughts

🔗 Links & Resources

• Tango 31 Aero Club: https://www.t31aeroclube.com/
• Concorde Battery Corporation: https://www.concordebattery.com/
• CJ Aviation: https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/cj-aviation/
• Hartzell Propellers: https://www.hartzellprop.com/
• AviNation USA / Aviation Magazine: https://www.avinationusa.com/
• Creative Relay Media: https://creativerelaymedia.com/

In this high-energy interview, Michelle Leon, Operations Manager at Levil Aviation, discusses the common thread that links her diverse career background: people. From her early days in hospitality and dentistry to leading operations in aviation and manufacturing, Michelle explains how the philosophy of servant leadership has guided her success.

We explore how Levil Aviation is disrupting the avionics market with affordable, safety-enhancing equipment and the specific strategies Michelle uses to build a paperless, highly efficient workplace. The conversation also tackles the critical need for workforce development and how early exposure to trades can change the trajectory of students' lives.

➡️ Be sure to check out our newest show sponsor: BULBag USA!

• Servant Leadership: Being in the trenches with your team and focusing on their growth leads to a more resilient culture.
• The Appreciation Gap: Utilizing the 'Five Languages of Appreciation' to recognize employees in the way they actually want to be seen.
• Women in STEM: Overcoming industry biases by maintaining credibility and leading with knowledge.
• Early Exposure: The importance of introducing middle schoolers to CNC machining and robotics before they choose a career path.
• NORSEE Approval: A breakdown of how the FAA allows safety-enhancing equipment to reach pilots faster.

00:00 - Introduction and Michelle's diverse career journey 00:54 - Servant leadership lessons from the dentistry world 03:54 - Why workforce development energizes the team 04:54 - Moving toward paperless and digital-first operations 06:11 - Boosting morale through the Five Languages of Appreciation 08:04 - Earning respect as a woman in aviation and manufacturing 13:06 - Why middle school is the 'sweet spot' for trade exposure 19:32 - Introducing Levil Connect: The future of data collection 22:12 - Deep dive into the FAA's NORSEE approval process 28:29 - Advice for building a professional network

• Levil Aviation Official Website
• Creative Relay Media
• AviNation
• BULBag USA

What does the future of aviation really look like as we head toward 2026—and how can today’s pilots, students, and aviation dreamers prepare for it? In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker takes listeners on a forward-looking journey through the biggest shifts shaping aviation’s near future. From airline industry pressures and evolving airport experiences, to revolutionary changes in flight training and the FAA’s new MOSAIC rule, this episode is all about opportunity at a moment of pivot for aviation.

Shawn then spotlights hands-on innovation with a deep dive into the Silverlight Aviation Recon, a versatile, trailerable experimental aircraft designed to solve real-world ownership challenges like hangar shortages and rising costs—without sacrificing performance or fun. The episode wraps with expert insight from Lou Mancuso, “The Landing Doctor,” whose unconventional training philosophy has helped produce safer pilots and buttery-smooth landings through a return to fundamentals.

This episode is about innovation, accessibility, and mastery—and why the next generation of aviators has more paths into the sky than ever before.

• Airlines face mounting pressure from costs, staffing, safety, and fuel—creating a crossroads moment.

• Airports are embracing biometrics and tech, but empathy and human connection are becoming key differentiators.

• Travelers want seamless, tech-enabled experiences without losing the human touch.

• Global pilot demand remains strong due to retirements and fleet growth.

• Flight schools are integrating VR, AR, AI-powered tracking, and digital logbooks.

• Modular and accelerated training paths could get students job-ready in as little as 12 months.

• Removes weight limits for new Light Sport Aircraft designs.

• Expands LSA to allow up to four seats.

• Enables more advanced aircraft systems with proper endorsements.

• Opens new, more affordable pathways into flight training and ownership.

• Kit-built experimental aircraft with folding wings—deployable in 10–15 minutes by one person.

• Trailerable design solves hangar waitlists and storage costs.

• Configurable with nosewheel or tailwheel landing gear.

• Engine options from 100 hp to 160 hp turbocharged.

• Excellent visibility, backcountry capability, and real-world versatility.

• Taught by Lou Mancuso of Sebring Flight Academy.

• Focuses on slow flight down the runway to master sight picture.

• Emphasizes fundamentals over instruments—sometimes covering the panel entirely.

• Resulted in zero accidents, incidents, or insurance claims in eight years.

• Training resources available free online for pilots and instructors.

0:00 – 1:00 | Introduction & aviation’s crossroads heading into 2026 1:01 – 2:50 | Airports, biometrics, and the importance of empathy 2:51 – 5:16 | Flight training evolution & FAA MOSAIC rule breakdown 5:17 – 7:14 | Why 2026 is a turning point for young aviators 7:15 – 12:56 | Silverlight Aviation Recon: design, performance & ownership innovation 12:57 – 14:58 | Why the Recon makes aircraft ownership more accessible 14:59 – 17:57 | The Landing Doctor: mastering landings through fundamentals 17:58 – End | Final reflections on skill, simplicity, and the joy of flying

• Silverlight Aviation Recon: https://silverlightaviation.com/

• The Landing Doctor: https://thelandingdoctor.com/

• AviNation USA: https://www.avinationusa.com/

• Creative Relay Media: https://creativerelaymedia.com/