151. From Cargo to Carry-Ons: Flying ACMI in a 747 and Building Better Bags
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Release Date: 12/17/2024
174. B-17 to F-4: A 102-Year-Old WWII Aviator’s Incredible Journey
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
WWII & Vietnam combat pilot Col. Richard “Dick” Bushong takes us from 155-knot B-17 climbs to Mach 2.1 in the F-4, describing 28 hairy missions, dead-reckoning nav, and sheet-metal patch art. He’s 102, still volunteers every Thursday at Tucson’s 390th Memorial Museum, and wrote My Wars to capture the stories. Grab a coffee, tighten your formation, and hear a masterclass in staying alive—plus the morale-crushing day HQ “prorated” his tour. Four engines, two out, no brakes? No problem. Learn more about the in Tucson, AZ Check out Col. Bushong's book Show Notes 0:00 Intro 6:00...
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173. Descend Via Phraseology, Aviation YouTube Deep Dive, and CFI Survival Tips
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Dylan and Max are recording from hotel rooms across the country and catching up after some time off. They kick things off with a deep dive into aviation YouTube, comparing backcountry flying with ferrying retired Airbuses from Asia. In the mailbag, they respond to listeners with questions about juggling a corporate flying gig while working for a major airline, updates from a newly minted high school grad CFI, and a debate on whether you need to report vacating altitudes during "descend via" clearances. Flight Advice wraps the episode with tips for a low-time pilot who just landed a chief pilot...
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172. What does it take to reinstate your lapsed CFI?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Dylan and Max are joined (again) by everyone’s favorite multi-hyphenate pilot, Seth Lake. This time, he walks them through the process of reinstating their expired CFI certificates—turns out it’s not as terrifying as they thought. From FOIs to ACS, Seth breaks it down like a DPE Jedi. If you've let your CFI lapse, or you're just morbidly curious, this one’s for you. | Show Notes 0:00 Intro 5:01 Keeping CFI Current 15:58 Reinstatement 31:27 Creating this Document 39:02 On Ground vs In Plane 58:24 Emergency Operations & After Landing 1:07:05 Wrap Up Questions Be sure to...
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171. What's the Right Way to Be a Low-Time SIC in BizAv?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Max shares his PM flying grind and how soft pay is easing the sting—plus a soggy New Orleans beignet run. The Mailbag is loaded this week with tales from a long-haul trucker pilot, NetJets rejection therapy, type rating dilemmas, and the dreaded training contracts making a comeback. In Flight Advice, a low-time pilot lands a dream SIC gig and asks: how do you not screw this up? Max and Dylan break down how to stand out and stay sharp as a new jet FO. Show Notes 0:00 Intro 2:16 AMs, PMs, and Max’s Musings 17:29 Reviews 22:09 Mailbag 34:02 Flight Advice Be sure to subscribe to to...
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170. What Should You Do When the FAA Calls?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Forrest Owens, aviation attorney and private pilot, joins Dylan and Max to dive into the often murky waters of FAA enforcement, pilot liability, and what every professional and private pilot needs to know before picking up the phone. From NASA reports to ADS-B nightmares, this episode is your legal safety briefing—with a side of GoPro caution. Pilots, take notes… and maybe double-check your insurance policy. Forrest Owens | Email: Phone: 888-635-9529 (888-6-FLY-LAW) Show Notes 0:00 Intro 5:16 Pilot Deviation 15:39 Handling a Phone Call 22:48 AOPA & Liability 37:21 Umbrella...
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169. Should You Bet Your Career on an Aviation Degree?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Dylan and Max kick off with hotel room hacks and tire maintenance DIYs (bed liner on bush wheels, anyone?). In the mailbag, listeners chime in on cicadas, bar recs, AI dolls, and a heartfelt shoutout to a rockstar CFI. Flight Advice features a double header: first, whether to stick with an aviation degree or pivot, and second, a pilot blindsided by a mysterious 135 termination—and the training contract bill that followed. Show Notes 0:00 Intro 4:41 Tire Coating and Cicadas 8:48 Flying Diversions 18:02 Reviews 19:23 Mailbag 30:01 Double Flight Advice Be sure to subscribe to to...
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168. Should You Chase Turbine Time in Dubai?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Dylan and Max debut their slick new intro track, give a proper welcome to their AI assistant "Reginald Sage," and swap tales from off-airport landings and Vegas tire goo mysteries. The Mailbag is packed with listener feedback on etiquette videos, bird segments, and even a nighttime trucking dispatch. In Flight Advice, a 26-year-old CFI wonders if a gig flying in Dubai is a golden ticket or a trap. The guys break it down with laughs, caution, and a few hydration tips. YouTube Video Show Notes 0:00 Intro & Reginald Sage 6:37 Max’s Musings: Formation Flying & More 26:49 Reviews 30:40...
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167. What Happens When the Market and Your Airline Career Both Stall?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Tim Pope returns to the 21.Five cockpit with a fresh instrument rating and a new venture—360 Aviation Advisors. He breaks down Q1’s market turbulence, political biases in financial behavior, and how pilots can prep for leaner flying days. Plus, Dylan and Max dive into “Captain Lifestyle Syndrome” and how to navigate financial FOMO with some flight advice. Show Notes 0:00 Intro 6:20 Updates and Q1 15:03 Planning For The Next 6-12 Months 20:53 Airline Slowdowns 33:31 Flight Advice: Realistic Pilot Life Be sure to subscribe to to see our luggage review videos! Our sponsors:...
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166. Why Aren’t More Pilots Talking About Healthspan?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
This episode kicks off with Dylan and Max diving into pilot health: UV exposure, compression socks, and the harsh truth about retirement and quality of life. In the Mailbag, listeners share wild MU-2 stories, dream trips, and thoughts on skipping the CFI route. The Flight Advice segment checks in with a second-career pilot trying to break into corporate aviation, revealing how timing, networking, and persistence are the real flight plan to success. This one’s for anyone trying to stay in the air—and out of the ER. Show Notes 0:00 Intro & Updates 4:33 Max’s Musings 16:38 Pilot Health...
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165. Should You Really Jump Ship for 15 Grand More?
21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast
Dr. Chris Broyhill is back with updates on pilot compensation, market shifts in 2025, and a sneak peek at his upcoming leadership book for bizav professionals. We dig into the real value of the AirComp Calculator, how to use salary data without tanking your next negotiation, and what separates the professionals from the job-hoppers. Plus, Dr. Broyhill drops some spicy takes on military-to-civilian leadership advice. is business aviation’s only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50...
info_outlineIn this episode, we chat with 747 captain and Paradox Aviation Luggage co-founder, Derrek Khajavi. He gives us the inside scoop on ACMI flying, what it’s like hauling everything from lithium batteries to cows, and why he’s clinging to the 747 throttles for life. Plus, we dive into his innovative luggage company and how he’s solving everyday pilot problems, one aluminum bag at a time.
Check out Paradox Aviation's Luggage
Show Notes
3:07 All About ACMI
11:41 The 747 & Getting the Position
20:54 Starting Paradox Aviation
40:37 Packing Techniques
50:45 Other Feature Considerations
1:00:15 Story Time
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Our sponsors:
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Tim Pope is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His financial planning practice provides services to aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans. Tim helps clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, organizing & optimizing resources, planning, implementing, and monitoring their financial plan. Visit https://link.21fivepodcast.com/timothy-pope to learn more. Check out Tim's new podcast: The Pilot Money Podcast
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Employee Compensation Software That Answers "What's the Going Rate?"
The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation’s only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds.
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