S02E54: Oshkosh 2025 (Part 3)

S02E54: Oshkosh 2025 (Part 3)

Author: Brandon Martini & Carson Vasquez August 23, 2025 Duration: 13:58

🎙️ From humble beginnings to milestone moments.

We’re proud to announce Sean Galloway as the winner of our $10,000 Stratus Fly to Success Scholarship. His passion and creativity reminded us why we love supporting the next generation of aviators.

In this episode, Brandon reflects on his first podcast recording at Oshkosh in 2016, the same year he also started his flight school. What began under the wing of a Cessna has grown into nearly 200 episodes of Aviation Mentors.

In these simple moments, we’re reminded why we do this: to give back to the aviation community. As we always say, "by pilots, for pilots". You are the reason we keep going, and we hope this story inspires you as much as it inspires us.

Catch the latest episode of Aviation Mentors on every podcast platform, and be part of the journey with us.

🚀 We are the Aviation Mentors, a 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!

www.aviationmentors.com

Sponsored by Stratus Financial

www.stratus.finance

#AviationMentors #Aviation #StratusFinancial #AviationCommunity #AVGeek #AviationPodcast #GeneralAviation #PilotLife #PilotTraining #StudentPilot #CFI #Podcasts #GAPilots #FuturePilot


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: 100

Aviation Mentors
Podcast Episodes
S02E49: You Know You’re a CFI When… (Part 4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:16
🎙️ Power-on or power-off landings? Mandatory flight following or just a “nice to have”? And should spin training REALLY wait ‘til you’re commercial? In this no-holds-barred episode, Brandon and Carson dive into the great…
S02E48: The Price of Wings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
🎙️ Think becoming a pilot means drowning in debt? Think again. In this episode, we break down the real cost of flight training — and how to afford it without selling your soul (or your car).From hidden expenses and smart…
S02E47: Listener Questions (Part 10) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:15
🎙️ Flying into chaos? Brandon and Carson are here to navigate it—with zero oil pressure, surprise coyotes, and some FAA test nightmares along the way. In this no-holds-barred listener Q&A episode, they tackle real pilot…
S02E46: Letter Of Interpretation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:53
🎙️ Ever wondered if you’re logging PIC time the right way—or if your instructor really needs a medical? Buckle up, because in this episode of Aviation Mentors, Brandon and Carson pull back the curtain on FAA Letters of I…
S02E45: Answering your Questions on Reddit (Part 10) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:45
🎙️ Strap in as Brandon and Carson take a nosedive—intellectually—into the wild world of Reddit aviation questions. From mastering radios and taming turbulence to debating AI air traffic controllers and the shocking reali…
S02E44: Taxi Here, But Not There [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:58
🎙️Ever wonder what really happens behind the badge at big airports? ✈️ In this episode, Brandon shares his first-hand adventure getting SIDA badged at Long Beach — from intimidating security tests to why you might get st…
S02E43: Aviation Without Limits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:27
🎙️In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, host Carson flies solo as he interviews Ryan Bliss—commercial pilot, certified flight instructor, and founder of the Vermont Aviators Association. Ryan shares his inspir…
S02E42: Listener Questions (Part 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:44
🎙️In this episode of The Aviation Mentors, Brandon and Carson flip the script, get a little heartfelt, and crack each other up while diving into another round of listener questions! From mastering night flight like a nin…
S02E41: Headset Showdown: Lightspeed Delta Zulu vs. Bose & David Clark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:22
🎙️Looking for the best aviation headset for your cockpit?In this episode of AviationMentors, Brandon and Carson unbox the Lightspeed Delta Zulu and give you a pilot’s-eye view of its most talked-about features — from bui…
S02E40: From Outdated to Upgraded: The $18B ATC Transformation Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:58
Is America’s air traffic control system stuck in the past?🎙️In this episode of Aviation Mentors, Brandon and Carson take a grounded look at the challenges facing U.S. air traffic control — from outdated technology (yes,…