(March 13, 2021) In this podcast, meet Lisa Turner who reviews the top five mistakes that experimental builders make and how to avoid them. Lisa has been involved in Aviation since 2006.  She's done work as an FAA-designated airworthiness representative, also referred to as a DAR, home-built counselor, A/P, and authored a few books.  If you are an EAA member, you also know she writes a monthly column for Sport Aviation Magazine...

(February 20, 2021) Phil Harwood is chairman of the International Association of Professional Gyroplane Training which produces an online training program called Gyropedia.  A few weeks ago, it was announced Gyropedia was selected by Air Command as its primary flight training program. According to podcast host, Joe Covelli, "The foundation of a great instructional program is its curriculum". Since 2013, Gyropedia logged int...

(January 30, 2021) In this podcast meet Al Thompson, Quality Assurance Manager at Blackhawk Aerospace Composites.  Al describes the AS9100 aerospace standard they subscribe to for Blackhawk's quality assurance (QA) manufacturing program. Why should AS9100 certification be important to you when building a gyroplane kit or flying rotor blades? Listen to find out why. Air Command and Skywheels partnered with Blackhawk Aerospace C...

(January 12, 2021) Jim Lezie owned Skywheels Rotor Systems from 2001 to 2018. He is a seasoned veteran of rotorcraft.  Jim’s been around rotors for years as a pilot in both the California Air National Guard and a military service member.  When ABC Network News was looking for expert comment on the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash in 2020, they called and interviewed Jim Lezie. Jim was extensively involved with new owner Joe Covelli in...

(December 7, 2020)  Jim McCutchen began manufacturing McCutchen Skywheels rotor blades in 1985.  Following a successful run until 2001, his company manufactured 6,000 rotor blades.  To put that into perspective, if you placed the rotor blades end-to-end, they would stretch 17-miles long.  That's a lot of rotor blades.  During his time of ownership, Jim did considerable research and testing.  Our podcast begins with an update fr...

(June 27, 2020) New sets of Skywheels Rotor Blade Systems are being manufactured again and deliveries will begin soon. Now, the company is turning its full attention back to gyroplane kit production and reintroducing the Commander Elite models. In addition, Air Command and Skywheels President Joe Covelli is working with a team of design engineers, consultants, manufacturing partners, suppliers, and a newly formed group, the Air Co...

(March 13, 2018) In September 2017, Harold Smith sold Air Command International to Joe Covelli. The company specializes in manufacturing gyroplane rotorcraft sold worldwide as build-to-fly kits. As part of the transaction, the company’s headquarters, to include operations and manufacturing, were moved to River Falls, Wisconsin (near Minneapolis, Minnesota). Harold, an aeronautical engineer, and his son Doug successfully operated A...