Taking Flight with Michael "Rocket" Blackstone Michael "Rocket" Blackstone

In this episode, Michael takes you up in the Cirrus SR22 for a night flight to practice instrument approaches with the G-1000 and to witness the Christmas Star over the Pacific Ocean! Michael attempts to explain in layman's terms what this incredibly rare event is for those of you who have any interest in the science of astronomy.  This event is called a "Great Conjunction" and is not only beautiful but it helps you feel the power of what scientific knowledge can do and how its helping us unlock of the secrets of our Universe. We as humans are small and insignificant but we have learned so much since the last time this event happened in 1623.  Take a look at this rare celestial event with Michael  in the southwestern skies over Los Angeles either from a Cirrus or just step outside and open your eyes wide!   

In this episode, Michael takes his first flight in an SR22! Experience the most successful most modern, most capable single engine piston aircraft on the planet as Michael takes his first lesson in the SR22. The incredibly designed 'Cirrus Perspective' Avionics package using the Garmin G1000 navigation is revolutionary and represents the direction of the future of all aviation. Michael's excitement on his first experience in this amazing aircraft shows  how perfect of an aircraft Cirrus has built.     

Michael talks with his friend Art Koral about his recent purchase and delivery of his 1981 Pitts S-2A.  Michael recalls taking his first flight in his dad's 1981 Pitts S-2A at age 8, which triggered him to buy his own 1998 Pitts S-2C when he was 26. These amazing aerobatic biplanes are legendary in the aerobatic world but both have significant challenges when taking the on cross  country flights. Listen to these two biplane nuts talk about the things that can make the trip way more challenging (and a bit scary at times) than either had hoped for!    

In this episode, Michael takes you flying in the Saab 340 from his Business Express days between  February 26, 1998 - January 1999. During his time at 'Biz Ex', Michael flew as a co-pilot on the Saab 340A/B accumulating over 700 hours of turbine time. He was based out of Portland, Maine, and then Boston Massachusetts.  Michael loved flying this amazing aircraft because of what it was capable of and how it made him into a highly skilled airline pilot. The Saab 340 is an aircraft with the capability of carrying 34 passengers up to 1,000 nm at 250 knots all day long, in all weather conditions.  Those pilots who have been lucky enough to fly the Saab 340 love it for how fun it is to fly and how safe and reliable it is. 

In this episode, Michael takes you back to his first solo flights at American Airlines as a new hire in 1999. Michael started his career at age 25 as a Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727, then transitioned to the Boeing 757/767 fleet where he became a First Officer and flew his first 'solo' with his father as the Captain of his first trip on the line. Then Michael became a Captain of the Boeing 737-800 and flew his first  'solo' flight as a Captain on December 16, 2015.   

In this episode, Michael takes you back to 1990, when his father soloed him at  at the Chino Airport on April 15, at age 17, in the Marchetti SF-260C. On this spring day, Michael and his dad shared an experience that very few lucky pilots get to share together. This historic moment marks when Michael's father passes the torch of flying from one generation to the next. Michael soloed in 1990, but he has been airborne ever since.  It has now been over 30 years since that beautiful day in Chino took place that  sparked  a career in aviation flying jets for a major airline, just like his father.