Niche Aviation Podcast

Niche Aviation Podcast

Conversations with Niche Aviation Manufacturers, Airlines & Investors. On this podcast, I'll share the stories behind these unique ventures. Guests include founders, pilots & investors.

Episodes

May 31, 2021 57 mins

Electroflight have partnered with Rolls Royce to design, build & fly the world's fastest electric aircraft. This podcast is with the Managing Director of Electroflight, Stjohn Youngman.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Stjohn’s background & his early interest in aviation.
  • How Stjohn started working at Electroflight. 
  • Why Electroflight started
  • How Electroflight partnered with Yasa Motors, Rolls Royce & the ATI
  • Why R...
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Simple Flying is the worlds’ largest aviation news platform. Founded by Arran Rice in 2018, Simple Flying now achieves up to 20 million page views per month. With the help of Managing Editor, Joanna Bailey, Simple Flying has grown the brand to include a website, multiple youtube channels & a leading aviation podcast. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Arran’s Childhood Businesses
  • Why Arran started Simple Flying
  • How Simple...
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May 16, 2021 41 mins

PayCargo is an online payment platform for air cargo. Their platform is disrupting the air freight payment industry.  This episode is with Lionel van der Walt, the Global Chief Commercial Officer of PayCargo. 

PayCargo has processed over $10 billion and is used by over 12,000 shippers globally. Customers include American Airlines Cargo, DHL, Kuehne + Nagel & Delta Cargo. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Lionel van der ...
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April 12, 2021 40 mins

Flylogix specialise in beyond the line of sight, unmanned aviation.  The UK-based team use their drones to help Methane Detection, Oil Spill response & Surveillance. They are also currently in the early stages of using their drone for logistics work. 

In this episode, I speak to Charles Tavner who is the founder & chairman of Flylogix. 

In this episode we talk about: 

  • How Charles started Flylogix
  • What work FlyLogix...
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April 5, 2021 36 mins

David Hunkin is the Head of Unmanned Systems at Centrik. Centrik provides world-class operational management software to aviation businesses. Centrik’s software is used by Airlines, Airports & Maintenance businesses across the world, including as far as Antarctica. 

In this episode we talk about: 

  • Using unmanned aircraft to clear danger areas in the Persian Gulf
  • Unmanned aircraft in Oil & Gas industry
  • How Centrik m...
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March 28, 2021 39 mins

Skyhook is a niche helicopter operator in Scotland. They specialise in underslung load lifting and use a Eurocopter Squirrel helicopter to lift heavy loads to remote regions of the UK.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Who are Skyhook & how they started
  • Using Helicopters for underslung load lifting
  • How Skyhook help build paths in mountains 
  • What training is required to become an underslung load pilot?
  • The Underslung load ma...
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March 22, 2021 41 mins

Tyson & Cally work in Ag Aviation, also known as Crop Dusting or Aerial Application. Tyson is the pilot & Cally runs the ground operations. 

If you want to learn more about Cropdusting or looking for a career in Ag aviation, then listen here. Tyson & Cally also run a Youtube channel, all the links are below.

In this episode we talk about: 

  • What is Aerial Application?
  • Agricultural Aviation in the US
  • Types of Crop...
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March 15, 2021 40 mins

Austin Meyer founded X-plane in 1995, since then him & his team have developed a flight simulator that is used & loved by people & organisations across the world 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why Austin started X-plane
  • How X-plane became successful & drivers of its success. 
  • Ark-Funds: https://ark-invest.com/
  • How Austin prioritises improving X-plane
  • What Austin thinks about Microsoft Flight Simulator
  • What im...
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November 27, 2020 45 mins

Astral Aviation is a Cargo airline based in Kenya. They operate a diverse fleet of aircraft which include 747s, 727s, DC9s and Fokker 27s. Despite, numerous challenges Sanjeev has successfully grown the airline over the last 20 years.

In this episode we talk about:

  • How & why Sanjeev started a cargo airline
  • The challenges of growing Astral Aviation
  • The benefits of partnering with other airlines
  • Astral Aviations future pl...
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November 11, 2020 41 mins

The Blades is a British aerobatics team. Their unique selling point is that their pilots are ex-Red Arrow pilots. 

In this episode I talk to Kirsty Murphy. Kirsty is a pilot at The Blades. 

Before joining The Blades, Kirsty flew the Tornado & Hawk in the RAF. Kirsty was also the first female Red Arrow pilot. 

In this episode we talk about:
- Why Kirsty wanted to join the RAF
- What's it like to fly for the Red Arrow...

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October 22, 2020 31 mins

Vertical Aerospace is a British aerospace manufacturer based in Bristol, England that designs and builds vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) electrically powered aircraft. 

Vic Terry is the head of Digital Systems at Vertical Aerospace

In this episode we talk about:
- The history of Vertical Aerospace
- The type of aircraft they've built
- The difference between VTOL aircraft & helicopters
- The use case for...

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October 14, 2020 29 mins

This week I speak to Ivo Boscarol, the founder of Pipistrel


Pipistrel are primarily focused on the ultralight aircraft market. Their aircraft are incredibly efficient and as a result are ideal for flight training schools. 

Pipistrel are also the only aircraft manufacturer to build & fly a certified electric aircraft.

In this episode we talk about:
- How Ivo started Pipistrel?
- Why Pipistrel started producing ai...

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October 7, 2020 22 mins

This week I speak to Jonathan Clough 


Jonathan is the UK Sales & Marketing Director of Jetfly. Jetfly specialise in the fractional ownership of Pilatus aircraft. 


If you’re interested to learn more about Jetfly, Fractional Ownership or the Pilatus PC-12 then this show is for you.

In this episode we talk about:
- How Jetfly started?
- Who are Jetfly's Customers?
- How Fractional Ownership works
- Jetfl...

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September 25, 2020 32 mins

Apache Aviation was the first civilian aerobatics team to fly fast jets. Flying ex-soviet military jets (Aero L-39 Albatros), Jacques Bothelin, the founder, performed air shows in 39 countries across Europe, North America, Asia & the Middle East. 

From 2003, Breitling, the Swiss watch manufacturer, sponsored Jacques & seven of his jets to fly around the world to help them sell more watches. 

Despite numerous setbacks...

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September 16, 2020 24 mins

Dan Bolton has the dream job. 

Flying 1940s Seaplanes out to remote Australian coastlines. 

Dan is a pilot for Paspaley Pearls. Paspaley's main business is the farming of Pearls. 

Based in North West Australia, Paspaley use Grumman Mallards to fly crew in and out of the farms. 

In this discussion we talk about
- How Dan got into aviation?
- Why the Grumman Mallard exists & how it's still flying nearly 80 years later?...

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September 8, 2020 34 mins

Hybrid Air Vehicles is a British Hybrid Airship Manufacturer.
 
In 2012, they built the world’s longest aircraft, also known the Airlander 10. Measuring over 100m long, the Airlander 10 is about 40% longer than an airbus A380.

I was fortunate enough to speak to the CEO of Hybrid Air Vehicles, Tom Grundy.

In this discussion we talk about:
- What makes Hybrid airships different from Hydrogen airships?
- How Hybrid...

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