In this episode I talk to Mike Daniel from Truckee, CA who you might know from his airplane, a CubCrafters FX3 Carbon Cub with a Cheshire Cat logo on the side.  Mike and I talk about flying around Lake Tahoe, learning to fly the CarbonCub and what this means for families and influencing future generations about aviation.  Mike also has a YouTube channel with a unique interview format…his "Backseat Stories" puts people in the backseat and he interviews them while flying over notable or unique locations related to the guest.  It's a fascinating format that it worth the watch! 

Watch the Cheshire Cat Concept Video HERE

You can find Mike's YouTube Channel HERE

In this episode I talk to Steve Cox who built his own airplane, a RANS-21, and then flew it to Alaska and back.  Steve is a retired Air Force F-15C pilot and we talk about translating military flying into backcountry flying.  He talks about his crash in his Bonanza and gives an update from a story he recounted on the Pilot to Pilot Podcast.  We talk about his adventures since retiring and he experience building a plane for the first time and completing the FAA Advisory Circular 90-89C…a process he documented on his YouTube Channel.    

 Follow Steve on Instagram and Youtube

Link to FAA Advisory Circular 90-89C

Steve's episode on the Pilot to Pilot Podcast 

In this episode I talk to Trevor Aldridge, known as "Dozen" in the military and on his Instagram and YouTube channels.  Dozen is a former Thunderbird pilot that has turned his attention to the backcountry after the Air Force.  He is the demo pilot for Patriot Aircraft and flies The Super Patriot MkII all around the country, but mostly around the Ozarks.  This is a great look at what the backcountry has to offer in Arkansas and the Ozarks.  Dozen also describes the details Patriot Aircraft put into the aircraft and how it performs off-airport.  

Dozen on Instagram

Dozen Duzit on YouTube

Patriot Aircraft

Fly Oz

Dozen's Interview on the Pilot to Pilot Podcast

In this episode I talk to Brett Baker, a former Air Traffic Control and current pilot who lives in Alaska.  Brett's channel is gaining a rapid following because of his phenomenal storytelling, amazing video quality, and top-notch editing.  Brett has a passion for aviation and endeavors to promote general and backcountry aviation so that it remains a vital resource for pilots of the next generation.  Brett's family fleet includes a Cessna 180, Cessna 170, Beechcraft Bonanza and Piper Pacer.  His videos mostly focus on Alaska but he often finds his way down to the lower 48 so his backcountry experiences are extensive.  He also is donating money to support the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) through his YouTube channel for a limited time. This is a great listen to hear more about flying in Alaska and beyond… tune in next week for part 2 of this great conversation with Brett.  

Watch This Flight Explains Everything

Follow Brett on YouTube and Instagram 

Here are survival gear requirements in Alaska

This is part 2 of my conversation with Brett Baker.  Be sure to check the previous episode for the first half of the conversation.  In this episode we talk more about Alaska flying, gear to keep you safe, and more about his fleet of backcountry airplanes.  And just a reminder, Brett is donating money to support The Recreational Aviation Foundation for new subscribers on his YouTube channel "Cleared to Adventure" and through sales on his website (both linked below).  He's doing this through the end of August 2025.  

Follow Brett on YouTube and Instagram 

Here are survival gear requirements in Alaska

Visit the Cleared to Adventure website

In this episode I talk to Don Wade, from Patriot Aircraft.  He, along with his brother Ron, have been very involved in the Cub business for many years…starting from engines and fabric, to J-3 restorations, and now the super cub variant they call Super Patriot.  We talk about getting started and how the Super Patriot came to be.  Along the way we talk about the airplane's finer details and what they all mean to the company.  Through this look behind the curtain at Patriot Aircraft we get a glimpse at what they're up to and what's coming down the line.  This is a great listen to hear about how the planes are made and the level of detail required to make them successful. 

Here's a link to the Patriot Aircraft website

Follow them on Instagram

In this episode I talk to Dave Rowe from "Texas Outdoor Ventures" on YouTube.  Dave started flying in 2014 and jumped off-airport in 2021 in Central Texas.  He flies a Highlander and now the social media-famous "Freedom Fox", a Kitfox upgraded and flown by Trent Palmer previously.  This conversation covers how Dave got started flying, how he found the Freedom Fox, and his latest escapades with a group of friends in an attempt to see Alaska.  There is lots to talk about and plenty of twists to this story! 

Dave on YouTube Texas Outdoor Ventures

Dave on Instagram Freedom Fox Adventures

This week I talk to Bill McGlynn,  president of the Recreational Aviation Foundation.  Due to some technical difficulties we didn't get to the really good work being done by The RAF so we're going to do a second episode in the near future.  THIS episode was a fun talk about Bill, how he got started in aviation, and how he came to know and love the mission of The RAF.  We had a great time and I look forward to the second part! 

More about The RAF here

In this episode I talk to Jon "Jughead" Counsell.  There is so much to talk about with Jughead I had to prioritize backcountry topics.  I plan to do a future episode to talk about more of Jughead's fantastic flying adventures!  In this episode we talk about flying in Washington State, his Cessna 170B, and flying the CubCrafters FX3 for the last month.  This is a fun listen and a taste of what's to come in a follow-on with Jughead!

This is the best way to start off a second season of Backcountry Aviation Radio...with a big YEE HAWW! I had a great time getting to meet Levi and hearing all about his getting started in aviation and what he's done since then.  You definitely need to follow him on Instagram and YouTube to see what's going on in the Backcountry and STOL communities...because he's there...wherever it happens to be.  

Follow Levi on Instagram and YouTube

This episode is a candid discussion with Don Wade from Patriot Aircraft about his role as pilot during a crash.  He was piloting the Super Patriot Mark II during a demonstration flight for a perspective customer in August 2025 when the engine quit shortly after takeoff.  This interview occurred almost 2 months after the incident and the final report from the NTSB is still pending.  Don discusses several factors that led to the crash and details events shortly after the crash.  It's a great listen for pilots and first responders as he talks about choices he had to make and also what first responders had to deal with in locating the crash site.  

Some key links we mention in the podcast:

Flight Chops video recap

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) at NASA.gov

Back to the Cockpit

This episode covers flying the river bars in Georgia with one of the state's biggest advocates.  Brian Screws, and his YouTube channel OneAV8, highlights all the joys of flying in the backcountry with a Southeast flair.  Here we talk about his getting started in aviation, transition to backcountry style,  aircraft changes, flying to Arkansas and Byrd's, and long haul flying tips.  You'll certainly be hearing from Brian again as we fly together in the near future in very similar airframes!

Brian on YouTube OneAV8

Brian on Instagram

OneAV8 on the web (Georgia Pilot T-shirt)