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

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

Author: Brandon Martini & Carson Vasquez August 22, 2026 Duration: 29:10

✈️ 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 requirements
  • Why flying gliders builds stronger rudder skills, energy management, and stick-and-rudder fundamentals that power pilots often miss
  • How Adriana's flight test background shaped the FlyORKA app, built to help pilots build up their skills step by step, learn more at flyorka.com
  • Her 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.


Every Friday, Brandon Martini and Carson Vasquez settle in for a conversation that feels like hanging out in the best kind of pilot lounge. Their Aviation Mentors podcast is built on the idea that the world of flight is vast, connecting everything from engineering and history to personal stories and global culture. They bring their own perspectives as active aviators, mentors, and entrepreneurs to each discussion, creating a space that’s as welcoming to a first-time student pilot as it is to a seasoned airline captain or someone who just loves the sound of a radial engine. You’ll hear episodes that dive into the nuances of technique, the stories behind iconic aircraft and airports, and the broader ways aviation shapes our society and sense of place. It’s a weekly exploration driven by genuine passion, moving far beyond textbook talk to capture the real conversations aviators have when they’re just sharing their love for flying. Tune in for thoughtful, wide-ranging dialogues that remind you why the aviation community is so uniquely compelling.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Aviation Mentors
Podcast Episodes
How Much Fuel Reserve Do You Actually Need? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Fuel starvation kills more pilots than mechanical failure ever will, so why do so many still skip the fuel stop? ⛽In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down real fuel exhaustion accide…
Can AI Get You Through Your Checkride? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:25
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…
Buying or Selling a Plane? Here's the $50,000 Mistake to Watch For [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
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 buyin…
What It's Really Like to Fly Into Oshkosh and Camp Under Your Wing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:19
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…
Part 107 Drone Rules Every Pilot Needs to Know in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:37
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 th…
You Failed Your Checkride. Now What? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
🌍 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…
What Is the Pentagon's 1260H List and Why Is Cirrus On It? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:57
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 Cirru…