E338 - No Regrets: Why You Should Take the Leap into Aviation

Flying High with Charlie Gasmire: Lessons from the Cockpit and Beyond

Join us as we soar into the world of aviation with Charlie Gasmire, the brain behind Airplane Academy. With a family legacy of aviators, Charlie’s journey from a young boy inspired by his grandfather and father to a successful pilot and entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, we dive deep into Charlie's experiences, discussing the ups and downs of becoming a pilot, the importance of mentorship, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives him to create valuable content for aspiring aviators.

Charlie shares his insights on what it takes to own an aircraft, the process of buying a 182, and the joys and challenges of flying with family. From the thrill of soloing on his 16th birthday to the practicalities of aviation ownership, Charlie's story is a testament to the dedication and passion required in this field. We also touch on the importance of creating community and encouraging others to pursue their dreams of flying, making this episode a must-listen for anyone with a passion for aviation.

Whether you’re a seasoned pilot or just starting out, Charlie's experiences and advice provide a wealth of knowledge and encouragement. Tune in to discover how you can embark on your own aviation journey and perhaps find your own place in the skies.

Takeaways:

• Becoming a pilot is a journey filled with adventure, and it's essential to embrace the process, taking actionable steps towards your dream, just as Charlie did from a young age.
• Owning a plane like the Cessna 182 provides flexibility and freedom, allowing spontaneous trips and memorable family adventures, reinforcing the joy of aviation.
• The transition from renting to ownership comes with unique financial realities, where the unexpected costs can be daunting, but the rewards of flying make it worthwhile.
• Charlie emphasizes the importance of sharing mistakes in aviation to help others learn, showcasing the value of community and support among pilots.
• Airplane Academy is not just a business; it's a passion project aimed at inspiring others to pursue their aviation dreams, emphasizing that anyone can become a pilot.
• Having a mission, whether it's flying for fun or taking friends up, helps maintain enthusiasm for flying, even when busy schedules try to hold you back.

What is Pilot to Pilot?

Pilot to Pilot is the podcast for anyone who flies — or dreams about it. Host Justin Siems sits down with airline captains, bush pilots, CFIs, and everyone in between for honest conversations about the path to the cockpit, the grind of the career, and the love of flying that keeps us coming back. Whether you're a student pilot chasing your first solo or a captain with 20,000 hours, there's a seat for you here. New episodes weekly.

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My name is Charlie Gastmire,
I'm a commercially licensed pilot

and aircraft owner here in
Dallas, Texas and I host a YouTube

channel called Airplane
Academy where I share the lessons

I've learned along the way.

AV Nation, what is going on?

And welcome back to the Pilot
the Pilot Podcast.

My name is Justin Seams and I
am your host.

Today's episode is with
Charlie from Airplane Academy.

What a great domain.

We talk about how he just
randomly googled is like what's available

and he found this one and here
we are.

Charlie who I have been
following for a little bit now, he

has some great content.

He talks about mistakes, he
talks about things that he wished

he would have done differently
so you have the opportunity to learn

from them.

We have great talk about
entrepreneurship, we have a great

talk about businesses, we have
a great talk about 182 is buying

airplanes, aviation, all the things.

I think this is a great
episode and very impactful.

Charlie makes some really cool flashcards.

If you are in training or if
you just want some aviation flashcards

to help study for, pick them
up, read them, learn some more.

Go check out his website,
we'll have links down below so you

can go check those out.

If you enjoy this podcast.

Like I said the last couple of
days, really, really, really pushing

for a thousand comments on
Spotify and on itunes.

So if you haven't left a
review, please go do so.

Let me know what you like
about the podcast.

Leave five stars if you want
to you don't have to, but it would

be great to see 1000 reviews
on each episod different platforms.

We're also pushing for 4,000
total subscribers.

I know it's a little bit of
different goals there as well, but

just starting to get into the
YouTube game and would love to get

more people listening on
YouTube and watching on YouTube.

So if you're a YouTube
podcaster, then go ahead, check out

Pilot to Pilot on a podcast
and on YouTube and just hit subscribe.

AV Nation.

I hope you're having a great
day and I really hope you're going

to enjoy this podcast and I
know you will.

Without any further ado, here
is Charlie from Airplane Academy.

Charlie, what's going on, man?

Welcome to the Pilot, the
Pilot podcast.

So good to be here, Justin.

I'm a fan of your show, so
it's great to join.

Thanks.

Yeah, dude, it's awesome to
have you on.

I do want to tell you that
just looking at you, the very first

thing I see is Chris Palmer.

Has anyone ever told you that before?

Have you gotten that?

Are you the lower 48 Chris Palmer?

I've had several people have
full email conversations with me

that then they realize at the
end, oh, you're not Chris.

I'm so sorry to let you down,
but I'm a big fan of his too, so

it's an honor to be mixed up with.

Yeah, it must be the beard.

I think it's a beard.

You know, Chris is growing out
his beard.

You know, maybe he's trying to
look like you, if anything.

And you guys had a meetup
together, right?

We did.

I thought maybe like, for the.

For the people that came.

I thought if you can just see
a side by side, you'll see like the

subtle differences, you know,
and those people, you know, won't

be confused anymore.

How'd that go?

Did that play out well for you
or like identical twins?

Yeah, yeah.

I don't.

I don't know if we resolved it
for everyone, but if you look closely

enough, you can tell us apart.

I love it, dude.

Well, like we talked earlier
before, also, huge fan of your content.

It's.

It's really cool to see one.

It's like super hard to grow
on YouTube and you have managed to

do that.

So I look forward to talking
about kind of the business side of

what you've been doing, what
you've been doing to be successful,

how long you've been going
after it.

We can get into that a little
bit later because at the beginning,

I really kind of want to focus
on you and your, your just overall

reason of why you're a pilot.

So why don't you go ahead and
tell me why did you want to become

a pilot in the first place?

Yeah, so I am lucky to be a
third generation pilot.

So my dad's dad was a pilot
just recreationally, you know, logistically,

kind of for fun.

And then my dad was and is a pilot.

And so I grew up just with
aviation being normal.

My dad was taking a little bit
of time off of aviation while I was

real young.

But I grew up just listening
to his stories.

Like my bedtime stories were
him talking about when he got stranded

in a Cherokee in this random
town he'd never heard of and stuff.

And I always just thought like
that is the American dream to hop

in your airplane with your
kids in the back and just end up

somewhere and navigate weather
and you don't know where you're going

to be for the night.

Like I just thought there was
something, I mean even when I was

little, I just thought there
was something so adventurous and

romantic about that.

I knew I wanted to do it.

And when I was like 14, I got
to start taking flight lessons.

And my dad was a good friend
with a guy high up in Southwest who

got us into the training
simulators in the 737.

And that absolutely blew my mind.

So much so that like in middle
school when you get your first locker,

you know, most, most kids are,
you know, putting bikini models and

stuff like pictures of that in
their lockers or whatever.

I vividly Remember back in
2004 printing out any picture I could

find on Google or whatever it was.

Ask Jeeves at the time.

I've like pictures of 737
cockpits and I would print them out

on our, on our printer and
then I'd like taped them up in my

locker.

Everyone thought I was so
weird, but I was like, I'm going

to be a pilot one day and if I
just, I've just always been just

so in love did flight sim as I
was, you know, when I little, when

I was little and as so many
pilots I know on your show can, can

attest to like flight simming,
just like really help them get bit

by the bug and stuff.

So I've always just been
enamored with it.

And I got to start when I was
14 years old, which I was really

grateful that my parents were
supportive of that and enabled that.

And I've been flying ever since.

Yeah, similar ish kind of story.

I never knew I wanted to be a pilot.

But I'm also a third
generation pilot.

My grandpa was an airline pilot.

My dad was an airline pilot.

Excuse me, My dad was an
airline pilot and one day he called

me up, I think I was 18,
getting ready to go to college, getting

ready to play football.

And he called me up, he's
like, hey, I had the late Sims.

They finished up.

Can you come tomorrow at like
1am and you can come fly the 737?

And I was like, cool.

I mean, why not?

Like, yeah, I got nothing else
to do.

And I did it.

And I was like, oh, wow, I
could actually do this.

And I was like, I mean, they,
you know how they always like, oh,

you can fly better than the
person that we train, blah, blah,

blah, blah, all that kind of stuff.

And it's like, I believed it.

I was like, oh man, maybe,
maybe this is an opportunity.

And then a couple years later,
when I finally realized, hey, football,

maybe not might not be my
thing anymore, I was like, I remember

flying and I was okay at it,
so let me go do it.

Took a flight and I was like,
all right, cool.

This is my career now.

I'm doing this.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like if
you, if you have the bug, you have

the bug.

And I meet so many people all
the time.

They're like, they're in their
60s and they say, hey, I've wanted

to do this since I was 12 and
just now doing it.

But you can tell how pumped
they are to like finally go for it.

It's like if you know, you know.

Absolutely.

And with this dream of yours,
was this a I want to be a 737 pilot

for Southwest or was it just I
want to be a pilot in general?

Yeah, it was a little bit of both.

I mean, in my, you know, as
best as I could tell, when I was

14, I thought I wanted to be a
Southwest pilot.

But as I got older and went
through high school and went to college,

like, I really also fell in
love with business.

Like, I've always just, I was
starting lemonade stands and had

a little shoe shining business
that was pretty lucrative for like

an 8 year old.

Oh really?

Which is fun.

So that' that's a good one for
real young listeners.

But I've always loved business
and so I studied that in college

and like, I just, I didn't, I
didn't want to go full airlines.

Like, I loved business a ton
and started starting businesses in

college and stuff.

And so, yeah, like, there's
definitely a part of me that still

would love to go to the airlines.

Like, I'd love to fly a jet.

Of course I'd love to fly a jet.

But I have a lot of interest,
other interests too, namely like

business and startups and
Internet marketing and stuff.

And so I feel like it's been a
really cool thing.

I think God has enabled me to
just a really cool opportunity to

combine a lot of the things
I'm passionate about between aviation

and encouraging other people
and Internet marketing and entrepreneurship.

Like, I'm getting to do all of
that at Airplane Academy.

So I'm super grateful to do that.

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, there's, as I've
talked about in all the episodes

I've done, there is just a
path for anyone in aviation.

Whether you're doing it
recreationally, whether you're doing

it for fun, whether you're
doing it for career.

And a career could mean what
you're doing.

A career can mean being a CFI.

A career could mean going to a
121 or 135 and flying your whole

career.

There is, is a very much
encompassing factor of aviation jobs

that you can do.

And it doesn't have to be
flying for Southwest, doesn't have

to be flying the airline.

So it's really cool to talk
with people that have an interest.

Like we all have the same
interest, right?

We're all interested in
aviation, but we may be able to make

money off it or make a living
off it.

A little bit different.

Yeah, I mean, it's a big world
and it's the American dream, you

know, and it's broader than
just the American dream.

But you know, we're here in
America, so like to celebrate that.

But yeah, there's tons of ways
to do it.

And if you love flying, there's.

There's always a way to find a
way to, to do that.

Yeah.

So tell me about 14 year old,
you know, you're hanging up pictures

of a 737 in your locker.

You're walking around telling
people, I want to be a pilot.

Now there needs to be
actionable steps rather than just

saying, because as you talked
about, someone in their 60s like,

Man, I've always wanted to be
a pilot, but they've never taken

the steps to do it.

So what steps did you take to
go do that?

Yeah, so about that time, my
dad bought a Super Cub and I started

training in that.

They had some land that they
were developing down in the Texas

hill country.

And so whenever we would go
down there for the summer or during

holidays and stuff, we met a
really good flying community down

there.

And I had such a great mentor,
guy named Bob Snowden, and he's one

of my favorite people in the
whole world.

And he taught me to fly.

And he would come, you know,
fly down the Runway at the ranch

and stuff and my dad would
wake me up and say, hey, your ride's

here.

You're gonna go for an hour lesson.

And I would take lessons with
Bob in the Super Cub.

And I was so, so bad at it.

Like I was so bad at flying a
Super Cub, but it was, it was a lot

of airplane to handle, you
know, for anybody who's new, but

particularly 14 year old
Charlie, like, I had no clue what

I was doing but like lesson by
lesson, you know, started getting

better and stuff.

And so I was learning in the
Super Cub and then, and then my parents

were just so generous towards
me and allowed me to take lessons

at Addison Airport.

I'm based here in Dallas, so I
was learning under the class B, which

is stressful place to learn,
but so glad I did because then, you

know, you're really not afraid
to fly anywhere because you've been

in the thick of it.

Yeah.

And so I was learning in a 172
there at American Flyers.

And so I was kind of doing
like 172 lessons here and there.

And then whenever we were down
in the hill country, I was flying

the Super Cub.

So I was real confused, like,
am I a nose dragger or a tail dragger?

But it was great training and
did all that and ended up soloing

on my 16th birthday.

And it was really funny the
way that it worked out because my

birthday fell on a Sunday and
so the DMV wasn't open to get my

driver's license that day.

So my parents drove me to the
airport and I soloed the 172.

And then the next day they
drove me to the DMV and I got my

driver's license.

So technically I legally flew
by myself before I legally drove

by myself, which is a funny
way that it worked out.

And then I got my, my, my
private certificate a little bit

after I turned 17.

Got it.

And then what was the plan
after that?

Was it kind of I'm going to go
to college, I'm going to see what

I want to do, I'm going to go
to aviation college.

Me through your next thought
process there.

Yeah, like I mentioned, I
really fell in love with entrepreneurship.

My dad's been a long time
healthcare entrepreneur and so I

was watching him start and run
businesses and I started a barbecue

sauce business.

When I was 18 or 19 and it
failed spectacularly.

Sauce, Big bear barbecue sauce.

But I learned a ton.

And I was just so enamored
with, like, how do you take an idea

and bring it to life and make
money doing it?

My mind just felt equally
blown by entrepreneurship as it was

with aviation.

And I loved both of them.

And so I really wanted to go
to college and study business.

And so the plan for, you know,
for flying, I didn't fly a ton during

that.

During that time, I rented
172s a little bit whenever I had

money.

But then mainly whenever I
was, you know, home from college

in the summers, I'd fly the
Super Cub.

And I was always really
nervous at first because I hadn't

flown it in a little while and
stuff, but that's kind of how I.

How I stayed active while I
was at school and things.

And then.

And then after school, once I
had a job and I started making more

sustainable money and stuff, I
ended up buying the 182 in 2016.

But we can get to that.

But, yeah, I mean, it's not a.

It wasn't like a perfect path
to, hey, I learned.

And then I was always current
and it was always easy, and it was

always affordable.

It's like, no, I went through
all these ups and downs of I didn't

fly for six months or a year
or whatever because I couldn't afford

it, or I didn't have access to
an airplane or whatever.

And you just do the best you
can to try to, you know, try to stay

involved in it and stuff.

And then once I bought my own
airplane, you know, that's when I

had a lot more, obviously
consistent access to be able to fly

whenever I wanted.

But up until that point, I
mean, it was definitely bumpy.

Pardon the.

Yeah.

What school did you end up
going to?

Went to Baylor.

Okay, nice.

And Baylor has an aviation
department, don't they?

A pretty big aviation school.

They do, yeah.

It's.

It's grown a ton.

And I.

For whatever reason, I don't
know, maybe I was just naive or something,

like I should have had some
sort of aviation minor at least or

something, or been involved in
the aviation club.

And I was just so involved in
other things and in the business

school, and I was starting
businesses and staying up most of

the night trying to start
businesses, and I was just so in

love and, like, just kind of
captivated by that.

That's what I was spending
most of my time on.

But little did I know I could
have been pretty involved in aviation

at that point.

And.

And I wasn't.

Could have been a Southwest
captain by now.

You never know.

Right?

I could have been your whole life.

Yeah, I could have.

Could have got that cockpit I
was always in.

Yeah.

Right.

So you've mentioned a lot about.

You love business.

I've started a ton of.

Ton of businesses.

How many businesses would you
say you've had your hand in or try

to start?

Yeah, I mean, probably like 10
or 12.

I mean, and some of those have
just been pure, pure experiments.

Like, hey, let's, let's do
this thing and see if we can get

it to a couple thousand
dollars in revenue or something.

Some things we started and
then just never could find customers

for.

And then others have done a
lot better than that and stuff.

So it's all kind of varying degrees.

But I would say, like, in
terms of businesses that really started

and actually got traction and
stuff, I've been involved in three

ones that like, actually kind
of went somewhere.

And the others have been.

Have been experiments.

They're all experiments at the
end of the day.

But yeah, it's good fun.

What would you say is.

So I'm gonna ask you a
question, and you obviously ask your

question at the podcast.

Right, but what would you say?

You have to answer it.

It is one business that maybe
has been either the best for you

or profitable wise, whatever
you kind of would label as the best.

And the other one that's been
like the one you learned the most

from and that didn't work out.

Yeah, start with the one that
didn't work out is probably.

Well, I could choose several
that didn't work out.

I'll choose a more
entertaining one.

In college, I took a class
where we got a few thousand dollars

to start a business and try to
make it profitable in a semester.

And my friends and I teamed up
and we thought, we thought we could

drive leads in the wedding industry.

We thought, hey, a bride.

And all of us are single dudes.

In college, like, well, brides
need, you know, a cake and flowers

and a deejay.

I was like, if we can just
help pair together brides, and all

these people will make a ton
of money.

So my friends and I, we
started this business called my Wedding

Connector.

And I can't believe I'm even
talking about this on this podcast,

but the short version is we
went to these wedding conventions

and we were trying to sign up
these vendors and we threw a launch

party and it, like, at this
wine bar and invited all these people

and, like, two people showed
up and like, the business Just never

went anywhere because we were
three single dudes in college that.

That knew nothing about.

About weddings.

And so that was a great
example of just like, not knowing

your customer, not
understanding, like, the pain point

you were trying to solve.

But we tried.

I think I still got an A in
the class, but it failed spectacularly.

Yeah, an A for effort.

Right.

But I'd say, like, the best one.

Just.

Just in terms of.

Of.

Of.

I mean, kind of what I'm doing
now is Airplane Academy.

I think Airplane Academy is
the first business, and it started

as a YouTube channel and a
blog, and now I sell my own flashcards

and I'm working on some other
products and things.

But I'd say Airplane Academy
is the first business where I have

been my own customer.

Like, you hear a lot of these
stories on Shark Tank or whatever,

and it's people that are
solving their own problems.

I got tired of mowing the lawn
this way or my hose wouldn't connect

the right way.

So I just built something that
fixed it and I found out my neighbor

needed it too.

And here we are in Shark Tank.

And that's kind of like, not
that I'm going to be on Shark Tank

or something, but like, oh,
you have.

To now, but we're speaking.

But that's kind of been the
path with Airplane Academy.

It's like, okay, let me try to
build things that solve my own problem.

So it started with content of
like, hey, I don't see people writing

articles.

This is years ago, but I
didn't see people writing articles

to address really basic
questions of pilot training.

So I spent a long time writing
like, dozens and dozens of articles

to see if I could rank them to
try to help people.

And then I.

Then I started making videos
of like, hey, a lot of people are

doing the fly with me stuff,
which is great.

I'm a big fan of all that.

But I don't really hear a lot
of people just kind of sitting there

sharing all the mistakes
they've made.

And I'm like, well, I've made
a lot of mistakes, so why don't I

sit here and share my mistakes
and maybe it can help somebody, because

that's what I need.

And then, same thing with the
flashcards of, like, well, like,

keeping all of this stuff in
your mind for years and decades is

really hard.

You have to be fluent in a new language.

And, you know, it's been
really difficult to do that.

And so I was like, well, what
if I take a while to build my own

flashcards the way that I Want
to use them and make them really

high quality.

Maybe it can help other people.

So I think, like, I didn't
start Airplane Academy to try to

become someone or be an
influencer, although I think the

channel and the brand have
grown now to have influence.

But I'm not trying to be somebody.

I'm literally just trying to,
like, help more people get interested

in aviation and solve the
problems either through content or

through products, like, the
problems that I myself have experienced

or are experiencing.

So that's been a really,
really fun, you know, business and

thing to work on, just because I'm.

I'm.

I am my own customer.

Yeah.

When would you say, you know,
like, everyone kind of has the moment

where they realize, like, you
know, whether they made it, we can

talk about doing content.

You know, all of a sudden
you're like, oh, wow, I have 100,000

subscribers on YouTube or as a pilot.

You're like, wow, I finally
made it to the regionals.

I finally made it to the majors.

Like, I finally made it.

And what was your kind of,
like, moment where you realized you

were building something?

That, one, I mean, maybe not
the most important thing you talked

about, but, like, I can profit
off of, and two, I can actually have

the influence and help people
the way that, like, you said that

I would want when I was going
through that.

It's a good question.

I. I don't think I've ever
really had a moment of arrival.

There's been little moments
that feel really validating, like,

even getting to talk to you on
your podcast, and you have a great

show, and I feel very humbled
to be here.

Like, it.

It.

I just thought for a moment
before we started recording, I was

like, this is.

This is.

This is very rewarding for me,
and I'm grateful for it.

Appreciate it.

But, like, to me, I've always
been the same person, just sitting

in my office or sitting my
airplane flying.

Like, I haven't really
changed, but the brand has grown,

the channel has grown and stuff.

And so, like, if I'm being
totally honest, like, I don't really

believe it.

Like, I look down, I'm like,
oh, you know, it says you got 126,000

subscribers on YouTube or something.

Like, well, I'm the same dude.

Just talking about lessons
I've learned.

Like, I haven't changed here,
but, like, the stats have changed

or the.

The growth, you know, the.

The reach has changed and
things like that.

So there's little moments of
feeling like, you know, you know,

you're making progress, or
little mini moments of arrival.

But I really think that.

And I don't do a good job of this.

I think you, whether it's in
business or in your aviation career

or whatever, I think you kind
of have to force yourself to stop

and create that moment for
yourself and enjoy it.

Be like, hey, if it's your
first flight in the regionals or

you're getting to go get.

Get typed in the jet, you're
learning, like it's the first day

of ground school, like that
can be a moment of arrival.

Like, maybe you haven't, you
know, flown your first, you know,

real jet yet, but like, you're
at training and you're sitting there

like, pinch yourself and say,
man, like, it would be easy to miss

this moment.

Like, I'm just starting.

I'm just starting the, you
know, the type training.

But like, that's a really cool
moment of arrival if you'll pinch

yourself and try to enjoy it.

So for me, I've had to.

I've had to kind of try to
pause and reflect and realize those

moments and be grateful them
for them, just like I've done before

we started recording.

Yeah, I think it's important
because sometimes you're going to

look back and you're going to
miss the moment you were in.

But in that moment, you might
have been thinking about, you know,

I'm going to fly a jet one day.

You know, you could be.

I remember having this moment
specifically flying an arrow, and

I was doing my commercial
training, and all of a sudden I see

a Challenger taxi by, and I'm
just like staring at the Challenger.

Like, man, I want to get paid
to fly.

Like, when is this going to happen?

Like, it just seems so far away.

But in that moment, I kind of
had this, like, I looked at my arrow

and I was like, you know, I'm
actually having a lot of fun flying

this airplane.

I'm doing something that a lot
of people can't do.

And I was like, I don't know
if I'm ever going to fly ga again.

You know, you talk to
captains, you talk to pilots and

at airlines, not everyone is
going to come back to general aviation.

So I kind of had this moment
where I was like, I don't know if

I'm ever going to fly an arrow again.

So I should probably smile and
have a good flight today and enjoy

it.

And I went up and did like
Shondell's and 120° in North Carolina

and was just burn, no air
conditioning, you know.

But I have.

I try to have as much fun as I can.

So I think it's really cool
that you have that perspective.

And I think it's really cool
for everyone to kind of understand

that.

Try to enjoy what's going on
right now.

Try to enjoy the cool things
that you're doing in your life because

you're going to look back at
them and you're probably going to

wish you enjoyed it a little
bit more than you did lately.

If I've ever felt frustrated
with even like making flashcards

or studying flashcards or, you
know, different things that can be

challenging in becoming and
staying a pilot.

I really have tried to pinch myself.

I'm not perfect at this, but
I've tried to pinch myself and say,

just for a second, like,
reflect on the fact that we live

in a really unique 100 or so
year span of human history where

this is even possible.

Right.

Like for hundreds and
thousands of years, people have looked

up at the birds and said, I
want to do that.

And they would never come
anywhere close to living to the year

where that's possible.

And now it's possible.

And so like, yeah, now I feel
like we've kind of like our perspective

is too small.

Like, oh man, I got to
memorize weather theory.

It's like, well, you didn't
have to invent it.

Someone else did the hard work
of discovering it and now you just

have to memorize it.

And now you get to go fly your
Cessna later today.

Like, I think it's all
perspective thing, you know, like

to your point, it's like,
well, you can be upset that you're

flying the Arrow and not the
Challenger, or you can be like, oh

my gosh, like, I live in a
free country where I get to do this

and the skies are mine.

I can go fly the Arrow Even
though it's 120 degrees and I'm bouncing

my brains out like anyone in
human history would trade places

for me in an instant.

And so I try not to lose that
perspective, even though it's easy

to in today's age.

But I think it's important.

What other ratings do you have
right now?

Did you stop at Private or are
you still working on some.

Yeah, I've got my private
commercial instrument, multi commercial.

I've got my private seaplane
rating, just my single engine C and

then my tail wheel high performance.

So I fly my182 our family
super Cub.

And then our family also has a
Kodiak 100 that I got checked out

in a couple years ago and have
100 and something hours in it that's

been my first turboprop
experience, but it really is just

like a big super cub.

It's amazing.

What do you use a Kodiak for?

What's that?

What do you guys use the
Kodiak for?

So my dad really wanted kind
of a unicorn airplane.

His average mission is like a
couple hundred nautical miles, but

he wanted to fly 160 plus knots.

He also wanted to be able to
carry like eight or 10 people if

he wanted to.

He wanted to fly a turboprop.

He wanted me to be able to get
checked out in it and they wanted

to be able to land on their property.

It's like, well, that's a
pretty narrow bullseye and the Kodiak

is probably one of the only
airplanes in the world that'll do

that.

And so it's just, it's one
airplane that fits pretty much every

mission that, that I have and
my family has.

And it's just a ball to fly.

And honestly, it's a lot
easier than the Cessna 182 to fly.

It's just a, it's a really
well made airplane.

It's really simple and it'll
do just about anything.

Yeah, I, I've got, I should
probably look it up.

I probably have like 1200
hours in a caravan.

So similar platform, similar
style airplane.

I think the Kodiak 100, it's
like their, that's their smallest

one, right?

Am I right?

Yeah, they've got the 100 and
the 900 and the 100 is, is real comparable

to a caravan.

They're just, they're built
for different missions.

The Kodiak is basically the
more bush cousin of a caravan.

Right.

Which is awesome.

Bush planes are awesome right now.

Right.

Like, I feel like everyone and
their mom wants a bush plane and

moving out to Utah to be Trent
Palmer or to be Carson to do what

they're doing.

So why not?

That's right.

Yeah, it's.

I mean, it's been a dream to fly.

I feel very fortunate to get
to be in one and I just can't say

enough good things about it.

It's amazing.

Yeah, no, that's cool.

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about your training.

When did this fall in the
timeline of like private instrument

commercial seaplane rating
Because Dallas, you know is a great

place for seaplanes.

Right?

Like just talk about place for seaplane.

Yeah, right.

Talk about kind of your
timeline of training.

Yeah.

So I had my private for for a
long time before I got anything else.

And so I got my private in
2007 and I didn't get my instrument

I think until 2014 or 2015.

I have to go back and look.

So there was a gap and then I
got my commercial in 2023 and my

multi commercial in 2023 also.

So a lot of people say oh
commercial super easy.

It's just mostly review from
your private.

That is true unless you had 16
years between your private and your

commercial in which case it's
like doing private all over again.

So I had a pretty big gap and
a lot of it's been just based on

need.

Like when I had my private I
just didn't have money or the airplane

to go do instrument stuff or
commercial stuff and I wasn't doing

it for a living so it filled
my needs.

The seaplane thing was just a fun.

It was a fun vacation for me
and my dad.

It was a very generous gift of
his but we went to Alaska and learned

to fly Super Cub on floats up
there and it was still is the coolest

5.7 hours in my logbook.

I've since flown a little bit
more seaplane but still don't have

very much time in them.

But it's an absolute ball.

I'd love to own one one day.

And then the commercial stuff
was honestly for prereq for my CFI

and so I really want to work
on my CFI and get CFI and double

I next year.

But obviously you needed the
commercial and stuff before so I

got to work on that and got
that knocked out, and here we are.

Yeah.

What was.

I mean, you mentioned kind of
like why there was the gaps, but

was it just you wanted kind of
priorities were in other businesses?

Did you finally decide, like,
all right, I need to be an instrument

pilot?

Or was there any kind of thing
more deeper to why you took either.

What was it, six years and 16
years between private and commercial

and private and instrument?

Yeah, it's a good question.

My instrument.

So there was a. I'd have to go
back and look at my logbook, but

I took like a little bit of
time off and I was.

I was working in the corporate
world and I had a really good buddy

that I met there at this
company, and we were talking every

day and I found myself telling
him a lot of flying stories you just

couldn't believe.

It's like, oh, you went to
this place and that place, and you

can get in a small airplane
and go do that.

So he was just really
interested in flying.

And so I'd like.

It was like a daily thing to
tell him flying stories and stuff.

And.

And eventually he's asked me,
he's like, dude, you talk about this

all the time.

Like, why aren't you still
doing it?

And I didn't have a good
answer for him because at that point

then I had the money to go
back and fly and stuff.

And I was like, you know what?

You're right.

I'm going to do it.

And so I used getting the
instrument rating as a way to just

get current again and kind of
get back in the system and everything.

I was like.

I worked a couple miles from
the airport and I did all but one

of my training flights for instrument.

I did it at night, so I just
work all day.

Wasn't married at the time,
didn't have kids.

And so I just.

I just go train after work,
which is great.

The weather's bad and it's
dark outside.

All the better.

You're training for that anyway.

So I did most of that at
night, got my instrument, and then

I was running planes for a
little bit.

And then mainly just because I
wanted to fly more and I could afford

it.

I was like, it's time to buy
an airplane.

I ended up getting my 182.

And then the commercial was.

Was kind of a similar thing of just.

It was kind of based on need.

I was like, I really, really
want to become a flight instructor.

And that was, you know,
obviously prerequisite and stuff.

And so it was just hard to,
like, get around to finishing your

commercial because it's not
all that exciting.

I mean, it's.

It's exciting in the sense
that we're blessed to fly and it's

fun to fly, but it's not like
there's just.

It's not like in your seaplane
rating, you're like, oh, my gosh,

I can't wait to go do this training.

Commercial's a little bland in
the scheme of.

You know, in the scheme of
things, but don't want to lose perspective

on it.

So it was hard, but the point
is, it was hard to prioritize.

And so eventually, like, I
started it a couple times and then

stopped because life got in
the way.

And my wife is so much smarter
than me, and she just sat me down.

She's like, look, we both need
to just, like, dedicate a season

to this.

And you knock it out because
you've tried a few times and stopped,

and you keep saying you want
to do it.

Like, let's just carve it out.

You have my support.

You can study in the evenings.

We won't say yes to many things.

Just get it done.

I was like, okay.

So I finally kind of did a
focused sprint, and I was flying

a lot and studying a lot.

Like, that's when I was able
to knock it out.

So that's my plan for how to
approach CFI as well.

Have you told her that?

Have you been like, hey, we
need another season of life where

all I do is study?

Yeah, I think she knows it's coming.

Honestly, she's been wanting
me to do it for forever, so I'm in

my own way on that.

Like, no, but I got this going
and this going, whatever.

So she's like, you need to do it.

Gotta love it when you got
some support at home.

Right.

It makes things a little bit easier.

Yeah, I've been very, very
blessed with my wife.

Good example of marrying up.

All right.

Exactly.

Yeah, I agree.

I did the same thing.

There wouldn't be a podcast on
my wife.

I told that story a couple of times.

But, yeah, this.

I would still be playing video games.

I'd probably be a twitch
streamer playing Call of Duty or

something like that.

Talk about the 182.

I mean, anyone that's
listening to my podcast for probably

a while would be like, man,
Justin used to always talk about

wanting a 182.

The problem was I started
talking about this, and prices just

went through the roof.

And I just cannot justify
spending, like, $250,000 on a straight

tail 182.

Now, I don't think those are
250 grand.

But you kind of get my drift, right?

Super expensive to get into
the 182 market.

So I would love to hear timing
of when you got in.

What made you finally kind of.

Because everyone says, I want
to buy an airplane one day and half

the people actually do.

Not even half.

Probably one fourth of the
people actually do.

So I want to hear about kind
of the reasons why you actually bought

it and just hear the story.

Yeah.

So I always knew I wanted to
buy an airplane.

It was just a timing thing.

And I was renting one for a
little while.

But then in retrospect, I look
back and I talk about this on the

channel.

I think it came down to three things.

It.

And I kind of think about it
in terms of like, freedom, frequency,

and finances.

And if at some point all three
of those things lean more towards

buying, then I think you've
got the green light.

Like, I didn't have enough freedom.

The freedom that I wanted when
renting, like, it was only available

at the last second, you know,
in the evening or something.

It's like I couldn't.

I couldn't plan a weekend trip
even if I wanted to in a renting

situation.

So I didn't have the freedom I
wanted in terms of frequency.

Like, I wanted to fly enough
to where owning actually would be

cheap.

If I.

If I could fly as many hours
as I actually wanted to, it would

actually be net cheaper to own.

And so, like, the frequency
kind of leaned towards now I'm flying

enough that owning makes sense.

And then the finances, you
know, that's going to be a little

subjective for everybody, but
I felt like I was in a position where

it made sense.

Um, and so those three things
kind of pushed me over to buying

an airplane.

I had mostly 172 tied a little
182 time at that, at that point.

So I was like, do I get a 172
or A.

Some sort of Piper or something?

And my flying mentor, Bob
called me and goes, look, I just

really want you to trust me on this.

Buy182 if it's the only
airplane you ever buy, you will never

regret it.

Just like, stretch a little
bit and buy more airplane than a

172.

And so I took his advice and I
was like, great, let's start looking

for one.

And the next day he found it.

And he goes, I'm calling you back.

I found your 182.

And he goes, and if you don't
buy it, I will.

Because it was like A new
engine, recently updated panel, newer

paint, like all this stuff.

And it was, and it was under
market priced and we did a whole

pre buy, did everything.

Like there wasn't anything
hidden on it.

The guy was just getting out
of aviation and wanted it sold.

And so we got it.

And like a week between me
deciding, okay, I'm going to buy

an airplane, I want a 182.

A week later it was in the hangar.

And so it was kind of, it was
kind of whiplash in that way.

But I think the Perks for the 182.

I'm a huge believer in the 182.

And just briefly, I would say
that it's really not great at anything,

but it is good at everything.

Okay.

I was like, that's not how you
sell an airplane to someone.

We're saying it's not great at anything.

It's not.

But that's its superpower.

I really do.

I can say that with confident.

So, like, if it's not the best
bush plane in the world, it's not

the highest useful load, it's
not the most efficient fuel burn,

it's not the fastest.

But if you want to rank like
economical airplanes that carry a

decent amount, go decently
fast, can land short, don't burn

a ton of fuel, like, the 182
would probably be in your top five

or at least top 10 airplanes
and all of those lists.

And it's probably one of the
only airplanes that would be in all

of those.

You know what I mean?

And so, like, if you want
something that's just going to be

like a good Tahoe or like a
Jeep, where you're like, it's going

to be good at a little bit of everything.

It's not going to be, you
know, leading in any one category,

but it's going to be respectable.

Like, the 182 is your airplane.

So I figured if it was the
first and last airplane I ever bought,

it would allow me to do a
little bit of everything.

And that has not failed me.

Do you mind if I asked what
you bought it for?

Yeah, I got it for $93,000.

I know.

Back in 2016.

And, and even then, I mean,
prices were a lot lower back then,

but even then it was, it was
under market.

But yeah, it's really
unfortunate what's happened with

all the pricing.

Like, I don't.

Yeah, my, my airplane has
appreciated in value, but I don't

win on that because one, my
insurance costs have just gone up

because I have to insure it
for more and then two if I ever want

to, like, switch it out with
anything else.

Like.

Well, the replacement costs
also went through the roof.

So unless I was just going to
sell the airplane and never buy another

one and just get out of
aviation, like, nobody wins on all

that appreciation.

So it's.

It's unfortunate what has
happened, but I was really lucky

to get mine when.

I did what you mentioned, how
to upgrade a panel.

What kind of panel are we
talking about?

Yeah, I mean, it's not as
upgraded now as it was like, in 2016,

but I've got a Garmin 430 was
and an Aspen 1000 PFD and an okay

autopilot and decent comstack
and stuff.

So it's kind of partial glass.

It's still got a vacuum system
things in it, but at some point,

I'd love to rip all that out
and, you know, go, go full Garmin

glass and everything.

But it's.

It's got.

It's got a lot of what I need.

Like, there's a few things
missing, but it, you know, in general,

it's like, it's been a.

It's been a solid panel.

It's only once you start
comparing it to, like, the kodiak

with the G1000NXi, it's like,
okay, once you start flying that,

you're like, oh, you know,
it's all perspective.

But then, like, when I'm just
flying my airplane, I'm like, it's

a great airplane.

It's a great panel.

I'm really.

Or you watch, like, YouTube
and you see Aviation 101, and you're

like, wow, I want that.

All right.

I know.

It's all.

It's all a perspective thing.

It's so sneaky, you know, Perspective.

What's the mission for you?

182.

What is.

What's, like, a flight look like?

What's.

I mean, like, a month look
like with this airplane?

Kind of talk about what you
guys use it for.

Yeah, you know, I take it on a
few long trips a year.

Like, I just took it to
Oshkosh and back, which is really

fun.

I've flown it to Idaho a
couple times and back.

I've flown it to Tennessee and
Florida and Colorado and different

places, and so I'll do that a
handful of times.

But what I love about it is,
like, it'll.

It'll get you to all of those
places if you're willing to just

sit long enough.

It's not slow by any means,
but it's not a speed demon.

But it's comfortable and so
it's good for those kinds of trips.

But if you want to just go do
pattern work, you totally can.

And it's not that expensive.

So, like, it's, it's, you
know, it's a range.

Like, I'll sometimes do those
long trips.

Sometimes I'm just flying to
get gas for fun.

Sometimes I'm flying a couple
hundred miles.

It.

It really just depends.

Like, I have, I have a lot of
my friends have kind of dispersed

across Texas.

Texas is a big state, so it's
not uncommon to have friends that

live like a six hour drive
away from you.

And so that's been really
helpful that I can go get early breakfast

with my friend in Austin or
College Station or something and

fly home and work most of the
day and stuff.

So I've been able to use it, I
feel like, in a pretty functional

way.

Yeah, that's good.

And wife, kids, they like to
fly in it.

They do.

You know, so we, our kids are
13 months apart, so we were in, like,

baby phase for a while, and it
was a lot.

We're very blessed.

We got a three and four year
old and they love airplanes.

You know, we haven't flown a
ton together, but they really love

the Kodiak because they can,
like, walk around in the back and

spread out and stuff like that.

I wouldn't love a Kodiak.

Yeah.

But they do love flying.

I'm really, really excited for
them to get a little bit older and

then for me to be like, hey,
the weather's great.

It's a Tuesday.

Let's fly to Arkansas and I'm
gonna take y' all camping just for

tonight.

We'll be back tomorrow.

We're gonna give mom the night
off and I'm gonna take you camping.

And I can't wait to do that
because that's not something I got

to do growing up.

Like, I didn't.

My dad didn't get back into
aviation until I was in, like, late

middle school.

And so I didn't get the
elementary school years, like, in

aviation.

And so I can't wait to
hopefully, hopefully give that to

my kids.

Yeah, we're probably talking
about, like, northwest Arkansas,

like Bentonville area, I'd imagine.

Yeah, yeah, dude.

Super underrated.

Part of the country.

Like, I, when I grew up in
North Carolina, I think Arkansas,

I mean, I think of Arkansas football.

I do not think of Bentonville
or northwest Arkansas.

I think of, like, Mississippi
type stuff.

But northwest Arkansas is
actually pretty sick.

Like, I mean, I, I don't Ever
think I'd move there?

But if I ever found myself in
a situation where I had to live there,

I don't think I'd be that angry.

Like, it's like, it's kind of nice.

Arkansas is such an underrated
part of the country.

Because you're right, I like
you don't really associate it with

like, oh, it's gorgeous and
there's a lot of cool flying there.

But northern and northwestern
Arkansas is a really, really great

place for aviation.

Fly oz or just flyoz.com,
they've done a really good job of

just documenting.

They've got like this really
cool helicopter with an amazing camera

on it.

So they've documented all
these really cool strips that you

can go to and stuff up there.

So there's a lot of good flying.

And if you want to learn, you
know, basic backcountry stuff, it's

a great place to do it because
there's some short strips if you

want them.

But a lot of them, a lot of
the really cool ones are still 3,000ft

long.

So they're long by backcountry standards.

Yeah, they're pretty cool.

And you don't have the
density, altitude in the high elevation

and the terrain.

I mean, some of them have a
little bit of terrain here and there.

But like the two times I've
gone to Idaho, like probably one

of the, maybe the coolest
place in the whole country in my

opinion, to fly.

But it's very intimidating and
it's very unforgiving.

I think Arkansas is like a
perfect warmup for that.

If you want to learn how to
fly near trees and, you know, land,

land short and stuff.

Like, it's, it's.

I don't know.

I'm a huge fan.

So I usually go out there a
few times a year.

It's like a seven hour drive
from Dallas, so I would probably

never do that.

But it's like a two hour
flight and a really pretty flight

at that.

So it's become a really
special place to me.

Yeah, absolutely.

No, it's a, it's a cool place.

I haven't been there with the
current job, but my last job, we

would go in and out of
Bentonville and fly certain families

around and do their, do their thing.

But it was cool.

Let's talk about YouTube and
the 182.

Was that kind of the precursor
for your channel was like, I'm buying

a plane, let's document it.

Or were you doing stuff before then?

So I got the airplane in 2016.

I didn't start the YouTube
channel until 2019.

Actually, the precursor for
the channel was Airplane Academy

was originally a blog.

Like, it was a, you know, I
talk about different businesses I've

started, how they're all an experiment.

At the time, I really, really
wanted to learn SEO and blogging

and stuff for various reasons.

And so I wanted to pick a topic.

Like, I had started other
niche websites and boating and model

rockets and different things.

And I was like, this is cool,
it's working, but I really want to

blog about something that I
really care about.

And I really care about aviation.

So I was like, I really want
to start an aviation website and

try to help people.

And so I was trying to think
of what to name it, and I was shocked

that airplaneacademy.com was available.

And I was like, well, that's
perfect for a blog.

I'll do it.

And I didn't really think very.

I didn't really think very
hard about it.

I was like, I really love that
domain and started blogging.

And then I've always been
interested in video and like making

things, but I never really had
anything to make a video about.

Like, I don't like in a video
myself putting gas in my car or something.

It's like, there's nothing.

There's nothing there.

But I thought, well, I've got
an airplane and I want to, like,

help people and spread the
word and stuff.

Like, maybe I can document
some flying stuff.

So it's all just an experiment.

And I started and it was a.

It was a lot of videos before
it really got any meaningful traction.

But I just really loved the
idea of putting a video together.

Like, it was a fun project.

And I was like, I kind of know
what I want to make, but I don't

know what it's totally going
to look like, but I want to do it

to find out.

And that was kind of my
motivation for.

For every project.

And I was like, and if it
helps somebody in the process, then

like, awesome.

And so just kind of do that.

And little by little, and it
kind of grew from there.

What was the first video like?

Like, do you ever go back and
watch the first video and you're

like, whoa, what the heck was
I doing?

It's like, no wonder why
people weren't watching it.

Or was it just kind of like,
ah, this is cool.

Like, I love seeing, seeing
how I started.

Yeah, I haven't deleted a
single video on my channel, so you

can go back and look and look
at all my cringy things.

It was all big experiment I
mean the first things that I posted

were just like I had just
gotten back from Idaho and I just

stuck, you know, a single
camera set up, you know, looking

out front of the plane.

And so I was like, well I've
got some cool landings going into

some of these cool places.

I'll just trim that down and
post it and see what happens.

Like here's what it looks like
going into Sulphur Creek or whatever.

So I did some of that and then
I really wanted to do some things

where I was just sharing my
advice because again I was just meeting

so many different people just
as I got older that couldn't believe

my co worker Paul who just
couldn't believe that you can own

an airplane and go on these
adventures and stuff.

And I was like, man, I'm so
grateful that I grew up where that

was normal, you know what I mean?

But to most people it's not normal.

So all the lessons that I've
learned, all the screw ups I've had,

not to my credit but those are
probably helpful to someone not because

I'm a genius but because like
well I've screwed up.

So if you want to know what
the screw ups are, here they are

so you can dodge it.

Like I've always found that
content and all the business content

I've ever consumed, I have
always found it more valuable to

hear people's mess ups than
people's triumphs because triumphs

are not always relatable.

It's like well good for you,
I'm glad that worked out but that's

not my situation, you know
what I mean?

But screw ups are relatable.

I'm like oh I've done that or
I can, I can know, okay, I'm going

to try not to do that.

So those have always really
resonated with me.

And so that's kind of been my
perspective on the channel of like

I don't think enough people
share, share their mess ups and,

and you know, I'll, I'll try
to get vulnerable and share those

in case it helps you.

And so that's kind of what I
started doing on the channel.

Just filming, you know,
here's, here's, here's my experience

and stuff like that.

And yeah, the production was terrible.

I was in like a little echoey
room in our house and like it was

horrible like in retrospect
and, and like the first video I ever

had that like went you know,
viral in, in you know, according

to me like in my scope like
the room was super echoey and I Got

so many rude comments and I
was like, why are people being mean

to me?

This is crazy.

Just trying to help them, you know.

And then, and then as it got
more traction, I was like, I probably

need to like buy better
microphone and buy better lighting.

And you just start to kind of
level it up over the course of time.

Yep, absolutely.

Specifically about the 182
though, did you kind of post about.

Because it doesn't sound like
there's many mistakes made in this

purchase.

Like it almost sounds like it
was just like perfect, you know,

like perfect timing in the sky.

Like, hey, you need to get a 182.

Like, oh cool, yeah, I'll get
a 182.

Hey, guess what?

I found you a 182.

You know, it's like, how did
you kind of introduce that content

into your, your channel?

Yeah, that.

You're right.

That part was definitely smooth.

And when I say sharing my
screw ups is probably, I mean, I've

definitely screwed up some on
the ownership side, but more like

here's a really dumb mistake I
made in the mountains.

And not because I'm trying to
get attention for it, but because

like, I feel like I've healed
from it and I can look at it objectively.

So I want to share it with you
now so you don't make the same mistake.

Those are a lot of the videos
that I reference.

But yeah, like in ownership,
I've definitely shared a lot of things

that, like, hey, here, here
are ways that I spent way too much

money in early airplane
ownership and stuff.

And I've like gotten such mean comments.

Be like, can you, can you
believe you did that?

I'm like, yeah, that's why I
made the video.

Like, I regret doing that.

Like, come on, I'm an idiot.

I know, I'm calling myself.

I know.

Like, you don't have to rub it in.

That's the point of the video, man.

But yeah, just kind of mistakes.

And enter.

But then I've been able to
also share like things that they

went well and I'm like, I'm
really glad it happened this way.

So I encourage you to do the same.

Like, one of the early things
that enabled me to get an airplane

was finding a hangar before I
had the plane.

Because hangars are just so
hard to find and we were able to

get a hold of a hangar.

I was like, well, I don't have
an airplane, but I have a hangar

now, so I can go fill it with something.

And so I tell people, I'm
like, you know, people will Send

me, you know, a listing of
like, hey, this airplane's really

cool.

What do you think about it?

And I'm like, I think you
might have missed the line at the

very bottom that it comes with
the hangar.

So I would get it, get the
hangar and sell the airplane, then

go buy the one you want.

Like, just trying to help
people understand that.

Like, I'm really glad that's
how it worked for me.

So I'd encouraging you to do
the same, you know.

Yeah, I.

So I called around where I
live in North Carolina and I was

just like, hey, I want to be
on put on the wait list for a hangar

spot.

And they're like, okay, cool.

What is your tail number?

I'm like, I don't have a tail number.

I want to go on the waitlist.

Like, well, now you can't even
go to the wait list without having

a tail.

And it's like, holy smokes.

Like, why is it so hard to get
this out?

It's like, I don't want to buy
an airplane and then not have a place

to put it.

Especially some of the
airplanes I'm looking at.

If they're fabric, it's like,
I'm not trying to have it sit outside

the whole time.

So.

Yeah, I agree with you there.

If you ever see an airplane
that comes with a hangar, buy it

so you can have the hangar.

Like, just get it.

The hangars were 10 times more
than the airplane.

You can sell the airplane.

That's crazy.

Yeah.

Having a hangar be cool, you
know, having like a hang.

Like right now I'm just in a
guest room, but if I could put this

all by an airport, that'd be
pretty sweet.

That's the goal.

Definitely.

With my airplane in the background.

Right.

Instead of this wall with a
blue light on it.

Yeah, that's awesome.

Yeah, dude, that's cool, man.

Just having 182, having the
ability to go do that.

I see what you want to do with
your family and your kids when you

go fly.

I'm thinking myself, I have a
3 year old.

If I could fly him to the
beach just for the day and then we

fly back, you know, it's like,
hey, dude, guess what?

Don't tell anyone, but we're
not going to school today.

We're gonna go to the beach,
you know?

Yeah.

How often?

That'd be the best absent,
like, absent excuse ever.

Like, oh, we flew to the beach.

He's like, what do you mean
you flew to the beach?

Like, I got it.

That's what we do.

Yeah, I went to the beach, people.

Our family does, right?

Yeah, we fly to the beach.

Beach, yeah.

It's crazy, but people can do it.

That's what I'm trying to
share on YouTube.

I'm like, a lot of people,
golf is their thing or cooking is

their thing or whatever.

But, like, if you want getting
an airplane and flying to the beach

to be your thing, like, you
can do it.

It's kind of expensive, and
it's going to take a lot of work,

and it's, you know, you got
to, like, put some effort into it,

but it can be your thing.

And I think a lot of people,
like, it takes them hearing that

a few times before they're
like, oh, wow, that could be my thing.

And I think.

I don't know.

That's just the perspective
I've taken on YouTube of, like, more

people need to hear that this
could be your thing.

And if they believe it, then I
think, like, more.

More people are going to
become pilots, which is going to

make it better for everybody.

So I'm real passionate about that.

Yeah, absolutely.

What would you say is one or
two things that surprised you about

aircraft ownership?

Maybe for the good or for the worse?

One big difference from
renting was, like, the timing of

expenses, and just.

You just have to be prepared
for that mentally.

And what I mean by that is,
like, when you rent, one of the downsides

is you say, cool, I'm gonna go
watch the sunset tonight.

I'm gonna take my wife or my
girlfriend or whatever, and you're

gonna go watch the sunset,
which is great.

You have a great time.

And then when you land, you
get a bill on your credit card for,

like, $600.

And so you, like, side by
side, you immediately compare.

Was that experience worth $600?

And sometimes you'll say yes,
sometimes you'll say no.

But, like, there's a one for
one comparison to it, which.

Which can be really
demotivating sometimes in airplane

ownership, it's the total opposite.

Like, there's some flights
where my airplane was already full

of fuel.

I got to go fly for a few
hours, came back, never saw Bill.

The whole thing felt free somehow.

And then the opposite is also
true where the airplane's in the

shop for a few weeks.

You know, you got to change a
cylinder or something.

Then you get a cold, and you don't.

You know, you're on this.

All this cold medicines, you
can't fly.

Then the weather sucks, and
you're like, I haven't flown in two

months, but I have all these bills.

Like, the hangar's still
getting billed, My insurance is still

getting billed.

I got a shop bill.

And you're like, I didn't.

I don't have any.

Any, you know, flying to show
for it, but I spent a lot of money,

and you just have to be kind
of prepared for that.

And for me, it's always been
worth it because I'm like, those

days that feel free are like,
some of the best days you can possibly

have.

And you just need to be ready
to stomach the times where you're

not flying, but you're paying
for a lot of flying, and it's just

a lot.

A lot different than renting.

So that was a.

That was a new experience for
me, which took.

Took me a few years to, like,
get really used to and.

And ready for.

But I try to warn, you know,
upcoming owners about that new reality.

Has there been a year or month
or kind of a time period where you're

like, ah, man, maybe this
plane just isn't for us anymore and

I need to sell.

I mean, I'd be lying if I said
that the thought hadn't crossed my

mind.

I mean, sometimes, like, when you.

When you go through those
periods, like the last.

The last couple of years, I've
just been working a lot.

I've just been working a lot.

And so there's been times
where it's not as enticing to say,

I'm gonna go fly 10 miles to
another airport and go get gas and

come back.

I'm like, Well, I live 30
minutes from the airport, so, you

know, I'm a dad of two little kids.

I got a business I'm running.

You got things going on.

I'm like, am I really gonna
take half the day to drive down the

airport, fight traffic, get in
the airplane, go fly 10 miles away,

get gas, you know, do the
whole thing.

And like, a lot of those.

A lot of those days I'm just
like, it doesn't feel worth it today.

And then you kind of do that
and you're like, cool, I'll just

go next week.

And the next week the same
thing happens.

And like, before you know it,
you haven't flown that much.

And there have been times
where I'm like, man, like, I gotta

fly more if I'm gonna own this airplane.

Now, obviously there's years
where I fly a ton, but, yeah, I mean,

that happens.

Like, I think, like, I'm human.

And everyone has ups and downs
where times where you're like, man,

this is really expensive.

This is not as fun or, you're
not flying it as much where you're,

you know, might be on the
chopping block.

But for me, I'm like, I, I
just kind of end up coming to.

I, I want to fly for as long
as the Lord will let me.

Like, I want to fly.

I'm willing to pay for it.

I'm willing to do whatever I
have to do to pay for it.

I want to fly until I can't.

Yeah.

And, and the risk that comes
with that and the financial burden

that comes with that, I'm okay with.

Because I would rather, I
would rather live a life like that

than a life without aviation
in it.

And so for me, it's, it's
always been worth it.

What can you change to make it
easier to go do those flights?

Is it working less?

Is it bringing family with you
on those flights?

Like, what would be a way to
not have that kind of come up with,

like, oh man.

Like, gotta make the excuse of
not going to go do it.

I think for me it's been
really helpful to have missions.

And so a mission could be
simply, hey, I'm taking a friend

flying.

He's never been flying before
and finally mustered up the courage

to go.

Cool.

I'm going with him Wednesday.

Unless the weather sucks.

Like, we're going have stuff
on there that isn't as fragile as

I'm just gonna fly and get gas
and come home.

Because that's super exciting
at the beginning.

Don't be wrong.

Like, I used to clear my
calendar to just go do that.

Cause it was noon, it was novel.

And once you've done it a lot,
just like anything else, like it

doesn't, it's not as exciting
as it once was.

Even though it's still awesome
that we get to do it.

Um, and so I have found that
just having, having important missions

on there, like even, even,
okay, I've got, I've got some filming

I want to do.

So like that's on the calendar.

I'm doing that.

Or I'm, you know, just like
find reasons to go that, that aren't

as fragile as I'm just flying
10 miles away for fuel.

You know, as your family,
whether it grows or as your kids

get older, is kind of wants
and needs change.

Do you see yourself keeping
the 182?

Do you see yourself looking
for, you know, a six seater?

Are you like, hey, that Kodiak
100 is kind of cool, dad.

Like, what's your plan there?

You know, like, kind of talk
about what you kind of see for your

family either in the future or
just kind of plans that you have?

It's a good question.

You know, I think airplane
ownership all comes down to mission.

Unless you have infinite
money, which nobody does, it's all

about, what airplane do you
need for your mission?

And right now, the 182 is,
like, perfect for my mission.

I could see a world in which
having a 206 makes more sense one

day because you can carry
more, you know, go higher, faster,

like, turbo 206, still go back country.

Like, backcountry is still my
favorite thing to do, even though

I haven't done nearly as much
of it as, like, Trent Palmer, you

know, some of the other guys.

But, like, it's still my
favorite type of flying.

So I really want to own an
airplane that.

That can do that.

Like, I don't think I'll ever
own a cirrus because of that, even

though those are really cool airplanes.

So I think, like, a 206 might
make sense one day, but it really

kind of depends on what our
family and up doing with the Kodiak,

because right now it's a lot
cheaper to buy fuel in the Kodiak

than it is to sell my 182 and
buy a newer 206, you know, so.

But, like, the days that I'm
like, man, what are.

What are we gonna do?

What are we gonna do?

The family grows.

I'm like, again, it all comes
back to perspective.

I try to pinch myself of,
like, the.

The fact that, like, that's the.

The.

The thing on my mind that day
or something that I'm stressed out.

Like, what are we gonna do
with 182?

It's like, man, I'm so blessed
and so fortunate to even have that

be on my radar.

Like, if I can step back,
like, it.

It just makes me so happy to
have the 182 that I do and gives

me a lot of patience to not
really need to change anything for

a long time, you know?

Yeah.

What's.

Obviously, you mentioned that
a panel, right?

Like a full g new garment
panel probably needs to happen, right?

You know, I'm going to push
you for this.

I'm going to text you
randomly, like, hey, dude, you need

that garment panel?

It's like, come on, man, I
want to see it in the next video.

But any other upgrades that
you want to do to it, anything else,

you can make it your own or
you kind of happy with what you got

right now?

Yeah, it's a slippery slope on
the panel because it all started

with.

I would really Love a stronger
autopilot that can also do to altitude

changes and things.

And so I really love the
Garmin autopilots and stuff, but

I start to run into some
compatibility issues with my Aspen

and different things.

And so it's a slippery slope
of like, okay, well, if you want

the Garmin autopilot, then you
need a Garmin pfd.

And if you're going to do
that, then you might as well change

this.

And if you're going to change
that, you might as well change this.

Like, and then the airplane's
going to be down for a while because

you need to build new panel
and put it the shop and like, eventually

it's worth just, just doing
the whole thing, you know what I

mean?

And so I think if I'm going to
touch the panel, it's going to be

kind of an all or nothing thing.

And I, I love Garmin.

Huge fan of Garmin.

Have some Garmin in my airplane.

And so I think that would be a
really fun dream thing.

But then at some point, like,
I'm kind of a, I'm kind of a nerd

for branding.

Like, I went through a whole
rebranding with Airplane Academy

last year to make flashcards
look the quality that I wanted them.

And I just, I loved that process.

And so I thought it'd be
really, really, really cool to repaint

my airplane in the new
Airplane Academy paint scheme and

fly with that and have the
logo on it and stuff.

And I think that would be
really, really cool because I'm going

to need new paint at some point.

Yeah, my interior in the Texas
sun is just really, really dried

out.

So it, you know, eventually I
could see going all in on the 182

and just like redo the whole thing.

But there's not, there's not
that content too.

Yeah, it'd be fun.

It'd be such a fun thing to do.

So, you know, we'll see.

Yeah, that's cool, man.

Talking more specifically
about Airplane Academy, you talked

about the rebrand, you talked
about the flashcards, you talked

about the want and need to
make more products.

Are you able to share stuff
that you're working on that you want

to do stuff like that, or are
you kind of happy with where it is

right now?

Yeah, still, still working
and, and trying to find the balance

between, like spending time on everything.

Like, I, I don't want, you
know, anyone listening.

Be like, man, Charlie's just
working hard and everything's working.

It's like there's a lot of
good things Happening.

I'm very blessed.

But like, I'm human too.

I struggle to balance my to do
list every day.

I have kids.

I want to be a good dad.

I also want to be a good
business owner.

It's like not everything's
perfect behind the scenes, you know

what I mean?

But trying to split my time
between being consistent on content

and making YouTube content and
working on showing up more on Instagram

and email and things.

But.

So that's kind of my first
priority is content and then trying

to find more ways to get the
word out about flashcards I think

can really help people because
it's been really helpful to me.

And then I'm also starting to
work on instrument flashcards for

the instrument rating and
like, I could probably hire some

CFIs to do that for me.

But like, I'm.

I'm pretty detail oriented and
I just like, I really, really want

to get in the weeds and build
all the cards myself.

I still want to have a lot of
oversight from CFIs to check in and

give me input and stuff.

But like, it's more than just
a product for me.

Like, this is like I.

Like I said I want to fly for
as long as I can.

And so I want to go through
the process of having to build these

cards so I can.

So I can relearn all this
stuff for myself and like in more

deeply ingrain it in myself.

And to do that just takes longer.

So I don't know when those are
going to be ready, but I'm.

I'm doing it the hard way.

But the first set were really
high quality, so I have no doubt

the second set will be really
high quality too.

And then there might be
subsequent flashcards after that

for commercial or CFI or
whatnot, but definitely private and

instrument.

And then I'm working on.

I'm not ready to like announce
all the details of it yet, but I'm

working on kind of a unique
way to digitize them at some point

in a way that I'm really,
really excited about.

It's going to take a little
time, but I'm working on it.

So I mean, at the end of the
day, like, I'm trying to grow it

to help more people, but like
I mentioned earlier, like, this has

been a really fun business and
project and vocation to work on because

I am my own customer.

So I'm just thinking, okay,
I'm a pilot trying to be active.

I'm an airplane owner.

Like, what pain points do I
have for that?

And is that something I could solve?

Because I know if I have that
problem, other people have that problem

problem too.

And so it's not just a money
grab of like, what could I sell people?

It's like, what problems can I solve?

How can I be helpful?

Because that, that's what I
want my brand and channel to be known

for, is helpfulness, like,
encouragement and authenticity and

helpfulness.

And I want my products to, to
be the same.

If you could look back, he
kind of answered it, but try to change

it with this question.

If you could look back, let's
say in 50 years, you know, you're

re listening to this podcast,
podcast, and whatever it may be,

but you're looking back on
Airplane Academy, kind of your career,

what you've done, what would
make you most proud with Airplane

Academy.

Looking back in the future.

I think personally, if, if my
kids, they don't even have to be

pilots, like, they can do, you
know, whatever they feel like the

Lord is calling them to.

But like, I think if, if they
can grow up saying, like, man, our

dad was always very
encouraging of what we wanted to

do, whether that was aviation
or beyond, and we got to take cool

trips in his airplane and go
camping together and catch fish,

that would be more meaningful
to me, I think, than any, any business

accomplishment, just for my
kids to know how much I love them.

But then, like, on the
business side, I, I can't really

quantify this.

Maybe I should at some point
as a, as a stretch goal.

But like, I just, I just
decided a long time ago, like, if

I could in some small way help
there to be more pilots in the world,

like, I would be deeply
honored to play that role.

Like, like, I, I just would.

And so I don't know what that
looks like in terms of, like, right

now on the channel.

I've got flashcards and I've
got hopefully some encouraging content

of, like, if you want to do
this, you can do this.

Yeah.

Right now, that's kind of the
way I'm trying to do that.

But I think if, if I could
just help more people go from the,

oh, one day, that would be fun.

And that's been my childhood
dream to I'm actually doing it.

I don't even know what number
that would need to be.

If it's one, it's worth it.

And I think if I, if I could
help more people become pilots and

provide for my family along
that process, I can't think of many

things better than that.

Well, I'll give you a chance
right now.

What's your elevator pitch to
someone that is in that situation

that's like, hey, Charlie.

Hey, Justin.

I want to be a pilot.

You know, like, I want to do
this, but I just don't know if I

can or I don't know if I should.

Should give me an elevator
pitch right now of why.

Why you do that.

So I had a really meaningful
conversation with an Uber driver

the other day, and a lot of
wise advice came from him, a kind

of unsuspecting source.

He mentioned how he had a
barbecue company, like, a barbecue

restaurant.

And I was like, man, I love entrepreneurship.

I was like, that's awesome.

That's so cool.

How's it going?

And he goes, well, not good.

I'm actually closing it
because I couldn't get it to make

money.

And I, like, it was like, oh,
my gosh, I feel so stupid, right?

And I said, oh, gosh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry to hear that.

And he smiled really big.

I'll never forget.

And this.

This applies to aviation.

He goes, no, I'm.

I'm so happy.

He goes, I did it.

And now I know.

And I won't be an old man
looking back, wishing that I had

done that, I did that.

And I thought that was so profound.

And I think it applies to
aviation and beyond of, like, there's

so many people that have this
bug in them, or they're like, anytime

the air, you know, an airplane
flies over the soccer field, the

rest of the dads aren't
looking up, but they're looking up,

right?

Like, he has the bug.

And if you're listening that.

And you're like, that's me.

You have the bug.

And.

And I think, like, you have two.

You have two options.

Like, Max, my Uber driver,
said, you can either go for it and

it might not work out.

You might fail, whatever
failing means to you, but you'll

know, and you'll never have
that regret, and you'll never carry

that burden of, like, what if.

What if I could do this one day?

I still want, you know, you
could either go for it, or the.

The that burden and that
regret of not doing it yet will only

grow and it will only compound.

And those are the two routes
you have.

And so if it's something you
know you want to do, which route

do you want to go?

And so I try to encourage as
many people as I can to pick door

number one.

Love it.

That's a great answer.

Great question.

Great way to.

To give that outlook on it,
because you are right.

I mean, we talked about this earlier.

We talked about how there's so
many people that will come up to

you.

You know, you say you're a
pilot, like, oh, dude, I always want

to be a pilot.

And you're like, well, all
right, you're, you're 35.

Why don't you go to a pilot?

Like, why don't you go do it?

And it's like, ah, you know, I
got this, I got this, I got this.

But yeah, when you phrase it
that way, it's kind of like, well,

I mean, what do you, when you
always want to look back on it and

be like, I did that.

Like, you never know.

Someone could take a lesson.

Listen to this.

Go take a lesson.

That could be fine for United
or American or who may, who, whoever

it may be, living a new dream
that you never thought that you could

have have.

So go do it.

That's all we got to say.

Just do it.

Nike had it right.

Don't sue me, Nike, for using
your slogan, but just do it.

Couldn't agree more.

Yeah.

Well, Charlie, I appreciate
you coming on the podcast.

It was a lot of fun to talk
with you.

I really look forward to, to
seeing your channel grow.

I look forward to seeing your
business grow and other businesses

as well.

I wish you the best and
hopefully, you know, one day you'll

be in your Kodiak 900 or
whatever, PC12 doing whatever it

is you may be doing, flying
all over the country and all over

the world, whatever it is.

But I appreciate your time and
thank you so much for coming on.

Thanks for having me.

It's been great to talk with you.

Absolutely.

Aviation, that is a wrap on
today's episode.

Thank you so much for
listening to the podcast.

I hope you enjoyed it and if
you did, please leave us review Spotify

iTunes, go to YouTube, drop us
a follow up because we're trying

to grow our YouTube as well.

But Avia Nation, it was cool
to hear someone buy an airplane.

You know, every time I hear
that, I'm just like, gosh, my, I

need an airplane.

And I've been talking about
getting an airplane.

This is probably not the year
to get an airplane just with things

going on, but one day there
will be an airplane.

You know, we'll get pilot to
pilot on the side, we'll do in flight

podcasts and pretty cool.

We'll make it happen.

But aviation, I hope you are
having a great day and as always,

happy flying.

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