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Meet the cover of our AviNation Fall Magazine, Sara Johnsen. This 23 year-old's journey to be the PIC (pilot in command) of a Pilatus PC-12 is just one of the inspiring articles in our Fall Magazine. Her family's cliche of "the Big Ride" takes on a whole new meaning each time she takes off in this powerful turboprop.
And of course our AviNation Rising Stars sponsored by ASA are definitely on a trajectory course!
We are starting a Book of the Month segment. First up is Uranium Sky, a gripping techno-thriller that stands out for its technical realism and inspiring message for AviNation readers! |
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A heartfelt thank you to our November supporters, FRASCA and Navispire, and our Cornerstone Sponsor, Envoy Air. Their dedication helps young people take flight—please take a moment to check out and support these great partners in youth aviation.
Blue Skies,
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Prepare Your Pilots for Any Situation |
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Prepare your pilots for any situation with high-fidelity simulators that enable realistic training environments.
We’ve been building industry-leading devices for over 60 years, and proudly offer innovative simulators that exceed industry standards while meeting your specific project requirements, budgets and schedules.
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#28: Doves in Flight: The Special
Olympics Airlift
St. Louis’ Aerospace Revolution
Affordable Flying Expo
What happens when aviation becomes a force for good, an engine for opportunity, and a gateway to the skies for everyone? In this episode, host Shawn Staerker takes you on a three-part journey that showcases aviation’s true heart—from compassion to innovation to accessibility.
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You’ll hear how Textron Aviation and hundreds of volunteer pilots have transported over 40,000 Special Olympics athletes to compete on the national stage, proving that flight can lift more than just airplanes—it lifts spirits and possibilities.
Then, we head to St. Louis, a region that’s redefining what an aerospace career looks like. With over 300,000 aviation and aerospace jobs, billions in investment, and high schools partnering directly with industry leaders like Boeing, Gulfstream, and West Star Aviation, St. Louis is showing the nation how to build the workforce of tomorrow—without requiring the traditional college route. Mary Lamie, EVP of Multimodal Enterprises at St. Louis Regional Freightway tells us how.
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#26: Hispanic Heritage in Aviation: Breaking Barriers in the Skies |
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What drives a teenager to climb up on a rooftop in Mexico just to watch airplanes trace paths across the night sky? For Adriana Barragan, it was more than a dream—it was a calling. In this inspiring episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker explores Adriana’s remarkable journey—from struggling to learn English one page at a time to becoming a private pilot, Gulfstream engineer, and now the CEO and co-founder of Fly ORKA, an app reshaping how pilots learn and train.
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#27: Making Aviation Training Affordable, Aeroverse and Drone Soccer! |
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What happens when an old pilot’s logbook sparks a new generation of aviators? In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker introduces us to Brandon Martini, Co-CEO of Stratus Financial, whose personal journey from maxed-out credit cards to helping 1,000 new pilots earn their wings proves one thing: the dream of flight doesn’t have to stay out of reach. From starting a flight school with one plane and a $96 office, to launching a financial platform that partners with over 400 flight schools, Brandon’s story is a blueprint for perseverance and innovation in aviation finance.
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Nov. 16th - 18th
Indianapolis, IN |
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Congratulations AviNation Rising Star
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Eagles Nest Projects Wisconsin is proud to celebrate another major milestone — welcoming our 20th pilot into the ENPWI family. Mitch Hammond, better known by his callsign “Skid Mark,” recently completed his flight test with near perfection. His skill and precision in the cockpit were on full display as he executed a flawless short-field landing that earned him the approving remark, “that was pretty good,” right on the mark — reconfirming his nickname.
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Luke Pylypciw is an aviator, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind his latest venture, SKYSCHOLAR, a consulting firm dedicated to empowering the next generation of pilots through education and expert-driven advising.
Born and raised in New York, Luke’s journey into aviation began with a dream and determination to succeed. After earning his Private Pilot Certificate while attending high school, Luke quickly learned about the abundance of opportunity available to him.
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Educators, CFI's, Parents:
Do you have a Rising Star at your school or flight school
that deserves recognition? |
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My Dad would often say, "Hang on, kid - this is the big ride" as we accelerated onto the highway. Inspired by the movie, Uncommon Valor - a film about never giving up - he instilled that value in me throughout my childhood.
As an only child who grew up in Colorado, I was lucky to have two loving parents at a time when most of my friends had divorced parents. In fact, my dad proposal to my mom at the same airport where I would later learn to fly. Although neither of my parents were pilots, they often visited the small airport to watch planes takeoff when they were dating. Imagine they would someday watch their own daughter taking off from that same runway. |
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AviNation American Dream Tour Stops
Athens, AL on Nov. 3rd
Aberdeen, MS Nov. 4th |
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1,300 High School Students inspired about aviation careers |
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Toms River, NJ - December 3rd.
2026 Stop Planning Underway!
Get Involved! Contact:
310-709-0844 |
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UPCOMING AVINATION EVENTS |
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Toms River, N.J.
December 3rd
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This newsletter is made possible by the support of
AviNation's Cornerstone Supporter: |
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