Straighten Up and Fly Right Podcast

Kenny T
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Careers

Straighten Up and Fly Right is an aviation and leadership podcast built around real conversations with pilots, military leaders, entrepreneurs, aviators, and professionals who have learned to perform under pressure and lead with purpose. Hosted by Kenny T, airline Captian, Air Force officer, speaker, and founder of Kilo Tango Aviation and Legacy Flight Academy, the show dives into the stories behind the cockpit, the lessons behind leadership, and the mindset required to navigate adversity, growth, and success. From fighter pilots and airline captains to mentors, veterans, and changemakers, every episode is focused on authentic conversations, aviation culture, mentorship, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. This is more than aviation.This is leadership, legacy, discipline, and purpose. New episodes featuring:• Aviation and military stories• Leadership conversations• Career and mentorship advice• Real-world lessons from high performers• The culture and legacy of aviation Presented by Legacy Flight AcademyPowered by Kilo Tango Aviation

Episodes

  1. Jun 8

    From Air Force Acquisitions to Airline Pilot: TC’s Career Change, Flight Training Lessons & Leadership

    TC shares how he went from a military-brat upbringing and a failed plan to play football into Air Force ROTC at UTSA, ultimately becoming an acquisitions officer—work he describes as broad “cradle to grave” program management with lots of paperwork, meetings, and long timelines. Around the 10-year mark and facing career-pressure options he didn’t want, he began flight training as a hobby in Los Angeles, researched the airline shortage, and chose to separate in 2019 with his wife’s support despite some family resistance. He explains funding flight training using the GI Bill through a school with San Antonio affiliates, joining the reserves, and navigating COVID-era training. TC details key lessons—begin with the end in mind, expect a non-linear path, show up prepared, and ask questions—plus setbacks during instrument training, growth as a flight instructor, and success in a demanding regional airline training pipeline. Now a reservist and airline first officer, he describes what he loves about the job, what’s still “work,” how military leadership and initiative translate to the cockpit, and why representation in aviation matters. 00:00 Meet TC and Background 01:07 ROTC Into the Air Force 01:55 Choosing Acquisitions 03:35 What Acquisitions Really Is 05:12 Special Ops Simulator Project 06:20 Who Thrives in Acquisitions 07:43 Ten Year Crossroads 09:44 Discovering the Pilot Path 11:32 Funding the Career Change 15:08 Family Support and Comfort Trap 18:21 Flight Training Lessons 22:52 Instrument Rating Reality Check 25:19 Checkride Wake-Up Call 26:10 Learning to Stay Calm 28:08 Why Instructing Rocks 29:27 From Bitter to Happy 32:05 Cadet Program Strategy 34:38 Regional Training Mindset 38:09 Airline Pilot Reality 40:39 Military Lessons in the Cockpit 46:25 Representation Matters 47:47 Advice and Wrap-Up

    50 min

  2. Jun 8

    U-2 Pilot Chris Duckett: From F-16 Poster to 737 Captain

    Kenny T interviews Chris Duckett, a pilot from Louisiana who trained at Louisiana Tech, joined the Air Force, and flew C-130s, the M-28 Skytruck, PC-12s, Cessna 208s, and ultimately the U-2 Dragon Lady before retiring and becoming a United Airlines 737 captain. Duckett explains how seeing an F-16 poster led him to join ROTC, credits mentor CMSgt Edward Fowler for instilling discipline, and shares why he loves general aviation, including owning a Piper Comanche 250 and building an RV-8. He confirms the earth is round, describes why the U-2 is the toughest airplane to land and the space-suit/oxygen process, and recounts an emergency where a failed bleed-air/environmental system caused severe cockpit cold, memory loss, and near hypothermia before a safe landing. He closes with advice: “maintain aircraft control,” and a mantra about turning dreams into goals and achievements. 00:00 Meet Kenny T and OC 00:48 From Cessnas to U2 02:53 Is the Earth Round 03:41 F16 Poster Spark 07:27 ROTC Mentor Lessons 08:41 Why General Aviation 10:16 Cross Country GA Trip 11:38 U2 Interview and Landing 15:33 Why Choose the U2 17:09 Suiting Up Process 21:12 12 Hour Solo Missions 21:51 U-2 Suit Risks 22:31 Cold Mission Launch 23:58 Systems Fail and Freeze 28:08 Emergency Descent Chaos 29:07 Memory Loss in Clouds 30:42 Landing While Hypothermic 32:59 Hypothermia Debrief Lessons 34:11 Pilot Takeaways and Root Cause 36:47 From U-2 to Airlines 38:47 Representation and Mentoring 42:42 Dreams to Goals Mantra 43:25 Wrap Up and Farewell

    46 min

  3. Jun 8

    Eyes Above the Horizon: How Legacy Flight Academy Introduces Underserved Youth to Aviation

    Legacy Flight Academy’s Eyes Above the Horizon is a free, full-day aviation experience for underserved youth ages 11–19 that turns exposure into real opportunity through hands-on STEM learning, mentorship, leadership development, and the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. Students rotate through stations covering aerodynamics, weather, and aircraft systems, participate in teamwork and trust-building exercises tied to real-world aviation and the Red Tails’ WWII escort legacy, and explore college and career pathways beyond piloting, including maintenance, operations, and air traffic control. In the hangar, they learn how mechanics keep aircraft safe and hear about industry shortages. The day culminates with students flying in real aircraft with certified instructors, taking the controls, and gaining confidence, plus a unique look at a C-32 aircraft. LFA is a 501(c)(3) funded by donations and volunteers. 00:00 Aviation Changes Lives 01:07 Program Overview 01:59 STEM Station Hands On 03:39 Cloud In A Bottle 04:13 Why STEM Matters 05:36 Leadership And Tuskegee Legacy 08:06 College And Career Paths 08:37 Maintenance Hangar Tour 10:40 First Flight Experience 11:42 Student Reactions And Courage 14:07 Special C-32 Aircraft Visit 14:41 Nonprofit Mission And Founder Story 16:19 Final Takeaway And Call To Action

    18 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Straighten Up and Fly Right is an aviation and leadership podcast built around real conversations with pilots, military leaders, entrepreneurs, aviators, and professionals who have learned to perform under pressure and lead with purpose. Hosted by Kenny T, airline Captian, Air Force officer, speaker, and founder of Kilo Tango Aviation and Legacy Flight Academy, the show dives into the stories behind the cockpit, the lessons behind leadership, and the mindset required to navigate adversity, growth, and success. From fighter pilots and airline captains to mentors, veterans, and changemakers, every episode is focused on authentic conversations, aviation culture, mentorship, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. This is more than aviation.This is leadership, legacy, discipline, and purpose. New episodes featuring:• Aviation and military stories• Leadership conversations• Career and mentorship advice• Real-world lessons from high performers• The culture and legacy of aviation Presented by Legacy Flight AcademyPowered by Kilo Tango Aviation

Information