Aviation Masters

Savvy Aviation
  • 5.0 (75)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Hosted by Mike Busch, Aviation Masters features in-depth conversations with the innovators, engineers, mechanics, and visionaries shaping the future of general aviation. Each episode dives into how these leaders got their start, what drives their work, and the breakthroughs transforming how we fly, maintain, and think about airplanes. Tune in for: ✈️ Expert insights from aviation pioneers and industry leaders ✈️ Deep dives into aircraft technology, maintenance, and engineering ✈️ Candid conversations about leadership, innovation, and problem-solving in aviation ✈️ Forward-looking discussions about where general aviation is headed Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

Episodes

  1. 7H AGO

    How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Aviation with John Sipple

    In this episode of Aviation Masters, Mike Busch sits down with Dr. John Sipple — machine learning professor at George Washington University, former Boeing Phantom Works engineer, Google AI veteran, and Diamond DA40 owner — for one of the most forward-looking conversations in the show's history. From tracking ballistic missiles with Kalman filters to training neural networks at Google to building AI-powered diagnostics for GA aircraft, John brings a uniquely deep and practical perspective on where artificial intelligence is headed in aviation. The conversation covers everything from how to certify ML models with the FAA, to why technicians struggle with troubleshooting, to the Diamond DA40 oil pressure failures that inspired John to found Vyzerion AI. If you own, maintain, or fly a piston aircraft, and especially if you've ever wondered what AI can actually do for GA safety, this episode is essential listening. ⏱ Chapters 00:49 – Introducing Dr. John Sipple 05:30 – Boeing Phantom Works: Missile Tracking & Kalman Filters 09:30 – From Big Data to Machine Learning: The Career Pivot 11:45 – AI vs. Machine Learning vs. Deep Learning: Defining the Terms 14:00 – How Neural Networks Work & Why 2012 Was a Turning Point 18:00 – Applying ML to Telemetry: From Missiles to Aircraft Engines 26:00 – What Is Explainable AI (XAI) and Why It Matters in Aviation 36:00 – Anomaly Detection in Piston Engines: How It Works 47:00 – Project Spark: Savvy Aviation's AI Diagnostics Initiative 53:00 – Training vs. Inference: Why the FAA Draws a Hard Line 55:00 – How You Certify an ML Model for Aircraft Use 59:00 – Why Tesla FSD Couldn't Happen in Certificated Aviation 1:00:00 – Experimental Aircraft as the Path to AI in the Cockpit 1:05:00 – Three Lines of Defense for AI in Mission-Critical Systems 1:09:00 – The Vision for Self-Diagnosing Airplanes 1:13:00 – Why Mechanics Struggle with Troubleshooting (And How AI Fixes It) 1:18:00 – Project Squawk: Training an LLM on Aviation Maintenance Data 1:19:00 – The Data Funnel: Small Models → Explainability → LLM Reasoning 1:24:00 – The Cadillac Index & Why GA Affordability Is Getting Worse 1:25:00 – Autonomous Aircraft vs. Autonomous Cars: Why Is GA So Far Behind? 1:27:00 – Vyzerion AI: Smarter Diagnostics, Healthier Aircraft, Safer Flying 1:28:00 – The Diamond DA40 Service Bulletin & In-Flight Oil Pressure Failures 1:35:00 – Broader AI Fears, Regulation & the Elevator Analogy 1:48:00 – Multimodal AI & the Future of Richer Diagnostics 1:49:00 – Using LLMs to Query the NTSB Accident Database 1:51:00 – Annual Inspections: Are They Helping or Hurting Safety? 📍 Subscribe to Aviation Masters for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the future of GA. 🔗 Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeVyzerion AI  —https://vyzerionai.com/ Savvy Aviation — savvyaviation.com NTSB Aviation Accident Database - https://carol.ntsb.gov/

    1h 55m

  2. MAR 6

    The Future of General Aviation with George Braly

    In this in-depth episode of Aviation Masters, Mike Busch sits down again with George Braly to tackle some of the most urgent issues facing general aviation today. From aging aircraft fuel system failures to the FAA’s draft unleaded fuel transition plan, and from certification gridlock to PMA delays, this episode dives deep into what aircraft owners, mechanics, and industry leaders need to understand right now. If you own, maintain, or operate piston aircraft — this conversation affects you. ⏱ Chapters 03:00 – Elastomers, O-Rings & Why Old Seals Are Causing Fires 07:00 – Upgrading to Modern FKM (Fluorosilicone) O-Rings 11:30 – Why Fuel Leaks Don’t Always Show Up During Inspections 18:00 – FAA Draft Plan to Transition to Unleaded Avgas 21:00 – The Risks of Modifying Engines for Lower-Octane Fuel 26:00 – How Retarded Timing Impacts Horsepower & Twin Safety 33:00 – Is There Already a True Drop-In Replacement for 100LL? 41:00 – FAA Reorganization: Why Certification Is Slower Than Ever 48:00 – DERs, ODAs & Why Delegation Keeps Aviation Alive 57:00 – PMA Parts, OEM Shutdowns & The Parts Supply Crisis 1:04:00 – Is Certification Still Worth the Cost? 1:08:00 – What Aircraft Owners Should Do Now 📍 Subscribe to Aviation Masters for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the future of GA.

    1h 10m

  3. FEB 6

    Six Decades of Aviation Engineering with Jimmy Tubbs

    In this episode of Aviation Masters, Mike Busch sits down with legendary aeronautical engineer Jimmy Tubbs for a deep, wide-ranging conversation that spans more than six decades of aviation experience. From military engineering and piston engine innovation to PMA certification battles and the future of autonomous flight, this episode is a masterclass in how general aviation has evolved and where it may be headed next. Jimmy shares the untold engineering stories behind cylinder design, chrome vs. nickel processes, engine certification challenges, and the hard lessons learned while building some of the most influential piston engine components in modern aviation. This is a candid, technical, and deeply human conversation with one of the quiet architects of how we fly today. ⏱ Chapters  03:00 – From Small-Town Texas to Aeronautical Engineering 07:00 – Military Aviation, Engineering Labs & Learning to Fly 12:00 – Inside ECI: Cylinder Reconditioning & Early PMA Work 17:00 – Channel Chrome vs. Nickel Cylinders: What Really Matters 27:00 – Building New Cylinders & The Birth of Titan Engines 36:00 – TBO, On-Condition Maintenance & FAA Certification Reality 42:00 – The Titan Cylinder AD: What Actually Happened 53:00 – Engine Monitoring, CHT Management & Pilot Responsibility 01:05:00 – Life After ECI: PMA Consulting & Supply Chain Challenges 01:19:00 – Diesel Engines, Automation & The Future of General Aviation 01:30:00 – Final Reflections on Innovation, Aging Aircraft & Passion for Aviation 📍 Subscribe to Aviation Masters for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the future of GA.

    1h 32m
  4. George Braly on Lean-of-Peak, G100UL, Certification Battles, and Why Aviation Myths Die Hard

    JAN 9

    George Braly on Lean-of-Peak, G100UL, Certification Battles, and Why Aviation Myths Die Hard

    If you have ever been told, “That’s just how piston engines work,” this episode of Aviation Masters might make you raise an eyebrow and then start asking more questions. In this episode, host Mike Busch sits down with George Braly, one of the most influential (and unapologetically analytical) minds in modern general aviation.  Braly is an inventor, trial lawyer, entrepreneur, and the co-founder and chief engineer of General Aviation Modifications, Inc. (GAMI)—the company behind GAMjectors, Tornado Alley Turbo systems, and the FAA-approved high-octane unleaded avgas G100UL. This is not a surface-level conversation. It is a deep, technical, and refreshingly honest look at how innovation actually happens in aviation and why it is often resisted at every step of the way. ⏱️ Chapters 01:17 — Meet George Braly 02:53 — Early Aviation Roots in Oklahoma 04:51 — Learning IFR the Hard Way 07:09 — From Aerospace Engineering to Law School 08:59 — Buying a Bonanza and Returning to Engineering 10:43 — Founding GAMI and Balanced Fuel Injectors 12:29 — Calling the FAA Certification Bluff 15:24 — Lean-of-Peak: Where Angels Fear to Tread 17:10 — Fuel/Air Balance and Engine Monitor Insights 19:01 — Validation from a Continental Engineering Legend 22:05 — Building the Aircraft Engine Test Cell 25:04 — Teaching Thousands of Pilots How Engines Work 28:47 — Manufacturer Pushback on Lean Operations 30:23 — Airline History Confirms Lean Mixture Operations 35:11 — Tornado Alley Turbo and System Improvements 38:08 — Flying a Turbo Cirrus SR22 at Altitude 42:57 — Cirrus Adopts the Tornado Alley System 46:02 — FAA Rule Changes and Engineering Workarounds 49:19 — The Long Fight for Unleaded Avgas (G100UL) 53:16 — Political Resistance Inside Certification 58:15 — Restarting the Fuel Certification Effort 01:02:31 — Detonation Testing at the Edge of Failure 📍 Subscribe to Aviation Masters for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the future of GA.

    1h 16m

  5. 12/03/2025

    About Aviation Masters

    Meet Mike Busch & Aviation Masters. Tune in for: ✈️ Expert insights from aviation pioneers and industry leaders ✈️ Deep dives into aircraft technology, maintenance, and engineering ✈️ Candid conversations about leadership, innovation, and problem-solving in aviation ✈️ Forward-looking discussions about where general aviation is headed Subscribe today & never miss an episode!

    1 min
  • 5 Episodes

5
out of 5
75 Ratings

About

Hosted by Mike Busch, Aviation Masters features in-depth conversations with the innovators, engineers, mechanics, and visionaries shaping the future of general aviation. Each episode dives into how these leaders got their start, what drives their work, and the breakthroughs transforming how we fly, maintain, and think about airplanes. Tune in for: ✈️ Expert insights from aviation pioneers and industry leaders ✈️ Deep dives into aircraft technology, maintenance, and engineering ✈️ Candid conversations about leadership, innovation, and problem-solving in aviation ✈️ Forward-looking discussions about where general aviation is headed Subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Savvy Aviation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Aviation Masters

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