Best Grumman Podcasts (2024)

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#73 - I'M GOING TO (see the) MARS!! 41:54

3M ago41:54

41:54

Parked up atop the ramp at her home in Sprout Lake since the 2016 Oshkosh Airshow, the Mars will soon fly once more. This will be an historic event. One of the last times, a 1940’s era, 4 engine flying boat, one with a wingspan greater than a 747-300, will ever fly again. And I had to get there to check it out myself. Follow me on Instagram! https:…

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#72 - Around Australia in a Searey with David and Cathy 53:35

7M ago53:35

53:35

Responding to an advert on Facebook, Cathy Babis is joining David Geers on a journey around Australia in his Searey amphibian, taking around 60 days with many incredible stops along the way! Follow their journey with the link below! https://www.100asa.com.au Buy my kids book Marty the Mallard from me directly! https://forms.gle/BaR42kZAq7SPWiXPA Fo…

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#71 - Seabee Owner and Former Fighter Pilot Jim Whalley 55:26

1y ago55:26

55:26

Last year in the month of April, I embarked on what would end up being one of the most exciting weeks of my aviation career, training 7 highly experienced pilots how to fly the floating hull aircraft on a 75-year-old Republic Seebee. I had always dreamt of flying the seebee, but never before had I even seen one until I was in formation with the one…

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#70 - 23yo Aussie Flying Floats in Alaska, Ollie O'Halloran 1:21:35

1+ y ago1:21:35

1:21:35

Every seaplane pilot has dreamt of doing this at one stage, packing their suitcase, requesting an upgrade to business but getting shafted in economy for 14 hours, ok maybe not that part, but all seaplane pilots look at flying in Alaska as one of the pinnacles in the industry, and Aussie pilot Ollie O’Halloran is doing just that. Support On the Step…

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#69 - John Ramsden and Mallard's, Twin Otters, Buccaneers and the rest! 1:27:26

1+ y ago1:27:26

1:27:26

A self-confessed lucky bugger who answered a phone call back in the early 80’s that changed the direction of his career forever, John Ramsden took that opportunity and has flown seaplanes around the world including both the radial and turbine mallard, the twin otter and continues flying today in the Cessna caravan amphibian. A true Aussie seaplane …

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26. Season 1 Wrap Up & Look Back 53:53

2y ago53:53

53:53

Sticking with our original plan, this is the 26th and final episode of the F-14 Tomcast season 1. We change it up for this episode, with “Jell-O” Aiello of the Fighter Pilot Podcast interviewing hosts “Crunch” Snyder and “Bio” Baranek. We discuss favorite part of the podcast series, missed opportunities, and more. In addition, we present the result…

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25. Retiring the F-14 Tomcat 1:05:45

2y ago1:05:45

1:05:45

All good things come to an end, and so it was with the Tomcat’s U.S. Navy service. The end came in 2006, when the final Navy F-14 squadron -- VF-31 Tomcatters – shut down their F-14Ds for the last time. There’s a lot more to the story than the Tomcat Sunset ceremony at NAS Oceana and a final flight, such as the final deployment and behind-the-scene…

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24. The F-14 Tomcat in Operation Iraqi Freedom 1:36:00

2+ y ago1:36:00

1:36:00

Coalition combat returned to Iraq in 2003 with Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Among U.S. Navy forces were the Bounty Hunters of VF-2, which brought F-14D Tomcats to the fight. This episode goes into detail on the big fighter’s performance in a challenging threat environment. Our guests are former Tomcat pilot “Grumpy” Kimberly and RIO “Boog” Dennen…

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23. Claws Out: F-14 Tomcats over Afghanistan post-9/11 1:11:59

2+ y ago1:11:59

1:11:59

In response to the 9/11 attacks, American and coalition forces commenced combat operations in Afghanistan (and other locations), with conventional operations commencing 7 October 2001. It was an incredible period in recent history, and our guest was a key participant. We talk to former F-14 RIO Mike Peterson, callsign “Tung,” about what it was like…

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22. Firing the AIM-54 in Anger 1:04:19

2+ y ago1:04:19

1:04:19

The AIM-54 Phoenix missile was a major part of the F-14 program: it affected the Tomcat’s design and was the weapon that gave the Tomcat its unique and most impressive capabilities. During the Tomcat’s three-plus decades of service with the US Navy, however, American crews had only three combat Phoenix launches, and none of them were successful. Ou…

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21. Flying the F-14 Tomcat Air Show Demo 1:24:13

2+ y ago1:24:13

1:24:13

Sure, you’ve seen an air show -- and the lucky ones have seen a Tomcat demonstration, or demo – but you will be amazed at what it took to train for the performance and what it was like to fly a show in the big fighter! Learn about the importance of crew coordination; guidelines for air shows, including distance from the crowd, altitude; the scary m…

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20. "Speed & Angels", the Documentary (not Movie) 1:07:04

2+ y ago1:07:04

1:07:04

Aviation movie fans are likely familiar with the movie 'Speed & Angels,' a documentary that was released in 2008 and still gets high praise for its scenes of fighter aviation as well as its realism. The film follows two upcoming F-14 pilots in training, reveals their life stories and dreams, and continues as they enter the fleet. Our guests are one…

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19. The Tomcat and "Top Gun" (the Movie) 1:48:45

2+ y ago1:48:45

1:48:45

One of the stars of the 1986 movie 'Top Gun' was the F-14 Tomcat, and we dig deep into what it took to create this memorable film. From the canopy-to-canopy scene, tower fly-by, and low-altitude flights over the desert, filming Top Gun required careful coordination and skillful performance from all involved, including the Navy aviators, camera oper…

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18. Adversary Pilots Battle the F-14 Tomcats 1:05:06

2+ y ago1:05:06

1:05:06

The U.S. Navy maintained a robust force of adversaries to provide air-to-air training for its fighter squadrons in the 1970s and 1980s, proving that it really had learned from its experience in Vietnam. Our guest was a Tomcat pilot who served as an adversary, flying the A-4 Skyhawk and the F-21 Kfir – an Israeli product based on the sleek Mirage 5,…

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17. Keeping 'em Flying: Tomcat Technicians 1:11:57

2+ y ago1:11:57

1:11:57

The AWG-9 radar was one of the systems that made the Tomcat a remarkable fighter when it was introduced. It had exceptional range and multi-shot capability but required specialized maintenance to operate at full capability. We talk to two former Aviation Electronics Technicians – ATs in Navy rating language – who give us a different perspective on …

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16. Tomcats over Kosovo 1:22:36

2+ y ago1:22:36

1:22:36

The Tomcat’s debut as a precision strike-fighter came in 1999 with NATO Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. We talk to a former F-14 RIO who played a key role in the Tomcat’s successful performance and reveals unexpected episodes from combat missions. Our guest, retired Rear Admiral Dell “Snapper” Bull, deployed with VF-14 aboard the USS Theodore Roo…

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#68 - Icon A5 Dealer Gary-James Knight 1:11:12

2+ y ago1:11:12

1:11:12

Gary was halfway through his flight training for his commercial licence when his dream of becoming an airline pilot changed. He discontinued his training, became a real-estate agent and got into sales. An add for a sales job at Icon came to his attention and now Gary spends his days selling one of the worlds most popular new flying boats. Support O…

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#67 - My wife Jenna Bolton! Helicopter Pilot and Mallard Business Manager 1:32:19

2+ y ago1:32:19

1:32:19

Jenna was once a helicopter pilot but is now the business manager of the Mallards I fly… yes yes yes, that makes her my boss, but she’s a great boss, well really a leader because she does a great job at what she does and I’m so proud and excited to have her on the podcast. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follo…

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15. The Air Force F-15 Pilot who Flew the F-14 1:32:12

2+ y ago1:32:12

1:32:12

The F-14 and F-15 were developed only a few years apart, and their intended missions had many overlaps, so a rivalry was only natural. We talk to a USAF F-15C pilot who was assigned to a Navy F-14A squadron for an exchange tour and provides wide-ranging and entertaining comments on squadron environment, training, and other topics – as well as the f…

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#66 - Gweduck Flying Boat with Walter Fellows 1:06:57

2+ y ago1:06:57

1:06:57

When anyone talks about twin engine flying boats, they think of the Grumman aircraft, the Goose, Widgeon, Mallard and Albatross. Yes ok, there are others, the Catalina for example, but they are all very old. We only just heard of the rebirth of the Albatross a couple of episodes ago, but that’s a long way away and is a huge aircraft. The Gweduck co…

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#65 - Katie Cowley's Career So Far 1:10:37

2+ y ago1:10:37

1:10:37

She has chased jobs around the world, and is now in a small commuter airline, but has some great stories to tell from her experiences in the seaplane world. Katie is a very cheery girl who brings in great positivity to any conversation! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instag…

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14. Night Eyes for the Tomcat 1:02:44

2+ y ago1:02:44

1:02:44

U.S. Navy carrier aviation underwent significant changes in the 1990s, with retirement of several types and debate over the future. A team of visionaries realized that the F-14 Tomcat would be much more valuable if it could improve its multi-mission performance and do it quickly – and got to work adapting the Air Force LANTIRN* system to make the T…

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#64 - The Turbine Albatross with Amphibian Aerospace Industries CEO Dan Webster 1:23:01

2+ y ago1:23:01

1:23:01

There’s been a lot of talk lately about this project, with news articles, videos and multiple interviews available online and with any ambitious project such as this, there is certainly anticipation and expectation, along with scrutiny, and as much as AAI have a cohort of people passionately getting on board in a show of support, they certainly hav…

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13. Rig the Barricade! 1:07:23

2+ y ago1:07:23

1:07:23

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ops are a series of complex and challenging events for the pilot, RIO or other crew, and shipboard personnel. There is a back-up for almost everything, and the ultimate backup is a barricade recovery. We talk to a pilot and RIO about their night barricade recovery while flying with VF-2 aboard the USS Ranger in 1989. Page…

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#63 - Seaplane Insurance with Ian Tait 1:14:39

2+ y ago1:14:39

1:14:39

Ian discusses how insurance works and specifically insurance in the seaplane world. It’s a conversation a little bit different than the normal but I’m sure you will all learn something new just as I did! EPISODE NOTES TEMPLATE Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/th…

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12. F-14 Tomcats in Desert Storm 1:21:05

2+ y ago1:21:05

1:21:05

Operation Desert Storm, which started in January 1991, was a landmark in modern warfare and the F-14 Tomcat made some important contributions. Former F-14 pilot “Fuzzy” Matheson and RIO “Woodie” Wood, who flew combat missions with VF-84 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, talk about taking the big fighter into combat. Fuzzy and Woodie share fascinat…

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#62 - South Coast Seaplanes Owner Tim Gilbo 1:20:13

3y ago1:20:13

1:20:13

His company, South Coast Seaplanes operate Maule aircraft on the South Coast, of NSW Australia, and Tim talks about how he got to where he is today which certainly wasn’t the path I was thinking, as well as seaplane training and seaplane insurance! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https:…

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11. F-14D Combat Systems 1:44:52

3y ago1:44:52

1:44:52

The F-14D "Super" Tomcat introduced a host of new combat systems: APG-71 radar, Infrared Search and Track (IRST), and more. On this episode, we interview combat-experienced F-14D RIO “Fun” Mhley to get the scoop on how they increased combat effectiveness of the Tomcat's ultimate version; it was a lot more than just an improved radar! Support this p…

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#61 - Aviat Husky Seaplane Dealer Kevin Oaks 1:04:10

3y ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Kevin was also a sales manager at Progressive Aerodyne selling the Searey Aircraft and is also representing the Seabear Russian built twin engine flying boat made famous by Michael smith when he flew it from England to Australia retracing the 1919 great Air Race on its 100 year anniversary two years ago. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.…

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10. Photo Reconnaissance Tomcats 1:23:28

3y ago1:23:28

1:23:28

The photo reconnaissance mission required a high level of aircrew proficiency, and could be as challenging and exciting as any TACAIR missions. The F-14 performed “recce” using TARPS – a massive pod on the Tomcat’s belly that carried multiple cameras – for much of its career. We interview RIOs from early and later in the TARPS program, “Rooter” Roo…

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#60 - Old Pilot Bold Pilot Blaine Bjarnarson 1:14:47

3y ago1:14:47

1:14:47

Blaine has written a book about his life called Old Pilot Bold Pilot and I have included links to his facebook page in the show notes, but before reading about his career, let’s hear about it first! LINKS TO BUY BLAINE'S BOOK BELOW! (BLAINE PREFERS IF YOU BUY VIA HIS FACEBOOK PAGE THROUGH WHATSAPP TO AVOID COMMISSION) https://www.facebook.com/TwinO…

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#59 - Dr Ben Williams, Private Seaplane Owner 1:12:14

3y ago1:12:14

1:12:14

Working full time as an orthopaedic surgeon, Ben is the owner of 2 aircraft, it was three only a few months ago, and has a great passion for aviation and seaplanes. It is only right that Ben is the first guest back to the show after a break mainly because he is the one keeping me too busy to do interviews! So blame him folks!Working full time as an…

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9. Flying the F-14D "Super Tomcat" 1:21:13

3y ago1:21:13

1:21:13

This episode gives you the full story of the F-14D, sometimes known as the Super Tomcat, as only “Jungle” Jones can tell it! The D-model Tomcat brought powerful engines and many other improved systems to the fight, and our guest is enthusiastically reports on their effectiveness. Jungle was an F-14D pilot and Topgun instructor, and takes us into hi…

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End of Year Bonus - December 2021 38:26

3y ago38:26

38:26

Crunch and Bio tell the stories behind their callsigns and answer questions: Fuzzbusters, fuel ladders, switching between the Tomcat and Hornet, and more! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/f-14_tomcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsBy BVR Productions

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8. Tomcat Ordnancemen 1:29:59

3y ago1:29:59

1:29:59

Hot steel on target, on time. That’s the difference between a strike fighter feared by the enemy and a parade aircraft. The men who enable that mission effectiveness are Aviation Ordnancemen, who proudly call themselves “Ordies.” In this wild episode we interview two Ordies who embody the professionalism and fighting spirit of the rating: Randy Zei…

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7. Filming "The Final Countdown" 1:03:16

3y ago1:03:16

1:03:16

The first big-screen appearance of the F-14 was in the 1980 sci-fi adventure “The Final Countdown,” which has gained fans and respect as the years go by. We get the full story from a former Tomcat pilot who flew many of the memorable scenes in this Tomcat classic. Al “Shoes” Mullen was a lieutenant in VF-84 who had recently completed the Navy’s TOP…

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6. Developing the FAC-A Mission for the F-14 1:12:20

3y ago1:12:20

1:12:20

After twenty years of strictly air-to-air missions, the F-14 community embraced air-to-ground, including the challenging role of Forward Air Controller – Airborne (FAC-A). This episode addresses the Tomcat’s performance in FAC-A as well as the big picture of this demanding mission. A former F-14 pilot, retired Captain Paul “PK” Averna was an instru…

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5. Flying Iranian Tomcats 1:04:11

3y ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Most people familiar with the F-14 know Iran was the only non-U.S. country to operate the big fighter, but they likely know little of the Persian Cat experience. This candid interview with a former Iranian Tomcat pilot takes viewers where few have gone: inside the Iranian F-14 program. We hide the identity of our guest for his personal security, bu…

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4. Flying the F-14 Tomcat 1:33:17

3y ago1:33:17

1:33:17

When introduced, the F-14 Tomcat set new standards for maneuverability and controllability, making it a great dogfighter. In this episode, a renowned F-14 pilot describes those capabilities and goes further, providing valuable insights on topics from flying skills to Navy training programs. Retired U.S. Navy Captain Sam “Slammer” Richardson takes u…

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3. The AWG-9 Radar and AIM-54 Phoenix Missile 1:13:02

3y ago1:13:02

1:13:02

The AWG-9 radar and weapons control system was one of the defining features of the F-14A Tomcat. Its multi-target track and missile control capabilities were unique, particularly when paired with the remarkable AIM-54 Phoenix. However, a skilled radar intercept officer (RIO) was required to achieve their peak performance. On this episode, former F-…

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2. The F-14 Tomcat Joins the Fleet 1:17:59

3y ago1:17:59

1:17:59

What was it like to fly the F-14A Tomcat in the early days when everything was new and different? Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Marty "Streak" Chanik and Captain “Ler” Brad Poeltler, members of the VF-1 “Wolfpack” for the F-14 second operational deployment (1976-77), share vivid memories and exciting flying stories from how they were initially adm…

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1. Flight Testing the New F-14 Tomcat 1:55:06

3y ago1:55:06

1:55:06

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the U.S. Navy’s frontline fighter for 30 years. A revolutionary design when new, the 'big fighter' remained potent throughout its illustrious career. But aircraft like this don’t come easy, and the Tomcat experienced significant development challenges during flight test. Legendary Grumman test pilot Kurt Schroeder pulls …

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0. Welcome to the F-14 Tomcast! 7:06

3y ago7:06

7:06

On this inaugural episode, Fighter Pilot Podcast founder and host, Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello introduces former F-14 pilot Craig "Crunch" Snyder and RIO Dave "Bio" Baranek who will host season 1 of this podcast. Crunch and Bio then explain a few details listeners can expect. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/f-14_tomcast/donations Advert…

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#58 - Flying Boat Film Creator Dirk Braun 26:47

3y ago26:47

26:47

Ok onto todays guest. For a while now, Instagram has been in awe of the content being produced by the account “Flying Boat Film”, but we didn’t know what it was all about! Scenes of Albatross touching down in beautiful locations were getting us very excited about a future movie coming to our screens on a topic we are all crazy in love with. Well at…

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#57 - Seaplanes at EAA AirVenture 2021 44:38

3+ y ago44:38

44:38

Oshkosh 2021 is upon us now and one of the coolest parts of the show is obviously the seaplane base! If you’ve never been before, like me, or you’re gearing up to go, Steve McCaughey shares what we will be expecting at this years event. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instag…

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#56 - Grumman Widgeon Owner Mike Rutter 1:00:51

3+ y ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Mike Rutter is a young American who has restored a Grumman Widgeon left in a hangar for over 20 years waiting for its next owner. Taking over 3 years to complete, he now enjoys the nostalgia of owning a 75 year old Grumman Flying Boat! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagr…

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#55 - New Zealand Radial Otter Pilot Steven Newland 1:30:02

3+ y ago1:30:02

1:30:02

On today's episode we’re talking Ag cats on floats, otter radials on floats, floatplane mountain flying, resume building, obscure medical conditions, hungry Tiger sharks below the floats, point of no return seaplane flying, beach bikini’s, starting seaplane companies, fishing from seaplanes, hammocks on seaplanes, New Zealand float flying… and no, …

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#54 - Angle of Attack founder Chris Palmer 1:05:14

3+ y ago1:05:14

1:05:14

Chris Palmer has created a great business called Angle of Attack, well known for incredible video content through YouTube and Instagram, but also running a great online ground school through his website. WEBSITE: https://www.angleofattack.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/angleofattack/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDe2nrsxVaoI…

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#53 - Chalk's Ocean Airways Senior Captain Arthur Campbell 1:28:36

3+ y ago1:28:36

1:28:36

Arthur Campbell flew all of the Grumman Flying Boats at Chalk's Ocean Airways in his 18 year career with the company. His stories of his time flying off the water will take you back to the good old days of Flying Boat aviation in Miami and the Bahamas. Chalk's Ocean Airways Orlando Sentinel Article: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1988-…

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#52 - Mark Muscat: My first floatplane job was at age 49! 1:03:10

3+ y ago1:03:10

1:03:10

After gaining his commercial pilots licence at age 39, Australian Mark Muscat found a passion for seaplanes as he entered the sector late in his career. His aviation highlights include flying De Havilland Beavers and Cessna Caravans in the Whitsunday Island and taking command of a Single Turbine Otter in Fiji,…

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