Drew Gryder solos ASEL, Glider, and AMEL within hours of turning 16, including leading a three-ship formation of C-150s at night.

Meet B-52 and B-2 driver USAF Lt Col (Ret) Chris "Cliff" DeVaughn!  We talked about the aircraft, its flight characteristics, and its mission.  And, more importantly, we talked about what it's like to fly long-duration missions in one of the most important strategic weapons systems in the US inventory.  All the way from the selection process through training and into combat.  This is every bit as much about the men as the machines.

The second of two episodes covering my glider rating.  Victory, defeat, ground effect, and a sock puppet.  It's all here!

Pilot, producer, and Uncontrolled Airspace co-host Jack Hodgson joins us to talk about the pilot population, flight training, the future of the aviation podsphere, and more in this nearly-two-hour conversation.  Think you know Jack?  Listen in!

Taking to the streets (and tollways) of Orlando, Florida in a T-6 with eight other aircraft for the NBAA Convention 2012.

Despite the aggressive schedule around here (glider training, trying to find a new acro ride, doing really cool legal work for the best clients on the planet, etc.), I managed to get some time this weekend to do some editing on the movie.  The result is this sneak peek, "With friends like these . . ."

The campers at both of the Acro Camp shoots were very collaborative and supportive of each other.  But that doesn't mean that there wasn't at least a little laughter with (okay, at) each other when stuff went wrong.  And stuff is bound to go wrong when you're learning to fly an aircraft whose center of gravity is behind the mains.

In the course of logging all of the footage, I've noted when both IPs were in aircraft and noted opportunities to synchronize the conversation across both cockpits.  Usually based on ATC calls or radio communication between the aircraft.  This was one such pair of sequences.  I loved the big bounce on Jim's wheel landing and I loved the reaction that it got from Barry and Lynda.  I lined them up this evening and voila!  Tailwheel magic!  

Here's an account of my glider training this year through my first glider solo on Friday.  Show notes at www.airspeedonline.com.

Here's the first trailer for Airspeed's upcoming independent documentary feature film: Acro Camp.  

Four pilots.  Two men and two women.  None has a tailwheel endorsement.  None has ever flown aerobatics.  But, last May, they came together in southeast Michigan, took over a Part 61 flight school, and flew aerobatics for the first time.  This is the story of their experience.  Captured in glorious HD and digital audio by an irregular team of pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and new-media producers.

At some point, you quit wondering, climb over the fence, and go find out.

As Airspeed completes its fifth year online, here's a peek behind the scenes at the philosophy of the show.

I got together with myTransponder.com founder Rod Rakic to talk about accelerated flight training.  Rod has done accelerated programs as a part of both his commercial and instrument training.  I did my AMEL, ASES, and DC-3 (SIC) training in accelerated programs.  And Rod and I are both graduates of the CAP National Emergency Services Academy’s Mission Aircrew School.

We talked about the benefits and drawbacks of accelerated and/or concentrated training and how best to take advantage of it.