Aviation Mentors

Brandon Martini & Carson Vasquez

🚀 We are The Aviation Mentors, a weekly podcast dedicated to creating an amazing space where we aviators can hang out and enjoy a wide range of conversations about anything aviation. We're aviators, we're mentors, and we're entrepreneurs. Whether you're a student pilot, professional pilot, general aviation enthusiast, or just an AV Geek like us, this is the podcast for you! 🌎 Join us every Friday as we share our passion for flying! Sponsored by Stratus Financial www.stratus.finance

  1. 5 days ago

    From Glider Pilot to Flight Test Engineer: Adriana on Soaring Records, Gulfstream, and the FlyORKA App

    ✈️ What does it take to flight test a brand-new aircraft before it's ever earned its wings? In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson sit down with flight test engineer and glider champion Adriana, who holds 34 soaring records and built the FlyORKA app. She shares her path from reading test pilot biographies as a teenager to flight testing prototypes for Gulfstream, plus why gliders make pilots sharper and more disciplined in the cockpit: How flight testing a brand-new aircraft actually works, from envelope expansion to meeting certification requirementsWhy flying gliders builds stronger rudder skills, energy management, and stick-and-rudder fundamentals that power pilots often missHow Adriana's flight test background shaped the FlyORKA app, built to help pilots build up their skills step by step, learn more at flyorka.comHer advice for student pilots and CFIs who feel behind or discouraged in their training🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, CFI, glider enthusiast, or aspiring flight test engineer, this episode is packed with real-world insight into flight testing, glider flying, and building better pilot fundamentals. This episode is brought to you by Stratus Financial, helping student pilots fund their aviation dreams with the Fly to Success Scholarship, and the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8th through 10th. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday, join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

    From Glider Pilot to Flight Test Engineer: Adriana on Soaring Records, Gulfstream, and the FlyORKA App

  2. 8 Aug

    Can AI Get You Through Your Checkride?

    Can an AI really get you through your checkride, or is it setting you up to fail? 🤖✈️ In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Carson flies solo to break down the fast-growing wave of AI tools built for checkride and ground school prep. He walks through what's actually useful, what's overhyped, and where trusting the wrong answer could cost you more than a bad grade. How Sporty's new AI suite (ChatCFI, ChatFAR, and an oral exam simulator) compares to just using free ChatGPT or ClaudeWhy Lime's AUTO, an AI digital pilot examiner, claims an edge with aviation-specific training dataA real 2024 chatbot lawsuit against Air Canada, and what it means for AI liability in aviationWhy ASA, the publisher behind the oral exam guide series, is now printing warnings about AI-generated study content🚀 Whether you're studying for your private checkride, prepping for an instrument rating, or just curious how AI fits into modern flight training, this episode gives you a clear-eyed rundown of what to trust and what to double-check with your CFI. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Don't forget to check out the Fly to Success Scholarship from Stratus Financial: $10,000 for qualifying students, entries close August 28th. And catch the Aviation Mentors team at the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8th–10th.

    Can AI Get You Through Your Checkride?

  3. 1 Aug

    When There's No Runway: Beaches, Golf Courses, and the Huntington Beach Mayday

    Mayday, Mayday, Mayday — what really happens when the engine quits and there's no runway in sight? ✈️ In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the real Huntington Beach beach landing that had pilots buzzing, then dig into aviation history to explain why golf courses keep showing up as emergency landing spots. The hosts cover: The real mayday call and engine failure behind the Huntington Beach beach landing near the 2026 U.S. Open of SurfingHarrison Ford's 2015 emergency landing at a Venice, California golf course, and the mechanical failure that caused itWhy golf courses sit next to so many airports and what makes them ideal emergency landing zones, including a 2025 Riviera Country Club landingA former insurance adjuster's take on seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and why proper installation can be the difference between walking away and not🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode is a real-world look at emergency decision-making, aircraft safety equipment, and why staying calm under pressure can turn a crisis into a story you get to tell. The Fly to Success Scholarship closes August 28th, with the winner announced at the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8-10. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday — join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

    When There's No Runway: Beaches, Golf Courses, and the Huntington Beach Mayday

  4. 25 Jul

    Buying or Selling a Plane? Here's the $50,000 Mistake to Watch For

    Buying or selling a plane? There's a costly mistake hiding in the logbooks that most people never see coming. ✈️ In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the real process behind buying and selling an airplane, using Carson's recent sale of his Icon A5 as a live example. They cover: Why a pre-buy inspection is non-negotiable, even on a $20,000 airplane, and what mechanics actually look forHow incomplete logbooks and "pencil whipped" ADs can lead to a surprise engine or propeller overhaul costing $10,000 to $50,000What happens legally if you fly an aircraft that's out of compliance, and where the line between an honest mistake and a serious violation sitsWhat actually determines whether an airplane holds its value, gains value, or depreciates over timeThe paperwork trail required to transfer ownership, from bills of sale to FAA registration and lien releases🚀 Whether you're a first-time buyer, a seller weighing your options, or a student pilot curious about aircraft ownership, this episode gives you a practical, real-world walkthrough of the entire process, including the $50,000 mistake that can catch anyone off guard. This episode is brought to you by Stratus Financial. The Fly to Success Scholarship closes August 28th, with the winner announced at the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8-10. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

    Buying or Selling a Plane? Here's the $50,000 Mistake to Watch For

  5. 17 Jul

    What It's Really Like to Fly Into Oshkosh and Camp Under Your Wing

    What does it really cost to experience the biggest airshow in the world? ✈️ In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down everything pilots need to know about EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, from ticket and membership costs to what it's really like to fly in and camp under your wing. With this year's event just days away, the hosts share firsthand stories and answer the questions most first-timers have: What EAA AirVenture Oshkosh actually costs, including AA membership, wristband pricing, and camping vs. hotel logisticsWhat it's like to fly a small plane into Oshkosh and camp under your wing, including a real story of a 23-hour solo cross-country in a maxed-out Cessna 172Can't-miss moments at the show, from warbird flybys to the night airshow's wall of fireWhy the connections made at Oshkosh are worth the cost, even for student pilots mid-training🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode is packed with practical advice and firsthand insight for anyone considering their first trip to Oshkosh. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

    What It's Really Like to Fly Into Oshkosh and Camp Under Your Wing

  6. 11 Jul

    Part 107 Drone Rules Every Pilot Needs to Know in 2026

    Flying a drone near an airport? The rules might surprise you. 🛸 In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down Part 107 and what every pilot, student, and CFI needs to know about sharing the airspace with drones. From personal drone stories to real FAA enforcement cases, the hosts cover: The difference between recreational (TRUST test) and commercial (Part 107) drone rulesRegistration, weight limits, and how LAANC authorizations actually workReal federal cases where drone pilots faced fines and criminal chargesThe FBI's drone crackdown at the 2026 World Cup and what it means for future regulation🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, CFI, or drone operator, this episode is packed with practical guidance on staying legal and safe in shared airspace. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation. 🌐 Protect your aircraft and your flying with Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Get a quote at skywatch.ai, and check out our exclusive partner offer at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors Apply for the Stratus Financial Fly to Success Scholarship: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/Learn more about the Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

    Part 107 Drone Rules Every Pilot Needs to Know in 2026

  7. 3 Jul

    You Failed Your Checkride. Now What?

    🌍 Failed a checkride? You're not alone, and it's not the end of your aviation journey. ✈️ In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down what a checkride failure or discontinuance actually means for student pilots, plus dig into the differences between Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools, why general aviation airports keep shutting down, and why fewer people are flying just for fun these days. The hosts cover: What happens after a failed checkride or discontinuance, and why it's more common than you thinkPart 61 vs Part 141: the real differences in structure, stage checks, and examining authorityWhy airports like Santa Monica, Rialto, and Huntington Beach have shut down, and what it means for GA's futureThe declining number of people learning to fly purely for fun, and how the cost compares to other hobbies🚀 Whether you're preparing for your own checkride, weighing Part 61 vs Part 141 training, or just care about the future of general aviation airports, this episode has practical insight and real talk for student pilots and GA enthusiasts alike. New episodes drop every Friday, join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation. 🌐 Protect your aircraft and your flying with Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Get a quote at skywatch.ai, and check out our exclusive partner offer at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors Apply for the Stratus Financial Fly to Success Scholarship: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/Learn more about the Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

    You Failed Your Checkride. Now What?

  8. 26 Jun

    What Is the Pentagon's 1260H List and Why Is Cirrus On It?

    A Chinese-owned aircraft maker just landed on the Pentagon's radar, and Cirrus pilots want to know what it means for them. In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the news that Cirrus's parent company, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has been added to the Pentagon's list of Chinese military-linked companies operating in the US. The hosts walk through what the designation actually means, who else got named alongside Cirrus, and why this story is surfacing now. They cover: What the Pentagon's blacklist designation is and why it's not the same as a flight banWhy Cirrus parent company AVIC was added, and how it ties back to a 2011 ownership dealWhat it means for the Department of Defense's procurement contracts starting June 30thContinental Aerospace Technology and Align Aerospace, the two other aviation suppliers named in the same updateWhy this surfaced now, including Cirrus's 2024 Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing and shifting US policy on foreign-owned companies🚀 Whether you fly a Cirrus, train in one, or just want to understand how geopolitics can intersect with general aviation, this episode breaks down what pilots actually need to know, and what they don't need to worry about. 🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

    What Is the Pentagon's 1260H List and Why Is Cirrus On It?
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About

🚀 We are The Aviation Mentors, a weekly podcast dedicated to creating an amazing space where we aviators can hang out and enjoy a wide range of conversations about anything aviation. We're aviators, we're mentors, and we're entrepreneurs. Whether you're a student pilot, professional pilot, general aviation enthusiast, or just an AV Geek like us, this is the podcast for you! 🌎 Join us every Friday as we share our passion for flying! Sponsored by Stratus Financial www.stratus.finance

Information

  • Creator
    Brandon Martini & Carson Vasquez
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    237
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 The Aviation Mentors podcast authors. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Aviation Mentors

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