The AeroExploration Podcast explores aviation’s past and the paths people are taking in the industry today. Join host Jim Schilling for stories of historic flights, modern aviation careers, and the passion that keeps us looking to the skies. Aviation has a past worth remembering, destinations worth exploring, and people worth meeting. This is AeroExploration.
Episodes
Episode 87: Testing Air Cargo Containers With Fire | Inside IATA
21 Sept 2026 · 40 min
What happens when something catches fire inside an aircraft's cargo compartment? And how do you know that the equipment designed to contain that fire will actually work? In Episode 87 of the Flying Midwest Podcast , Jim continues his conversation with Tom Brodowski , this time exploring his work…
Episode 86 - The Hidden Logistics Network Behind Every Airlin
31 Aug 2026 · 51 min
You see the airplane. You check your bag. You board your flight. But have you ever wondered about the massive logistics operation happening behind the scenes? Every day, major airlines move thousands of pieces of baggage and enormous amounts of cargo through a global network of airports, aircraft,…
Episode 85: From Fear of Flying to a Top Aviation Creator - With Sarah Daniels
13 Aug 2026 · 38 min
If you follow aviation on social media, chances are you've seen Sarah Daniels — better known by her channels and social media as Sarahnautics. But Sarah's journey into aviation is anything but ordinary. Before becoming a pilot and one of aviation's most recognizable content creators, Sarah was an…
Episode 84 - How Aviation Changed His Life: A Sun Country Captain's Story
5 Aug 2026 · 49 min
Every pilot has a story, but few are as remarkable as Mark's. Before becoming a respected captain at Sun Country Airlines, Marc was a young man searching for direction. That path led him to the U.S. Navy, where he served on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War—an…
Episode 83 - Your Ultimate Guide to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
16 Jul 2026 · 30 min
Whether you're flying into Oshkosh, driving through the gates for the first time, or simply wondering what all the excitement is about, this episode is your complete guide to EAA AirVenture. We're covering everything a first-time visitor needs to know—from planning your trip and navigating the…
Episode 82 - From Aerospace Engineer to Ground School Pioneer: The Unexpected CEO of Part-Time Pilot
9 Jul 2026 · 52 min
What if you could dramatically cut your flight training costs and accelerate your progress simply by understanding how to study smarter? Nick Smith, a former aerospace engineer turned flight training coach, reveals the insider secrets that helped him finally conquer the challenging private pilot…
Episode 81 - PlaneWX: Better Weather Decisions, Safer Flights
1 Jul 2026 · 1 h 04
After a bit of a break, AeroExploration is back —and we've got an incredible lineup of episodes coming your way! To kick things off, I'm joined by Mark Wolfgang , founder of PlaneWX , for a fascinating conversation about aviation, technology, and weather. Mark shares his unique journey from a…
Episode 80 - Flight Sim Kid Becomes Air Traffic Controller | W/ @PropHatCat
12 Apr 2026 · 1 h 16
What if the voice you hear at 35,000 feet started with a kid behind a computer screen playing flight simulator?This week on AeroExploration, we sit down with @PropHatCat—an air traffic controller and viral aviation creator who’s pulling back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in…
Episode 79 - We're All WRONG about the FAA: Inside the FSDO with Nick Matlock
25 Mar 2026 · 1 h 08
What really happens behind the scenes at the FAA? In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we sit down with FAA Inspector Nick Matlock (@incommand0) to break down one of aviation’s most misunderstood roles. From his journey as a pilot to his transition into the FAA, Nick shares what it’s…
Episode 78 - Saving Airports from SNOWMAGEDDON: Airport Snow Operations
17 Mar 2026 · 22 min
How do airports stay open during massive snowstorms? When a blizzard hits, pilots aren’t the only ones fighting the weather. Behind the scenes, an entire operation is working nonstop to keep runways open, aircraft moving, and passengers safe. In this episode of AeroExploration, we take you inside…
Episode 77 - What It Takes to Livestream MSP Airport: With Alex Redding
12 Mar 2026 · 57 min
What does it take to livestream one of America’s busiest airports? In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast , we sit down with Alex Redding , the creator behind MSP Airport LIVE , the popular plane-spotting livestream focused on Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) . Alex grew…
Episode 76 - Beyond the Airlines: Careers in Aircraft Management
4 Mar 2026 · 57 min
Episode 76 – Finding an Aviation Career Through Aircraft Management Not every aviation career follows the traditional airline pipeline. In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast , Jim sits down with Ellen , a CFI, CFII, and Part 135 commercial pilot working in the specialized world of…
Episode 75- The Second Take: Erik Fletcher's Charter Pilot Life
25 Feb 2026 · 1 h 06
Two years ago, Eric Fletcher joined us to share his incredible journey from Hollywood camera operator to corporate pilot. After years behind the lens capturing iconic moments in shows like Dexter and True Blood , Eric traded red carpets for runways and began a bold second chapter in aviation. Now…
Episode 74 - Aviation Year in Review '25: Under Pressure
31 Dec 2025 · 19 min
In this Aviation 2025 Year in Review episode, we examine a year defined by pressure, scrutiny, and silent success. From the DCA mid-air collision and aviation near misses to Air Traffic Control staffing challenges, infrastructure strain, and the impacts of a government shutdown, the aviation…
Episode 73 - Stuck in Flight Training? You’re Not Alone
12 Dec 2025 · 22 min
In this episode of AeroExploration , Jim opens up about his long, winding journey toward the CFI certificate — a path filled with delays, job changes, health setbacks, family obligations, and everything in between. If your own training has stalled, stretched out, or taken an unexpected detour,…
Episode 72 - Just Plane Silly, Just Got Serious- with Airline Pilot Bryan Turner.
4 Dec 2025 · 55 min
In this episode of AeroExploration , we’re joined once again by aviation YouTuber Bryan Turner to close out his Fly the Transition journey. Two years ago, Bryan shared his goals and early steps toward a career in professional aviation. Today, we pick up that story as he reflects on the final…
Episode 71 - U-2 Spy Plane: The Aircraft, The Missions, and The Pilots Who Fly It
26 Nov 2025 · 40 min
The U-2 “Dragon Lady” remains one of the most iconic and mysterious aircraft ever flown—designed in secrecy, flown at the edge of space, and still serving critical intelligence missions nearly 70 years after its first flight. In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast , we expand on the recent…
Episode 70 - FAA Written Tests and Lesson Plans
20 Nov 2025 · 1 h 12
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast , we kick things off with a practical deep dive into FAA written test prep—how to study smart, avoid common pitfalls, and use solid test-taking strategies on exam day. More importantly, we break down what to do after you’ve completed the test. Your…
Episode 69 - MOSAIC Unlocked: What the FAA Rule Means for Pilots
5 Nov 2025 · 28 min
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast , I dive deep into the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule — a landmark change from the Federal Aviation Administration that expands what pilots can fly, how aircraft are certified, and how our aviation world is…
Episode 68 - Trading Badges for Boarding Passes: A State Trooper's Flight to the Airlines
29 Oct 2025 · 1 h 07
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast , we meet Matt Peschong , a North Dakota Highway Patrol veteran who traded his patrol car for a cockpit. After 15 years in law enforcement, Matt decided it was time to chase the dream he’d held since childhood — becoming an airline pilot. From earning…