Air Facts Podcast: The Story Behind the Story
Welcome to the Air Facts Podcast: The Story Behind the Story, where we go beyond the written word to bring you the voices and experiences behind the articles you read at AirFactsJournal.com.
Today, the heart of Air Facts is you—the pilot. Whether you’re telling the story or offering thoughtful comments, you have lots of interesting stories to tell. And that’s where this podcast comes in. Each episode, we sit down with Air Facts contributors to learn more about them and to hear the story behind their story. What inspired them to write it? What lessons did they take away? And what can we all learn from their experience?
So, whether you’re tuning in from your car, your couch, or in cruise, welcome and now let’s sit back, relax, and join us for the Air Facts Podcast: The Story Behind the Story.
And please be sure to subscribe for podcast updates and our free email newsletter.
Episode 09: When Special VFR is the Right Call with Adam Boyd
Special VFR is often treated like a footnote in ground school—something you can do, but probably never will. In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we talk with Adam Boyd, 2025 National CFI of the Year, about why that mindset may be incomplete.
Adam is an ATP, three-time Master CFI, Designated Pilot Examiner, and C-130 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot with the Arkansas Air National Guard. With more than 26 years of flying experience, he’s logged time everywhere from small-town North Carolina to the Pacific and beyond. But it was a recent departure in his RV-4 under a stubborn 900-foot ceiling that reshaped how he thinks about Special VFR.
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On a winter night IFR flight home in his Mooney, fatigue, hunger, and deteriorating weather quietly stacked the odds against pilot Bob Hamilton. As ceilings dropped, icing threatened, and options disappeared, Bob was forced to confront a chain of decisions that led to one of the most intense moments of his flying career—saying “unable” to ATC and trusting his judgment to get the airplane safely on the ground. In this candid conversation, Bob reflects on what went wrong, what he learned, and how that fateful night reshaped his approach to IMSAFE, personal minimums, and risk management.
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Episode 07: Fate, Freezing Rain, and a Captain’s Decision with Chris Schaich
When freezing rain turns a routine regional flight into a life-or-death approach, airline captain Chris Schaich must make a split-second decision: divert into worsening weather or press on toward a runway he can’t yet see. In this gripping conversation, Chris shares what it’s like to face severe icing in the Saab 340, what he learned from the experience, and how fate—and solid airmanship—helped bring everyone home.
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Episode 06: Flying for the Joy of It with Serrhel Adams
In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast, we talk with longtime contributor Dr. Serrhel Adams about his widely discussed article, Mea Culpa: Confessions of a Joyful Pilot. The piece struck a chord with readers for its honest reflection on why flying should sometimes be about joy—not just procedures and precision. Serrhel shares how his Cub flights over Northwest Arkansas help him reconnect with the wonder of flight, why safety and enjoyment don’t have to be opposites, and how his aviation photography captures that same spirit of freedom.
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Episode 05: Effective Crew Resource Management with Capt. Mario Jimenez
In this episode of the Airfacts Podcast, we delve into the critical role of character and discipline in crew resource management with pilot and human factors expert, Capt. Mario Jimenez, FedEx (ret.). Drawing from his extensive experience as a naval aviator and human factors manager at FedEx, Mario shares insights on how character shapes a pilot’s ability to manage resources effectively. He emphasizes the mantra “discipline equals freedom,” highlighting the importance of setting goals and maintaining a strong work ethic. Tune in to discover how these principles not only enhance safety but also foster a collaborative and efficient cockpit environment.
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Episode 04: Colonel Dale “Boots” Hill on Combat, Command, and Calm Under Pressure
In this episode of the Air Facts podcast, we sit down with Colonel Dale “Boots” Hill, a decorated Air Force veteran and longtime Air Facts contributor. From flying 165 missions in the OV-10 Bronco during Vietnam to commanding F-16 squadrons and training the next generation of pilots, Boots brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. He shares the intense story behind one of his most-read articles, “Sounds You Never Want to Hear,” and reflects on how preparation, training, and teamwork shaped his military flying career. Along the way, he offers valuable lessons for every pilot—military or civilian—about leadership, mindset, and staying sharp in the cockpit.
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Episode 03: Behind the Cockpit Door: Insights from Joel Turpin
In this episode our guest is Joel Turpin, a veteran pilot whose flying career spans everything from Piper Cubs and DC-3s to Boeing airliners and the Pilatus PC-12. In this episode, Joel shares stories from more than five decades in aviation and discusses his recent article, The Captain is Lying—one of our most-read pieces of the year. We talk about passenger perceptions, emergency landings, and how technology has changed the pilot-passenger relationship. Whether you’re a student pilot or an experienced airline captain, Joel’s thoughtful, candid reflections offer lessons for anyone who takes flying seriously.
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Episode 02: Alex Sack—Do Crash Videos Really Make Us Safer Pilots?
In this episode of the Air Facts Podcast we welcome Alex Sack, a commercial pilot and longtime contributor to Air Facts. Alex is known for his sharp insights and willingness to question the status quo, and his article “Do Crash Videos Make Us Safer Pilots?” was no exception. With more than 70 comments, it became one of the most discussed pieces on the site — raising important questions about how we process accidents and what role, if any, social media plays in promoting safety. In this episode, we dig into Alex’s perspective and the broader implications for pilots, educators, and content creators alike.
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- Do Crash Videos Make Us Safer Pilots
- Why Crash Videos and Social Media Don’t Mix
- More articles by Alexander Sack
Episode 01: Peterson Conway, The Arrogant Pilot
Peterson Conway is one of the defense tech industry’s biggest power brokers, recruiting for some of the buzziest defense and hard tech firms in Silicon Valley. Conway regularly commutes from the Carmel area in California to Silicon Valley in his Cub. On one particular flight, in the early morning darkness, Conway failed to pull out a flashlight when he was checking his fuel gauge and, as a result, misread the gauge which led to landing on a highway into oncoming traffic. Walking away with no injuries (to anyone), Conway recounts the events and the many lessons learned in this episode of the Air Facts Podcast.
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