Designing a brand new sport plane, with Steve Wood

Designing a brand new sport plane, with Steve Wood

Author: Sporty's Pilot Shop September 23, 2025 Duration: 46:19

Designing a clean sheet airplane and introducing it to the world by flying to Oshkosh is a bold plan, but that’s exactly what Steve Wood did this year. He tells us all about the Spirit Engineering SE-1, including why staying quiet was important for the company, why good looks matter in an airplane, and why they designed their own engine. Steve also worked at Cessna many years ago, so he talks about the glory days of GA, including the launch of the Cessna Caravan. In the Ready to Copy segment, Steve discusses common design mistakes, the Skypup ultralight, and the Cessna T303.

SHOW LINKS:

* Spirit Engineering: https://spiriteng.com/se-1-aircraft/

* SE-1 video: https://youtu.be/9BMg5ECULm0

* PilotWorkshops Mastery: https://pilotworkshop.com/


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens in the cockpit or after a flight, where the real stories and honest opinions come out. Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's captures that feeling, sitting down for genuine talks with some of the most compelling people in aviation. You’ll hear from flight instructors breaking down the real challenges of training, alongside airshow performers sharing the moments that truly tested their skill. Each episode goes deeper than the usual hangar talk, aiming to connect with anyone who feels that pull to the sky. Wrapping up every conversation is a favorite segment, “ready to copy,” a rapid-fire round that cuts past the cliches to reveal what each guest truly believes. This podcast, presented by Sporty's Pilot Shop, is built for those who live and breathe flying, offering a mix of grounded advice and unforgettable stories from the people who know aviation best. It’s about the shared language and passion that defines the flying life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's
Podcast Episodes
34. Top Gun training and test pilot stories, with Chuck Coleman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:32
Test pilot. Airshow pilot. Instructor for Top Gun: Maverick actors. Chuck Coleman might have one of the most interesting resumes in aviation, and he has plenty of stories to back up this experience. He talks about traini…
33. Aviation trends, both hype and reality, with Richard Aboulafia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:21
Are you excited about supersonic business jets or electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft? Richard Aboulafia is going to disappoint you: "I'm here with my bucket of cold water.” The always-entertaining aviation an…
32. Air traffic control tips and tricks, with RJ Ratliff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
Do controllers like to get PIREPs? Do you need to read back a Class B clearance? What is a Brasher warning? Experienced air traffic controller (and active GA pilot) RJ Ratliff answers these questions and many more in thi…
31. New product successes and failures, with Sporty's Doug Ranly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:37
What are the most revolutionary aviation products of the last 25 years? If you immediately thought of a glass panel or a new airplane, Doug Ranly wants you to think again. As the director of new products at Sporty's Pilo…

«1...678910