The Student Pilot Cast

In Episode 85, we join Bill and Kent as they talk about how to expand the envelope of your flying. In other words, how to fly good and not suck...or at least get better and reduce your personal minimums. Links:Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 84, we join Bill and Kent again for another Beyond the Checkride segment. In this one we talk about getting out there on the proverbial open road, and going places with GA, in whatever airplane you have access to. Hope you enjoy our discussion on cross country flying and expanding your comfort zone a bit.Links:Video of this Episode - Video version of Episode of SPC #84.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 83, we go back to the days of the Pilotcast. Due to the tragic events of the past weekend, we wanted to re-release a Pilotcast Episode from 2018 where Kent, Tiffany, and Bill interview Aerobatic Champion and Airshow start Rob Holland. Rob tragically was killed this in an aviation accident a few days ago and since the Pilotcast is no longer hosted anywhere, we wanted to get this content back out and available to the world, so I'm releasing it again, in it's entirety, as a throwback SPC episode. We hope you enjoy it. Remember, fly good and don't suck.Links:Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

Welcome back SPC listeners and Merry Christmas! In this special Christmas day episode, hosts Bill and Kent delve into the pilot's lifeline – checklists. Episode 82 of the Student Pilot Cast titled 'Making a List and Checking it Twice...or Never' brings forth a comprehensive discussion on the importance of good checklist habits beyond the checkride. They debate the utility and design of checklists, discuss personal anecdotes, and offer insight on the pros and cons of electronic versus paper checklists. This episode is a must-listen for both new and experienced pilots who want to improve their safety and efficiency in the cockpit. Join the conversation and share your thoughts!Links:Goose, your Digital Co-PilotHope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 81 Bill goes on location to interview some of the guys who started a new flight school recently. Legion Air wants to teach people to be the best aviators they can be, so let's find out what makes them tick, what their approach is, and how to turn a large fortune into a small fortune in aviation.Links:Private Pilot ACS - Mentioned in the episode, this is the Airman Certification Standards document that is the roadmap to the Private Pilot checkride.Airline & Commercial Pilot Training Programs / ATP Flight School - Since it's mentioned several times, if you want to know more about ATP, this is your link to their official website.Legion Air - Find out more about the new flight school, Legion Air.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 80 of the Student Pilot Cast we reunite with Nick Smith from Part Time Pilot to discuss the latest developments in his online ground school platform. We explore the addition of new features, such as an IFR ground school and a mobile app, and delve into the challenges of aviation training. Host Bill shares his journey to becoming a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), offering insights and updates along the way. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of aviation education and learn how Part Time Pilot is making flight training more accessible and efficient. See the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/97O5VzO1kZc Links:Video Version of Episode 80Part Time Pilot Online Flight Training & Ground School - Check out Nick's excellent ground school.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 79, we join Bill and guest host Tiffany Wolf as they navigate the flight path of AI with an interview with Alex List of FlyShirley.com. Fly Shirley is a tech startup dedicated to using AI for aviation. While we are in the infancy of this technology as it pertains to aviation, the conversation with Alex is very interesting as we dive into the possibilities, where they are currently at with their product, and what's to come. Links:FlyShirley by Airplane.team - Check out the company and the FlyShirley product.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time.  Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying.  If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2025, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 78, we go back in time a bit. Back when Bill was a brand new pilot and was transitioning into a couple of new airplanes. The Cessna 182 has become one of my favorites and because it's coming up again for me right now, it got me thinking about my original transition into the 182 and my High Performance endorsement. I explain in the episode why, but I wanted to revisit that training during my transition for a couple of episodes.This episode also includes a Beyond the Checkride segment where Kent and Bill dive into descent planning for pilots. In this episode, they cover crucial techniques, from using avionics and EFBs to understanding rules of thumb and managing passenger comfort. Whether it's the mathematics involved or leveraging tools like Foreflight, get ready for a some tips on making your descent smooth and safe. Perfect for both seasoned aviators and those just starting their journey. See the video version of the segment here.Links:YouTube link for this episode's Beyond The Checkride segment on Descent Planning: https://youtu.be/Q19Drsd3xfgHope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

Join us in this 'Beyond the Checkride' only episode of the Student Pilot Cast with hosts Kent Shook and Bill Williams as they delve into the intricacies of logging Pilot in Command (PIC) time. They discuss the nuances of FAA regulations, personal flying experiences, and scenarios like instructor flights, safety pilot roles, and questions around cross-country time. Learn how to navigate the complex rules and ensure your logbook entries are accurate. Perfect for student pilots and seasoned aviators alike, this episode is essential for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of flight logging. See the video version of this segment here: https://youtu.be/BGtVT_Sn9QoLinks:Link to the Video of this Beyond the Checkride SegmentForeFlight - Integrated Flight App for Pilots - We talk a bit about using Foreflight Logbook for logging flights.Federal Register :: ECFR - This is the link to the online federal regulations, including the FARs.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 76 of The Student Pilot Cast, host Bill recounts a challenginginstrument training flight under the guidance of instructor Eddie. The flightproved difficult due to busier-than-usual airport conditions, turbulence, andBill's struggle to stay ahead of the airplane. Flying under the hood, Billfaced issues with altitude management and task saturation, emphasizing theimportance of staying current and proficient. Despite the hectic experience,Bill reflects on the essential lessons learned about maintaining focus,prioritizing tasks, and the constant need for practice in aviation.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 75, we join Bill as he does another instrument training flight, more instrument pattern flying for practice, and an all new Beyond the Checkride Segment about buttoning up the airplane when doing cross country flying, or even at home. Enjoy.Links:Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 74, we join Bill as he finishes up his first "under the hood" instrument training flight. We also include a 'Beyond the Checkride' segment on fueling your airplane which is something many new pilots were never taught before the checkride.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 73, we join Bill as he starts his training under the hood for simulated IMC. We also introduce a new segment in this week's episode, "Beyond the Checkride". In this edition of the segment a special guest and I will talk about our first topic for actual, real-world flying that maybe weren't taught in flight school.Links:Aviation Performance Solutions | Upset Prevention & Recovery SolutionsHope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 72, we join Bill as he embarks on his instrument rating. This is the first flight lesson in that endeavor as he gets familiar with the airplane and a new instructor.Links:Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 71, we join Bill as he as he catches up with Nexair Avionics after 15 years, and we talk about the G3 Cirrus SR-22 Turbo that they've updated and have for sale.Links:Video Version of the Episode: https://youtu.be/WvtUix8JLmYHope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 70, sit down with Bill and talk all about some upcoming plans for Airventure, for the podcast, and this episode includes a BIG announcement, so enjoy.This episode has a video version as well which can be found HERE.Links:Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 69, we join Bill as he finishes up his flight review after a long hiatus from flying and is once again legal to fly. Watch out as the world's okayest pilot starts hitting altitude again. I definitely needed a lot more practice, but I knew I was headed directly into my instrument training so I would get plenty of that before I went solo, most likely.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact formon the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 68, we join Bill as he finishes flight one of his Flight Review with Ryan on his way back to being a pilot.Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

In Episode 67 we join Bill as he becomes a pilot again after an 11-year break from flying. This is the first part of his first flight review flight back after the hiatus. It's full of re-learning and discovery, and we're happy to have you back along with me in the cockpit as I try to shake off the cobwebs and get back to it.Links:Piper PA-28 Cherokee - WikipediaFalcon Field Airport (KFFZ)Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening! Visit the SPC website at https://studentpilotcast.com. Please keep the feedback coming. You can use the contact form on the website or send email to bill at student pilot cast dot com. The theme song for our episodes is "To Be an Angel" by the band, "Uncle Seth".Legal Notice: Remember, any instruction that you hear in this podcast was meant for me and me alone in the situation that we happened to be in at the time. Please do not try to apply anything you see or hear in this episode or any other episode to your own flying. If you have questions about any aspect of your flying, please consult a qualified CFI.Copyright 2008-2024, studentpilotcast.com and Bill Williams

Today we talk about legacy, and legends of aviation. I recently found some old audio in the SPC archives from OSH 2011, and it brought me back, got me thinking about the legacy of some of the people we sometimes get to cross paths with. Some are important to the world and some are important more to us and a few others. In any case, I wanted to let you guys hear this audio, too. I hope you like it. Some notes from the show.Jo Hunter’s Video of her Breezy Flight: #OSH11 Breezy Flight“There I was” AOPA podcast of Gabrielle’s Mid-Air (Choose Episode 20): https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/podcasts/podcasts/there-i-wasIn the Pattern Podcast: In The Pattern PodcastA Pilot’s Journey podcast: Pilot’s Journey Podcast (pilotsjourneypodcast.com)

Welcome back, SPC listeners.  I’m super happy to bring you a chat with Dan Justman from the airplane Owners and Pilots Association, or AOPA, about their program designed to help part 61 students and instructors with their training.AOPA is trying to tackle what is likely part of the reason so many people quit pilot training before achieving their certificate by organizing the flight training process and making it more transparent and predictable, even in a part 61 setting.  With their AOPA Flight Training Advantage program, or AFTA, they are hoping to make flight training more enjoyable for both the student and the CFI, and make the process a little bit easier, more predictable, and more streamlined…thus saving time, money, and hopefully helping a few additional people earn their certificate. I hope you enjoy this one.More information about AFTA can be found here: AOPA Flight Training Advantage – AOPAThere is a demo of the product that will be released shortly as a video episode, but also on our YouTube channel. Both links will be added below and on the website when published.

For this episode I got a chance to talk to Nick Smith from Part Time Pilot, an online private pilot ground school that packs a lot of personalized value into a rather inexpensive service. Learn about how he’s taking a more personal approach to online training and also learn how to get a discounted price on Part Time Pilot which will last a lifetime.For the tricks on discounts check this out from Nick:If just getting started and wondering how to do it we have the step by step 5 day challenge to get started as a student pilot:  https://bit.ly/3dJH5sXIf already started and getting into your ground training or flight planning we have a free step-by-step cross-country planning guide:  https://bit.ly/3wgosmGOnce you opt-in to either of those you will immediately get an email with your free content. For the free cross-country guide your 1st couple emails will have the links in the email to get the $50 off. For the 5-day challenge the link will be in the Day 5 email. Find out more about the service:On the web: https://parttimepilot.com/.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/part.time.pilot/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/parttimepilot

This is the audio version of the Student Pilot Cast audio Episode 63. The video version of this can be found in the video feed of this podcast, or in highest resolution on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/-GhDPNoQcj4In this episode I get to talk to Mark Palm, the CEO and Co-Founder of Samaritan Aviation, a humanitarian organization who help people out in Papua New Guinea. Mark gives us a bit of the history or the org, the operations, and a quick tour of the aircraft they are using. Samaritan Aviation can be found on the web here: https://samaritanaviation.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samaritanaviation Instagram: https://instagram.com/samaritanaviation/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SamaritanAviation_ You can find out more about the Student Pilot Cast here: Web: https://studentpilotcast.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/billwil Audio RSS Feed: https://studentpilotcast.org/rss Video RSS Feed: https://studentpilotcast.com/video-rss

The state of Oklahoma has gotten serious about aviation, STEM education, and the whole aeronautics industry. I talk here briefly with Grayson Ardies, Director of the Oklahoma Aeronautical Commision, about what the state is doing to further aviation education and aeronautics in general in the state. This is the audio version of podcast episode 62, but there is a video version as well in the video feed as episode 6B.The video can also (and at higher quality) be found on our YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/FhNjxBVpZU4 The State of Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission website is here: https://oac.ok.gov/

The state of Oklahoma has gotten serious about aviation, STEM education, and the whole aeronautics industry. I caught up with a High School teacher in Oklahoma, Chris Eckler, to talk about what he’s doing in his school district with regard to Aviation Education and how he fell in love with Aviation in the process. He caught the bug and trained to be a pilot himself just ahead of his students.More information on the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission can be found here: https://oac.ok.gov/There is also a video edition of this episode that can be found in the video RSS feed as well as on our new YouTube Channel! Here is a link to the video for this episode: https://youtu.be/wJN44tWHDto

In this episode I have an impromptu conversation with Celia Oakley of Opener. We had been hearing about their electric STOL aircraft but hadn’t planned on doing a feature on it until my crew took a spin in their 3D simulator and we found the evolution and the atypical flight characteristics of the BlackFly interesting…so we started asking some questions, and with the permission of Celia, got a bit of the conversation here. This is also a video episode should you find that interesting. The video can be found in the video podcast feed or on our brand-new YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/cijxyS4E1HEMore information on Opener and the BlackFly aircraft can be found here: https://opener.aero. You can find out more about the Student Pilot Cast here: Web: https://studentpilotcast.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/billwilAudio RSS Feed: https://studentpilotcast.org/rssVideo RSS Feed: https://studentpilotcast.com/video-rss

In this episode I catch up with Laura and Jay of Infinite Flight to talk about their flight simulator. We cover what it is, how it started, is it a tool or a game, and what’s coming next. This is a fun discussion about something I hadn’t really been keeping up on the last decade or so; the flight sim world, and what I love about Infinite Flight is how easy it is to get started and use it wherever you might be. It’s a far cry from the traditional desktop sims which require big, expensive computers and big, expensive accessories. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This is also a video episode. The video can be found in the video podcast feed or on our brand new YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/cijxyS4E1HEInfinite Flight can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for your tablets and phones. Also, more information on Infinite Flight here: Web: https://infiniteflight.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/infiniteflightInstagram: https://instagram.com/infiniteflightFacebook: https://facebook.com/infiniteflightYouTube: https://youtube.com/infiniteflightYou can find out more about the Student Pilot Cast here: Web: https://studentpilotcast.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/billwilAudio RSS Feed: https://studentpilotcast.org/rssVideo RSS Feed: https://studentpilotcast.com/video-rss f5G2ycSSL6LMvbL2OZGu

We finally make it to Showlow the morning after our diversion to Payson. I categorized this flight as a grateful nod to aviation and I dive into how I was feeling at this point in my flying career. I hope you enjoy this flight.

This one is awesome for me. I got to take my wife on our first mission together to the high country of Arizona for a weekend away with friends. Being the PIC on these flights was teaching me a lot, and on this day I had some weather decisions to make. Follow along as we have this flying adventure together.

CORRECTION and UPDATE: I had published the episode 55 audio as episode 56 in error. On July 6th, 2022, I realized the mistake, and have updated this episode release with the correct file. Sorry for the inconvenience.Episode Description: Back to a cockpit audio episode this week, but you may be asking what it is since I finished my primary training episodes. Well, this is an Oshkosh arrival, the part two to the departure we did last week in episode 55. More explanation when we get into the episode…but I hope you enjoy.

Back to a cockpit audio episode this week, but you may be asking what it is since I finished my primary training episodes. Well, this is an Oshkosh departure and next week we’ll do an arrival…and yes, in that order. More explanation when we get into the episode…but I hope you enjoy.

This episode is an interview with Stu Stevenson, Co-Owner of Thrust Flight, an ab initio flight school in the Dallas area with additional locations on the horizon. Stu is also one of the co-hosts and the creator of A Pilot’s Journey Podcast, and is a CFI, ATP, and generally great guy.In this discussion with Stu we will cover all sorts of cool topics from Stu’s own training to how he and his business partner are running their flight and mechanic school today. We’ll talk about their Zero Time to Airline program, the pilot shortage, and a lot of other great hangar flying.Links:Thrust Flight (https://www.thrustflight.com/)A Pilot’s Journey Podcast (https://pilotsjourneypodcast.com/blog/)Stu’s LinkedIn Page ((99+) Stuart Stevenson | LinkedIn)Stu’s Twitter (Stuart Stevenson (@PilotStu) / Twitter)

Welcome back SPC listeners.  Big day today…time for my check ride.  It’s finally here…and after all these years, we’ll finally figure out if I made it or not.  Hope you enjoy Episode 53, “Checking my Ride.”Yup, the time had finally come to see if I had learned what I needed to learn to be able to move on to the next phase of my flying. This was a big one for me.

Back to my training, we’ll be doing the second half of my makeup flight.  This is the continuation of the flight from Episode 50.  Enjoy episode 52, “Am I Ready Yet?” I was only a few days from my rescheduled check ride, and I was getting even more nervous and excited. Glad you can join me for this one.

This week week’s episode is something a little different.  We’ll get back to part two of my Instrument make-up flight next week, but I wanted to throw in the audio from a sit-down I had with an old friend and colleague, Tim Omta, when we recently re-connected after several years because of aviation.  He had let me know that he had just learned to fly last year but I didn’t know a lot of details, and I purposely held off asking for them until we had a chance to sit down and talk with the audio being recorded.  Tim has a bit of a different back-story for his aviation interest, and in my opinion has some pretty interesting reasons for seeing his training through.  It was a very enjoyable conversation for me, and I hope you have a good time as well. Enjoy.Tim completed his first solo flight one year to the day before our discussion.

This is episode 50, where you may have been expecting an episode about my check ride, but alas, there was a bit of a snag, so you can get all of the information in this week’s episode. This episode will include part one of some makeup flying and we even go and land at Pinal Airpark to look at some mothballed airplanes. Believe it or not, it was a fun, relaxing flight, but I’ll be back to stressing about the check ride soon enough. Hope you enjoy episode 50.

In this episode we’ll cover a quick flight to get the additional .3 hours I needed to be ready for my check ride. The previous day I had 3 flights (see episodes 46, 47, and 48 for those). Today I would do this one flight, and be studying like crazy for my oral and check ride the next morning. I also was going to try to get to bed early so I would be ready the next day. But today, I needed some hood time…thus this episode.

For this episode we’ll be doing a dual flight with Lary, getting some of that hood time I needed, and practicing a takeoff under the hood. We’d be flying in N81658. Keep in mind this is now my 3rd training flight of the day and the fourth in the past two days. To recap, I had a solo flight in the morning (see episode 46) where I practiced the stuff I had gone over the day before with my instructor, Lary (see episode 45 for that), and then I had done my fourth and final stage check in the early afternoon (that one is episode 47). Now, in the late afternoon, I was doing another flight with Lary. I was getting very tired as you can imagine. It was late enough that it was no longer getting hotter at least, but it was still well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Hope you enjoy the episode.

In this episode I’ll be taking you along for my fourth and final stage check with one of the chief pilots. This stage check, if successfully completed, would mark the end of my primary training and I would then be ready for my check ride with an examiner.  Of course, as I’ve already mentioned, I would have a couple more flights after this just to get my hood time in and also to do some last-minute prep and practice.Enjoy Episode 47.

Welcome back SPC listeners…this flight was the day after my dual flight with Lary from the last episode, episode 45, and I would be doing some solo practice on the same things, short and soft takeoffs and landings.  I’d be staying in the pattern for this solo.  Hope you enjoy Episode 46 – The Last Solo.

In this episode, just three days after my last solo covered in episode 44, I was back in the cockpit with my instructor, Lary, and along for the ride on this one was my oldest Son who was around 10 at the time. We would stay in the pattern for practicing short and soft field landings and takeoffs, as well as an engine out drill in the pattern. It was a great flight, and I was getting close to my check ride, and I was getting excited and nervous. It was getting close.This was a morning flight, thank goodness. I’d be flying in N9126M. Enjoy the episode.

Today I’d be flying in 2148Y on a solo flight to practice ground reference maneuvers as well as practicing some short and soft field landings. In fact, according to my part 141 training curriculum, this would just be my second to last solo flight before my check ride. We will see what actually happens, but I knew that my primary training was coming to an end. In fact, this was passed the middle of July and I was trying to pass my oral and my check ride before I would go to Oshkosh for Airventure 2008; my first trip there. And I would be going as one of the handful of aviation podcasters at the time. I would be leaving on a commercial flight Monday, July 28th in the evening, and this solo flight was 10 days prior to that…so I would need to finish up my training pretty quick, make sure I was ready, and pass my checkride to make it by the time I left. So these flights were important to me because I needed the practice to get where I wanted to be to make my check ride date, which was scheduled for 6 days away, on the 24th. After this flight my curriculum had me taking 5 more flights over those six days, so it would be a whirlwind. In fact, I would be taking the next Tuesday off of work to do a dual flight, a solo flight, and a stage check all in one day to make sure I would make it, but we’ll get to that in future episodes.

Dropping episode 43 today, where I take you a long on a dual flight with Lary, my instructor, but I have two small visitors today as well. This episode is a bit nostalgic for me as I had my two youngest kids with me; ages 8 and 6. Of course, they’re adults now as this was way back in 2008 when I was doing my primary training. I’m such a washout with these episodes.I hope you enjoy this one…at least a little better than my poor boys did near the end. It was a very hot afternoon flight and we were doing ground reference maneuvers down low. Well, you can imagine, I’m sure. Don’t worry, they still love flying. And so do I, it turns out. Enjoy episode 43.

Wow…what is this? Another episode of the Student Pilot Cast?!?! After all this time? Well, yes…let’s at least get through my primary training before another hiatus, shall we? Actually, I’ve got some plans even after that, so let’s see how it goes.In this episode I’ll take you along on a solo flight where I practiced Short and Soft Field Landings, Minimum Controllable Airspeed, Power off and power on Stalls (with turns), and a few more things.I started to notice some of the little things; things in the back of my head that stood out because they weren’t right even if I wasn’t paying that much attention to them. I started to notice that my situational awareness was getting more keen and I was just getting more used to what I expected to happen; I was anticipating more and more, and feeling much more comfortable. And I was still exhilarated by solo flights being the sole pilot responsible for the flight. This was a fun one, so come along with me as I get closer and closer to becoming a pilot.

Hello, everyone. This is episode 40 of the Student Pilot Cast, The Anonymous CFI. This is a bit more brief than most episodes because I never got permission from the CFI I flew with this day to publish the content, so I’m sorry to say that any cockpit audio with the CFIs voice or instruction is not included in the episode…and of course I don’t say who it is. It’s the anonymous CFI episode, of course. Not to worry, though…this is the only time I flew with this particular instructor, so should be the only time this happens. In the future, for any future training I do, I will try to get permission. Apologies.That said, in this episode I get to do some practice maneuvers, including shorts and softs, steep turns, hood work, minimum controllable airspeed, and both power on and off stalls. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot. I’ve said before that I liked flying with different instructors because it kept me on my toes, as well as always taught me something since everyone has a different style.I hope you enjoy this one. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me and let me know what you’re doing in aviation.

Look! Less than a week and another episode!  This is my return flight on my long solo cross country flight from Prescott (KPRC) to Chandler (KCHD) via Wickenburg (E25).  I transition a bit of the southern portion of the PHX Class B airspace as well.This was a great flight.  I made a few mistakes that were good learning experiences, but most of all I was happy to be back in the cockpit alone to enjoy some real flying.  I got to fly in both busy airspace as well as pretty remote, uncrowded airspace.For the first leg of this flight, see Episode #39 of the podcast.Thanks for listening.  Don’t forget to let me know what you’re doing in aviation, what you’re learning, and of course give me feedback on the podcast.  You can send me email, use the contact link on the website (https://studentpilotcast.com/contact/), or find me on Twitter at @billwil.  Thanks for listening, everyone. I hope to hear from you, and I hope you’re enjoying the podcast.This is the corrected link to the media file (the original publication had the wrong media file linked).Close up of the route (TAC)Overall route on this leg.

I’m back releasing podcast after my much too long hiatus.  Sorry for the delay, everyone.This is the first part of my long solo cross country flight which followed my stage III check.  I fly from Chandler (KCHD) west and north through the PHX class B airspace, and then on to the busy Prescott (KPRC) airport, which is home of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.Remember, you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/billwil. I hope you enjoy the episode.  Please send feedback.

Welcome back, SPC listeners.  I’m glad to be back with you for another experience on my road to becoming a private pilot.  Today you’ll be coming along as I complete my 3rd stage check out of four.  As you know from my previous few episodes, I’d been preparing for this.  As I also have mentioned before, I had spent the previous 4 days training for this stage check, including a makeup solo the morning of this check which you can hear all about in episode 37.  So finally here we are, ready to get passed off to one of the chief pilots to make sure I’m ready to enter the fourth and final stage of my training.

This is episode 37 of the Student Pilot Cast. Join me as I take a solo makup flight in some windy conditions the morning of my Stage III Check. In this flight I stay in the pattern and practice performance landings and takeoffs. As the flight went on, the wind kept getting worse and worse to the point that I ended up landing in a crosswind that was close to the max demonstrated crosswind component of the aircraft. Fun stuff. Don’t forget to check out Air Freddy’s Learning to Fly Guide. Air Freddy is a very experienced CFI who has writtend a great guide to getting started in the flight training game. I’ve read the book and wished that I would have known about it before I started…so I’m passing it along to you if you’re interested. By using the link I’m providing here the Student Pilot Cast will get the referral credit, so please do use this link.  Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy this episode.

It’s that time again…now that we’re home from Oshkosh, it’s time to share this year’s edition of Podapalooza.  This was recorded live on EAA Radio on Friday, July 30th, 2010.  Enjoy.