Day three of our Story Stop Tour at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 takes us to two booths with very different products and a surprisingly similar lesson.

First, we visit ALSIM, a French company that has been building certified flight simulators since 1994. Suliman from ALSIM explains what separates a professional training simulator from the flight sim on your laptop. He covers how engineers use real flight data and computational fluid dynamics to build a sim's flight model, and why real avionics and muscle memory are shaping the future of pilot training.

Then we head to the FLYTE tent, where an Australian sunglass company built by pilots arrived at Oshkosh with no stock and no tent and still built one of the best hangouts on the field. Co-owner Mick shares how aviators learn to stay calm when the red lights come on. Filmmaker and CFI Dakota Cyhaniuk explains why practice beats talent. Airshow pilot Patrick McAlee of Team Extreme Flight goes from the kid at the fence to the pilot in the cockpit. Natalia McAlee, host of the Wonder Women of Aviation podcast, explains why she wrote a kids' book to answer her own questions about aerobatics.

• Sims aren't video games. Professional simulators are certified by aviation authorities like the FAA and EASA, so flight schools can use them for part of a student's required training.
• The flight model is the brain of the sim. ALSIM combines data from real flights with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to make its simulators respond like the real airplane.
• Muscle memory matters. Sims built with real Garmin avionics put every screen and knob where it is in the airplane, so your hands learn the cockpit before you ever fly it.
• What's next in sim training: higher-fidelity devices, mixed reality, and AI-powered tools that help both students and instructors.
• Procedures beat panic. Mick's four-word reaction to warning lights ("Don't like that much") shows how pilot training builds resilience you can use anywhere.
• Sometimes the best call is not to go. A 40-knot crosswind at Bryce Canyon turned into an overnight stay and a lifelong friendship.
• Talent is mostly practice. Dakota Cyhaniuk says his aviation films got better one shoot at a time, the same way pilots improve one landing at a time.
• Mechanics keep everyone flying. Patrick McAlee reminds young listeners that the shortage of mechanics and engineers is even bigger than the pilot shortage.
• STEM + Art = STEAM. Natalia McAlee uses books, coloring pages, and simulators to get kids off their screens and thinking.

Time

Segment

00:00

Opening: from a hangar somewhere near the flightline

01:20

Story Stop #1: ALSIM, a flight simulator company from France

03:09

Are professional sims just expensive video games?

04:21

Building a flight model: real flight data + computational fluid dynamics

06:21

The future of sim training: muscle memory, mixed reality, and AI

10:35

Story Stop #2: FLYTE, and the shipment that never arrived

12:07

"Don't like that much": Mick on staying calm when the red lights come on

13:55

Dakota Cyhaniuk on why practice beats talent

15:50

Patrick McAlee: from the kid at the fence to the airshow pilot

18:19

Natalia McAlee on aerobatics, her kids' book, and STEAM

Hear the full interviews

• AviNation YouTube channel: full-length Story Stop interviews → https://www.youtube.com/@AviNationUSA

Story Stop #1: ALSIM

• ALSIM: https://www.alsim.com/
• ALSIM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alsimflight/

Story Stop #2: FLYTE

• FLYTE sunglasses: https://flyte.aero
• Team Extreme Flight (Patrick & Natalia McAlee): https://extreme-flight.com
• Wonder Women of Aviation podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5t8NwklCL4QDjqZFqikrBV
• Dakota Cyhaniuk: Instagram @dakotacyhaniuk · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DakotaCyhaniuk

The event

• EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: https://www.eaa.org/airventure

Subscribe & review

• Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to The Future in Flight Podcast wherever you listen, and leave us a review. It helps other young aviators find the show.

Day two of the Story Stop Tour takes Jacob and Shawn straight into the action at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for three conversations that all circle the same idea: somebody has to build the thing before the next generation can use it.

First, a stop at the SUN ‘n FUN booth to trace how the Aerospace Center for Excellence turns curious kids — like the members of the Lakeland Aero Club — into licensed pilots, with insight from ACE's Eric Crump and SUN ‘n FUN CEO Gene Conrad on what it actually takes to fund that pipeline.

Then it's over to LIFT Aviation, where marketing lead Cody Wozniak explains how a single pair of shoes turned into a full line of pilot safety gear, and aerobatic performer Patrick McAlee explains exactly why he wears every piece of it.

Finally, a visit to McFarlane Aviation, where engineer Val walks through the unglamorous parts — fuel primers, shimmy dampeners, flight control cables — that quietly keep general aviation aircraft flying.

• The Aerospace Center for Excellence's mission — "engage, educate, accelerate" — funds year-round programs (Storytime, summer camps, scholarships, the Lakeland Aero Club) entirely through net proceeds from the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo
• Three Lakeland Aero Club members share how the program's glider-first training path shaped their paths in aviation — from powered flight, to aerobatics, to a seaplane rating scholarship
• SUN ‘n FUN CEO Gene Conrad breaks down the scale of running the event: 3,000+ volunteers, 62 air traffic controllers, and a "logistical ballet" that funds ACE's "other 51 weeks"
• LIFT Aviation's origin story starts with a single pair of pilot shoes at Oshkosh 11 years ago, built around a patented rudder-control heel slider
• Aerobatic pilot Patrick McAlee explains why full safety gear — helmet, fire suit, visor, gloves — isn't optional, including a firsthand account of landing after an in-flight oil line failure coated his canopy
• McFarlane Aviation's engineering team builds and bench-tests small, often-overlooked parts (fuel primers, shimmy dampeners, flight control cables) based directly on customer and pilot feedback

Time

Segment

0:00

Cold open — from the hangars at Oshkosh

0:43

Lakeland Aero Club: Blythe on gliders and stick-and-rudder training

1:18

Lakeland Aero Club: TJ on chasing aerobatics over the airlines

1:44

Lakeland Aero Club: Camille on her seaplane rating scholarship

2:35

Eric Crump on ACE's "engage, educate, accelerate" mission

5:08

Gene Conrad on running SUN ‘n FUN and funding "the other 51 weeks"

9:17

LIFT Aviation: Cody Wozniak on the company's "shoe in a box" origin

12:12

Patrick McAlee on why full safety gear isn't optional

15:34

McFarlane Aviation: Val on old-fashioned customer service

17:22

McFarlane Aviation: Val on expanding the shimmy dampener line

• • Aerospace Center for Excellence
  • SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo
  • LIFT Aviation
  • Extreme Flight — Patrick McAlee & the Blue Demon
  • McFarlane Aviation

In this episode, Shawn sits down with Rachelle Spector, founder of I HART Flying Foundation, a nonprofit scholarship organization dedicated to helping women advance, complete, and lead in aviation careers. Rachelle shares how a random Facebook message from a flight instructor in 2017 led to her first flight — and, less than a year later, to the launch of I HART Flying. Nearly ten years and almost half a million dollars in flight training support later, the organization has funded close to 50 HARTFlying scholars with a 98% completion and advancement rate. Rachelle walks through the "HARTLed" approach that sets I HART Flying apart — a completion model built on mentorship, industry connections, and ongoing support rather than a one-time check — and talks candidly about the workforce shortage driving demand for pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians industry-wide. The conversation also covers building a leadership team, the growing "HartNation" community, advice for young women entering aviation, and what keeps Rachelle up at night as the organization scales toward its ten-year milestone. The episode closes with a lighter round covering favorite in-flight snacks, dream aircraft (the F-22), and a dream co-pilot (John Travolta).

• The origin story: Rachelle never planned to be a pilot. A flight instructor cold-messaged her on Facebook in August 2017 offering a free flight — she said yes, assuming he was joking, and has been flying ever since.
• From idea to nonprofit in weeks: After pitching her "I HART Flying" concept to EAA at AirVenture in July 2017, Rachelle filed her 501(c)(3) and received her IRS letter of determination in about six weeks, awarding the first scholarship that December.
• Impact by the numbers: Nearly 50 HARTFlying scholars, almost $500,000 in flight training support, a 98% completion/advancement rate, and roughly 250 qualified applications in a recent three-week cycle.
• The HARTLed model: A completion-focused approach — advance, complete, lead — built around mentorship, strategic guidance, industry connections, and support before, during, and years after a scholarship, aimed at closing funding and continuity gaps rather than just cutting a check.
• The workforce gap: Women make up just 5.5% of the global pilot population and 2.9% of aircraft maintenance technicians; Boeing projects a need for over 700,000 new pilots in the next two decades, alongside a 30,000+ worker shortage in aircraft maintenance.
• HARTNation: More than an organization, Rachelle describes I HART Flying as a community — scholars, applicants, mentors, and supporters (including men) all championing one another, with new efforts underway like a "day in the life" social series to spotlight more journeys, not just winners.
• Leadership and expansion: I HART Flying's board and selection committee include former HARTFlying scholars and industry leaders, including a former scholar now serving as head of pilot hiring at Frontier Airlines. The organization is expanding beyond flight training ahead of a 2027 milestone.
• Advice for the next generation: Rachelle's core message — don't let anyone tell you there's something you can't do, do the work, and follow what brings you joy.

• I HART Flying Foundation: I HART Flying.org
• I HART Flying on Instagram: @ihartflying
• I HART Flying on Facebook: I HART Flying Foundation
• Aviation Careers Podcast https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/
• Aviation Start: aviationstart.org
• The Future in Flight Podcast: https://futureinflight.com/

General aviation isn't just a way to get somewhere — it's a time machine. In this episode, Shawn sits down with Kirk Fryar, co-owner of Sarasota Avionics, to talk about how flying small turns a weekend into a real weekend (lunch with mom, a concert, and back home by Sunday), how international trips like Belize become surprisingly simple with the right handler, and why "get-there-itis" is one of the most dangerous mindsets in aviation. Captain Val of Skyline Baron Pilot shares her own pre-flight discipline and how her 1976 Baron 58TC, 79er Lima, gets her home to Quebec every year after Oshkosh.

Rachelle Spector tells the story of iHeartFlying, the scholarship nonprofit she built from a single free flight into nearly $500,000 in flight training support. What started as one chance encounter at EAA AirVenture in 2017 has grown into an organization with a 98% completion rate among its scholars, driven by Rachelle's belief that the real barrier in aviation has never been talent, but continuity of support.

The episode wraps with a highlight reel from the very first Story Stop Tour at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — seven days, a dozen-plus stops, and more conversations than we can count.

• General aviation compresses travel time dramatically — Kirk flew direct from Sarasota to a tiny airport in Winchester, TN, in 2.5 hours, versus a full day of driving and connecting flights commercially.
• International GA travel is more accessible than most people think — a ground "handler" coordinates paperwork, fuel, and flight plans in advance, often arranged over WhatsApp.
• "Get-there-itis" is a real hazard — the pressure to push through bad conditions or mechanical issues instead of turning back, which Kirk experienced firsthand with a failing alternator.
• Modern avionics reduce pilot workload, not increase it — systems like Garmin's G1000NXi and autopilot suites are built with redundancy and let pilots focus on flying rather than managing instruments.
• Preparation is everything — Captain Val's ritual of checking weather, oil, fuel, and rest days ahead of a flight is what makes long trips (like her annual run to Quebec) safe and repeatable.
• One flight can change a life's trajectory — Rachelle Spector's nonprofit iHeartFlying grew from a single free flight in 2017 into an organization with a 98% completion rate among its scholars.
• The barrier in aviation is continuity, not talent — iHeartFlying's "heart-led approach" supports scholars before, during, and years after their scholarship to prevent stalling out.
• The first-ever Story Stop Tour at Oshkosh brought the show to more than a dozen partners and guests over seven days, from Michelin's aviation history to Red Bull's Aaron Fitzgerald to ultralight seaplane pilots at Air Cam.

• 00:00 — Introduction: general aviation as a "time machine"
• 00:43 — Kirk Fryar's 2.5-hour direct flight to Winchester, TN
• 01:29 — Flying internationally: handlers, paperwork, and a $400 trip to Belize
• 02:13 — "Get-there-itis" and Kirk's alternator scare
• 03:09 — How modern avionics reduce pilot workload
• 05:08 — Captain Val introduces 79er Lima, her 1976 Baron 58TC
• 06:06 — Val's annual post-Oshkosh flight home to Quebec
• 08:33 — Rachelle Spector's first free flight and the start of iHeartFlying
• 10:37 — The workforce gap: women in aviation by the numbers
• 12:29 — Story Stop Tour recap: seven days at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

• iHeartFlying (scholarships, volunteering, donations): iHeartFlying.org
• Sarasota Avionics — https://sarasotaavionics.com/
• Skyline Baron Pilot — https://www.youtube.com/c/SkylineBaronPilot
• EAA AirVenture Oshkosh https://www.eaa.org/airventure
• Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo https://flysnf.org/
• Aerospace Center for Excellence https://aceedu.org/

Show Notes: "Live From AeroSummit 2026" — Part 2

The Future in Flight Podcast

Shawn Staerker is back on the ground at AeroSummit 2026 in Miami for Part 2 of this field series, sitting down with three guests who are each closing gaps in aviation in their own way. First up, DeWuan Roberson of Bridge Air explains how a structured time-building program out of Glendale, Arizona is helping pilots bridge the gap between flight instructing and the airlines. Then Jacob Fenton of Tecnam joins Shawn to talk MOSAIC, the next generation of Tecnam's light aircraft lineup, and why the company's Italian design philosophy pairs beauty with performance. Finally, Stratus Financial co-founders Anthony Geraci and Brandon Martini share the whiteboard origin story behind their flight training finance company — and how that same instinct for community-building led them to create AeroSummit itself, plus a preview of their next event, Ascend, coming to Dallas this September.

Note: One more episode in the "Live From AeroSummit 2026" series is on the way.

Bridge Air — DeWuan Roberson

• Bridge Air operates a structured time-building program out of Glendale, Arizona, flying Pipistrel Alpha Trainers to help pilots move past the plateau around 200–300 hours toward airline minimums.
• The program flows directly into Mesa Airlines and Republic Airways, giving CFIs a clear next step once they've hit a time-building wall.
• Bridge Air flew one of its own Alpha Trainers from Glendale to Miami for AeroSummit — a roughly 29-hour cross-country flight for the fleet's 80-horsepower Rotax-powered aircraft.

Tecnam — Jacob Fenton

• Tecnam is a three-generation, family-owned Italian manufacturer where every family member — and every engineer — flies.
• The upcoming P2006T NG twin adds a third door, Rotax 912 iS engines, a new Garmin autopilot, and an ultra-lux Grand Lusso interior option; the P2008 NG will offer both 912 and 916 engine options.
• Tecnam's new Astore, built for the MOSAIC light sport category, will be the first MOSAIC aircraft to offer an in-house-developed air conditioning unit.
• Southern Cross now handles parts and service support for Tecnam's full U.S. fleet, stocking parts across multiple time zones stateside.

Stratus Financial & AeroSummit — Anthony Geraci & Brandon Martini

• Stratus Financial was born out of a whiteboard session during COVID, after Anthony (a "recovering attorney") learned to fly under Brandon's instruction and the two identified a lack of financing access for flight training.
• That same community-first philosophy led the pair to launch AeroSummit itself, built around the idea that a rising tide raises all ships across the industry.
• Stratus, AeroSummit, and NAFI (the National Association of Flight Instructors) are partnering on Ascend, a new event coming to Dallas this September, priced affordably for students and flight instructors.
• Both founders see MOSAIC and Part 141 modernization as catalysts for a coming "aviation renaissance" — more affordable aircraft, more accessible training, and a growing need for pilots even as new technologies like supersonic and point-to-point travel emerge.

• 00:00 — Cold Open: Live from AeroSummit 2026, Miami
• 01:30 — Intro to Bridge Air and DeWuan Roberson
• 02:15 — Interview: DeWuan Roberson, Bridge Air — time-building program, Pipistrel fleet, industry outlook
• 11:58 — Intro to Tecnam and Jacob Fenton
• 12:43 — Interview: Jacob Fenton, Tecnam — MOSAIC lineup, next-gen aircraft, family company legacy
• 29:58 — Intro to Stratus Financial / AeroSummit founders
• 30:43 — Interview: Anthony Geraci & Brandon Martini — Stratus Financial origin story, AeroSummit, Ascend preview
• 43:43 — Show Close: recap, series preview, subscribe & review CTA

• Bridge Air: bridge-air.net
• Tecnam: tecnam.com
• Stratus Financial / AeroSummit: stratusaerosummit.com
• Ascend Flight Training Conference: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com/
• AviNation USA: avinationusa.com

What do a country music star, the world's greatest aviation celebration, and an AI-powered weather planning platform have in common? They all prove that aviation is about far more than airplanes—it's about people, purpose, and possibility.

In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, Shawn Staerker sits down with Nick Hoffman—country music artist, television host, and passionate pilot—to explore how childhood dreams, resilience, and a love of flying shaped his remarkable journey. Nick shares stories from growing up around aviation, overcoming rejection to build a successful entertainment career, earning his pilot certificate through determination, and finding peace in the cockpit.

Then, Shawn is joined by Dick Knapinski, Director of Communications for EAA, along with Jacob Peed, Editor-in-Chief of AviNation Magazine, for a preview of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. From KidVenture and Learn to Fly programs to unforgettable aircraft arrivals and the welcoming aviation community, they explain why AirVenture remains the world's premier aviation gathering.

The episode wraps with a spotlight on PlaneWX, where founder Mark Wolfgang discusses how artificial intelligence is helping pilots make smarter weather decisions days before departure, reducing risk and improving flight planning through personalized forecasting and mentorship.

• Nick Hoffman reflects on growing up immersed in aviation through family projects and annual trips to Oshkosh.
• How rejection early in life became the motivation that fueled Nick's successful music and television career.
• The creative ways Nick earned his pilot certificate by working at a local flight school.
• Why flying provides mental clarity, focus, and spiritual renewal.
• Nick discusses his song "Runways, Wings & Gasoline" and what aviation means to him.
• A conversation about hearing protection, cockpit fatigue, and why Nick trusts the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset.
• Nick introduces his "Deathbed Mentality" philosophy for living a life without regrets.
• Dick Knapinski shares what makes EAA AirVenture Oshkosh unlike any other aviation event in the world.
• An inside look at KidVenture, Learn to Fly Center, workshops, forums, and AirVenture's impact on future aviators.
• Mark Wolfgang explains how PlaneWX combines AI, FAA weather products, aircraft performance, and pilot minimums to simplify weather planning.
• How PlaneWX helps pilots reduce external pressures through early trip monitoring, passenger notifications, and mentor support.

00:00 – Introducing Nick Hoffman: Music, television, and aviation collide

03:00 – Learning to fly, finding peace in the cockpit, and the story behind Runways, Wings & Gasoline

05:30 – Protecting your hearing with the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset

07:20 – Living with the "Deathbed Mentality" and saying yes to adventure

10:40 – EAA AirVenture 2026 preview with Dick Knapinski and Jacob Peed

14:20 – KidVenture, Learn to Fly, and inspiring aviation's next generation

18:00 – PlaneWX: AI-powered weather planning with Mark Wolfgang

22:30 – Personalized weather briefings, pilot mentorship, and reducing flight risk

Nick Hoffman

• YouTube, Facebook & Instagram: Nick's Wild Ride
• Music: Runways, Wings & Gasoline

Lightspeed Aviation

• https://www.lightspeedaviation.com

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

• https://www.eaa.org/airventure

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)

• https://www.eaa.org

PlaneWX

• https://planewx.ai

AviNation Magazine

• https://www.avinationusa.com

In the first installment of our special three-part Live from AeroSummit 2026 series, host Shawn Staerker sits down with three aviation leaders who are tackling one of the most overlooked aspects of flight training and pilot development: the human element.

Former A-10 pilot and mental performance coach Tammy Barlette explains why emotions, confidence, and self-awareness are critical aviation skills that deserve as much attention as stick-and-rudder proficiency. F-15E pilot, airline captain, and human factors expert Brandon Williams explores the power of debrief culture and how understanding human factors can dramatically improve safety, performance, and decision-making. Finally, Fly Orca founder and flight test engineer Adriana Barrigan shares how student pilots can reduce wasted time and money in training by taking ownership of the learning process and leveraging data-driven tools to improve efficiency.

Though their backgrounds differ, all three guests arrive at the same conclusion: better pilots start with better self-awareness, better reflection, and better habits.

• Former A-10 pilot Tammy Barlette discusses the role of mental performance training in aviation.
• Why emotions can serve as an "early warning radar" for pilots.
• The importance of self-awareness, confidence, and recovering from mistakes.
• How military-style debriefing creates measurable performance improvements.
• Brandon Williams explains human factors and why pilots make mistakes.
• The concept of "Hack the Clock" as a tool to overcome startle response and regain composure.
• Why debrief culture remains underutilized in general aviation flight training.
• Adriana Barrigan shares how Fly Orca helps student pilots identify inefficiencies and reduce training costs.
• The average student pilot may waste $5,000–$10,000 during flight training due to preventable inefficiencies.
• A common theme emerges from all three interviews: take ownership of your progress, reflect honestly, and continuously improve.

00:00 – Welcome to AeroSummit 2026 and introduction to today's guests

02:45 – Tammy Barlette: From Air Force pilot to mental performance coach

09:15 – Managing pressure, confidence, and emotions in aviation

14:35 – Why debriefing is one of the most powerful tools for improvement

18:30 – Brandon Williams joins the show: Human factors and aviation safety

31:00 – "Hack the Clock": Managing startle response and high-pressure situations

36:20 – Adriana Barrigan discusses FlyORKA and improving flight training efficiency

43:30 – Debrief culture, student pilot success, and taking ownership of your training

Featured Guests:

Tammy Barlette – Cross Check Mental Performance Cross Check Mental Performance

Brandon Williams Brandon Williams Speaker

Adriana Barrigan & FlyORKA FlyORKA

Check out:

• The Future in Flight Podcast
• AviNation USA
• Stratus Financial

Quote of the Episode: "Know yourself. Debrief honestly. Take ownership of your progress." — The common thread connecting all three AeroSummit conversations.