Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's

As one of the few people to ever fly an airshow at Oshkosh, a competition aerobatic routine, and a Red Bull Air Race, Michael Goulian has a unique perspective on flying at the edge of the envelope. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes to share how he prepares both physically and mentally for a performance, what’s unique about modern aerobatic airplanes, and what his favorite maneuver is. Michael is also a longtime flight instructor and flight school owner, so he connects the intense focus of the airshow world to the job of a primary flight instructor, with tips for improving stick and rudder skills in the age of glass cockpits. In the Ready to Copy segment, he talks about his favorite fly-in destination in New England, his pre-show playlist, and golf.SHOW LINKS:* Mike Goulian Aviation: https://mikegoulianaviation.com/* Goulian Aerosports: https://mikegoulian.com/* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://www.sportys.com/pj2-gps-radio.html

Legendary instructor Doug Stewart has a lot of strong opinions about flight training, from inadvertent IMC maneuvers to instrument procedures to engine failures. In this episode, Doug offers a sweeping view of the flight instructor’s role, with practical advice for pilots and instructors alike. Doug is also an active pilot examiner, so he shares checkride tips and tricks based on his decades of experience. In the Ready to Copy segment, Doug talks about flight simulators, bad communication habits, jazz musicians, and lessons from cycling.SHOW LINKS:* Doug Stewart Flight Instruction: https://www.dsflight.com/* Improving on the 180-degree turn: https://www.dsflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/VMC-INTO-IMC-Mindstar.pdf* Pilot’s Tip of the Week: https://pilotworkshop.com/tip

As an astronaut for Virgin Galactic, Mike Masucci flies one of the most unique aircraft ever built, but at the end of the day he says his job is to be a great glider pilot. In this fascinating episode, he takes us inside the spaceship to describe what it’s like to see Earth from above, what it sounds like in space, and how he guides the aircraft back to a safe landing. Mike also spent many years flying the U-2 in the Air Force and the Citation X for a fractional provider, and he shares lessons learned from both jobs. In the Ready to Copy segment, Mike talks about test pilot school, staying awake on long flights, and tips for flight instructors.SHOW LINKS:* Virgin Galactic: https://www.virgingalactic.com/* Tim Decker episode: https://www.sportys.com/blog/episode-56-fuel-management-and-flying-the-u-2-with-tim-decker/* Pilot’s Tip of the Week: https://pilotworkshop.com/tip