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Bob Breeden is a recreational backcountry Super Cub pilot that has been flaying for 38 years in Alaska and beyond. In this episode of the Coffee In A Hangar Podcast he shares how he has safely navigated the dangerous sport of off airport mountain flying. From landing on the moving surface of high mountain glaciers in Alaska to ridge lines in Patagonia and waterfalls in Iceland, he has done it all in a "sanitary" and safe way.

Sponsor: sportaircraftseats.comjoin our email list: coffeeinahangar.comTy Christensen joins us for one of the most skill-focused episodes we’ve ever recorded. As one of the most talented young Super Cub pilots in Alaska, Ty breaks down how he manages energy, evaluates risk, and teaches new pilots the fundamentals of flying in the backcountry.In this conversation, we dig into what it really takes to fly a Super Cub precisely and safely in off-airport terrain. Ty shares his approach to bush landings, reading terrain, dealing with unexpected variables, and the techniques he drills into students who want to fly the Alaska wilderness with confidence.In this episode:How Ty became one of Alaska’s most capable young bush pilotsManaging energy in a Super CubRisk assessment and how to stay ahead of the airplaneWhat Ty teaches new pilots about backcountry flyingBush landings: approaching different terrain and conditionsReal stories and lessons from training and off-airport operations🎙 More episodes of Coffee In a Hangar: https://www.youtube.com/@AirplanesInTheWild🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65F0iLDmQCpiyzdoaVUypvSafety note:This podcast contains personal accounts from professional pilots in unique environments. These stories are not training guidance. Always follow current regulations, and get qualified instructionComment your favorite moment, a lesson you’re taking into your own flying, or who we should interview next.Hashtags:#AlaskaAviation #BushFlying #SuperCub #BackcountryFlying #PilotTraining #AviationPodcast #CoffeeInAHangar #TyChristiansen

Sponsor: sportaircraftseats.comjoin our email list: coffeeinahangar.com Frank Knapp: STOL Champion, Innovator, and Alaska Bush PilotIn this episode of Coffee In a Hangar, we sit down with Frank Knapp, one of the most recognized names in the short takeoff and landing (STOL) community. Frank opens up about what it takes to win STOL competitions, the mindset behind his success, and gives us an inside look at the new airplane he’s been building from the ground up.He shares his tuning tricks, setup details, flying techniques, and a few stories that show why Alaska’s backcountry flying is unlike anywhere else in the world.In this episode:Frank’s journey into STOL flyingThe flight techniques that separate winners from the packInside Frank’s new airplane build — design, challenges, and goalsHow the Alaska flying environment shaped his approach✈️ Watch more Coffee In a Hangar episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AirplanesInTheWild🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65F0iLDmQCpiyzdoaVUypvTimestamps:0:00 – Intro0:45 – Secrets of winning STOL competitions15:00 – Inside his new airplane build39:30 – Sport aircraft seats44:30– History of Franks Flying59:00 – Sharing StoriesSafety note:This podcast contains personal accounts from professional pilots in unique environments. These stories are not training guidance. Always follow current regulations, and get qualified instructionComment your favorite moment, a lesson you’re taking into your own flying, or who we should interview next.#STOL #AlaskaAviation #BushFlying #FrankKnapp #PilotInterview #BackcountryFlying #AircraftBuild

Sponsor: sportaircraftseats.comjoin our email list: coffeeinahangar.comKitty's book: https://www.amazon.com/Wings-Her-Dreams-Alaska-Glacier/dp/1880654512Avalanches, tailwheel failures, and hunters who won’t take no for an answer.** In this episode of *Coffee in a Hangar*, legendary Alaska pilot **Kitty Banner** shares raw, riveting stories from the 1970s and beyond—learning to fly in Talkeetna, hauling climbers to Denali, glacier landings with no go-around, a tailwheel assembly shearing off at rotation, and the unglamorous realities of guiding hunters and rescuing overdue mountaineers. She also talks mentorship, flying with John Denver for his seaplane rating, and what it really takes to thrive in the mountains.Guest: Kitty Banner — glacier & backcountry pilot; co-founder of **K2 Aviation**; lifelong mentor to new pilots.What you’ll hear* The avalanche on Mount Huntington that swallowed the valley in snow fog* “If in doubt, don’t” — the decision-making mantra that saved lives* Tailwheel failure at rotation and nursing the airplane home* Early Talkeetna days: scalping climbers, radio tents on the glacier, and night landings in orange light* Seaplane instruction for **John Denver** (and how procedural discipline matters)* Hunters, heavy loads, and how to say “no” when safety is on the line* Mentorship from WWII WASP pilot **Carolyn Cullen** and the importance of women in aviation00:00 Welcome & cold open02:10 Kitty’s path to Alaska & early mishaps08:55 Glacier ops: slots, crevasses, and “no go-around” realities18:40 The Mount Huntington avalanche25:30 Tail issues after takeoff — diagnosis in the gorge33:20 Hunters, loads, and safety boundaries41:05 Mentors: WASP pilot Carolyn Cullen & Amelia Earhart connections49:10 Flying with John Denver (seaplane rating story)57:30 “If in doubt, don’t” — lessons for today’s pilots1:05:00 Family, backcountry flying, and raising the next generationSupport the show:* Join the email list for updates & behind-the-scenes: **coffeeinhangar.com*** Read Kitty’s book ***Wings of Her Dreams*** (link in description)* **Sport Aircraft Seats** — My company making quick-install seat upholstery kits for GA aircraft. Design your kit and learn why inspection-friendly upholstery matters: **sportaircraftseats.com**Safety note:This podcast contains personal accounts from professional pilots in unique environments. These stories are not training guidance. Always follow current regulations, POH/AFM procedures, and get qualified instructionComment your favorite moment, a lesson you’re taking into your own flying, or who we should interview next.

Sponsored by: Sportaircraftseats.comCoffeeinahangar.com to sign up for our email listWhat if you could travel hundreds of miles across the mountains of Alaska—with nothing but a 5-pound ball of fabric on your back?My guest today, Bryan Friedrichs, does exactly that. He’s one of only a handful of adventurers in the state combining cross-country paragliding, mountaineering, and packrafting into single, mind-bending wilderness traverses. Imagine launching from a remote alpine ridge, catching thermals to 7,000 feet, crossing glaciers, and then landing on the banks of questionable rivers to float back to civilization.In this episode, we dive deep into:✦ How Bryan links thermals and ridges to fly 40–50 miles deep into the mountains✦ The razor-thin decision points between “epic flight” and multi-day walkout✦ Understanding mountain wind flow and valley weather✦ How paragliders read the texture of the air through dozens of tensioned lines✦ The gear it takes to blend paragliding with packrafting in Alaska’s backcountry✦ The mental toughness needed to commit to days of uncertainty, with no engine and no easy outsIf you’re a pilot—fixed-wing or otherwise—this episode is packed with insights that will sharpen your understanding of the invisible forces shaping mountain flying.

Sponsored by: Sportaircraftseats.comCoffeeinahangar.com to sign up for our email listIn this episode of Coffee In A Hangar, Sean Mclaughlin, CEO of Alaska Gear Company, shares his wild journey from buying a struggling Super Cub fuselage shop to building a 130,000 sq. ft. aviation powerhouse with 80+ employees. Along the way, he faced FAA audits, near business collapses, and the challenge of innovating certified aircraft parts in one of the toughest industries on earth.✈️ Topics we cover:How a failing backwoods welding shop turned into a multi-million-dollar aviation brand.The difficulty of innovating in the certified aircraft parts world.The inside story on Airframes Alaska’s transformation into Alaska Gear Company.Is there really a new Bush wheel model in the works?Why most aviation startups fail — and how Shawn beat the odds.How to grow in “micro-markets”.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to survive — and thrive — in the business of bush flying, this episode pulls back the curtain.

Sponsored by: Sportaircraftseats.comCoffeeinahangar.com to sign up for our email listRichard's Book - The Flying Wiens: https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Wiens-Richard-Wien/dp/157833876XJames T. Hutchison Repairing Fairchild 71 Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQn5DRSstq8Olaf Swenson's Book - Northwest Of The WorldIn the 1920s, the first Alaskan aviators flew into a world that was constantly trying to kill them. With no maps, compasses that were inaccurate, unreliable engines, and open cockpit airplanes... These pilots operated over hundreds of miles of hostile un-improving wilderness, with no fields, roads or runways to land on. And all this with the same old terrible Alaskan weather.They weren’t just aviators, they were cartographers, inventors, backcountry mechanics, explorers, and arctic survival experts. Willing to walk hundreds of miles at the drop of a hat, or repair an engine under a tarp in a blizzard. From polar flights, to connecting america with Asia, Many paid the ultimate price with their lives to pave the way for modern cross continental travel and the commercial aviation industry that we know today.My guest today is the living bridge to that era, his name is Richard Wien. In the 1920s His father Noel Wien at only 24 years old, started Alaska’s first commercial flying operation. Noel is widely regarded as the first bush pilot. And his son Richard grew up flying with and learning from those original bush pilots. He is here to tell us the story of these aviation pioneers.

What happens when the engine mount on your bush plane breaks mid-flight? Or when you run out of gas 43 miles offshore on the Arctic sea ice at -30°F?In this episode you’ll hear:-Why staying calm in harsh flying conditions can save your life.-What happens when you grab a live wounded wolf with your bare hands-The genius (and slightly insane) way to inflate a flat aircraft tire with a campfire 🔥-How a four place Cub is better than a regular one.-What it really takes to live, fly, and survive in Alaska’s backcountryThis episode is packed with jaw-dropping tales of old-school aviation, wilderness grit, and survival smarts. At the heart of the episode is the Ellis family, masters of landing on strips, glaciers, and gravel bars so unimproved, most pilots wouldn’t even consider them. Their hard-earned wisdom came not from textbooks, but from bent props, and long walks.Today, we’re joined again by Kirk Ellis, he’s here to share with us more of the incredible stories and lessons he’s learned through a lifetime of operating in these conditions.

Join our email list: https://coffeeinahangar.comSponsor Sport Aircraft Seats: https://sportaircraftseats.comIn this episode of Coffee and a Hangar, we sit down with Guy Morgan — a lifelong bush pilot, fisherman, and mechanic who spent his career navigating the brutal weather, shifting winds, and volcanic terrain of the Alaska Peninsula. 🌋 From dodging volcanic eruptions to flying in hurricane force winds, Guy’s stories are jaw-dropping — and his aviation wisdom is priceless.We discuss:How Guy started flying at 14Narrowly missing a fatal crash due to quick thinkingWhat it takes to land in multiple wind directions on a short stripLessons from Alaskan pilot Babe AlsworthWhy staying safe sometimes means stepping outside the FAA’s rulebookThe mindset needed for frequently landing, taking off, and flying in 100+ mph windsThis episode is packed with flying insights and stories you won’t want to miss!

Join our email list: https://coffeeinahangar.com Sponsor: https://sportaircraftseats.com Grab his book: https://www.amazon.com/No-Sequel-Life-Heart-Pilot/dp/B0CY9N9YYJ Devil's Canyon Rescue Podcast: -Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PnrNkWcp7glYggwSFb0PE?si=3Q-vZhT4Q1yusdGQZQamYA&nd=1&dlsi=77417b5616cb42f9 -Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2AdzZGmi4DvqjZnJ80WbBY?si=rTmbMJR-Sw-LFHEc050e7Q&nd=1&dlsi=ede29b39c07342d1 In this episode of Coffee In a Hangar, meet Jerry Jacques — bush pilot, hunting and rafting guide, lodge owner, and author of No Sequel to Life. Jerry’s adventures blur the line between Alaskan legend and survival epic. We dive into: Jerry’s runaway trip to Alaska at 16 Nearly drowning in a Class V+ rapid named Devil's Canyon Flying illegally for years before getting caught by the FAA — and how that saved his life A wild story of a gravel bar landing crash… that was intentional Living alone in a trapper’s cabin — starving — before being rescued and adopted by an Alaskan Native family The deep cultural and survival significance of salmon in rural Alaska A death defying rescue in Devil's Canyon with his Helio Courier Ending up on the front lines in Ukraine Whether you're into aviation, off-grid survival, whitewater legends, or just jaw-dropping true stories, this one is a must-listen. Jerry Jacques might be the most adventurous man we've had on yet!

Sponsor: https://sportaircraftseats.comSign Up For Our Newsletter: https://coffeeinahangar.com In this episode of Coffee in a Hangar, our guest Phil Shoemaker shares stories and lessons from his 50+ year long career. Here are a few topics you can expect! 1. How he accidentally became a big game hunting guide after just three days on the job — when his mentor was arrested for murder. 2. The pressure of flying high-paying hunting clients into remote areas, often right to the edge of what’s safe — and the hard calls that come with it. 3. Defending client’s from vicious bear attacks. 4. Close calls while flying in Alaska’s rugged backcountry. Many of his lessons weren’t learned in books — they came from experience, and sometimes, just barely walking away. Also, we are about to make some big additions to the coffee in a hangar brand. If you want to stay informed on possible live interviews, new merch, and something that just may have to do with coffee, Visit our website. Go to coffeeinahangar.com and sign up for our mailing list.

When a downdraft flipped his Super Cub in the middle of the Andes, Que Que Parodi spent 27 hours stranded in a snowstorm—alone, underdressed, and fighting to survive. That’s just one of the wild stories in this episode of Coffee and a Hanger.Que Que describes the moment he stumbled upon a video about bush pilots in Alaska. Watching Paul Claus fly a Super Cub through remote Alaskan wilderness inspired him. This was what he was meant to do.Que Que is the founder of Patagonia Bush Pilots, a rapidly growing backcountry flight school in Argentina. With only six years of flying under his belt, he’s built a fully certified operation: a cargo and taxi business, a licensed flight school, and a repair station—all from scratch. But Que Que's story starts way before aviation, as a professional snowboarder filming in active volcanic craters, building custom drones for forest fire surveillance, and hustling his way into aviation by pure grit and innovation.This episode is an incredible ride—raw, inspiring, and packed with bush flying spirit. Don't miss it.

Sponsor https://sportaircraftseats.comWelcome to the Coffee in a Hanger podcast.In this episode, we sit down with Gary Heert, a former school teacher from Kotzebue, Alaska, who spent his evenings and weekends flying through the unforgiving backcountry, often bending more than just a few rules (and airplane parts). From homemade runways and makeshift repairs to flying crippled aircraft out of the wilderness—Gary’s stories guarantee to be memorable.Highlights include:-Crashing a plane in the middle of nowhere and rebuilding it on-site with a tripod and an axe-Flying a damaged aircraft 45 minutes with oil leaking out just to land as the engine seized up-Hauling moose meat and making sketchy takeoffs-The history of polar bear hunting in Alaska and russiaThis episode is a crash course in what it means to live the true Alaskan bush pilot life. Don’t miss this mix of adrenaline, humor, and pure frontier spirit.

Welcome to the Coffee Hangar Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Glenn Curtis — a veteran pilot with over 50 years of flying experience across Alaska’s wildest skies. From daring floatplane rescues in Cook Inlet, flying President Bush, to surviving a terrifying emergency landing in the tundra, Glenn’s incredible stories will captivate anyone fascinated by aviation and adventure.🎙️ What you’ll hear in this episode:-How Glenn went from a novice floatplane pilot to mastering some of Alaska’s most challenging landings-Intense moments flying medevac missions and making split-second decisions under pressure-How his 8 year old daughter predicted the crash landing that left his plane upside down.-The golden era of floatplane flying at Lake Hood in the 1970s-Lessons learned from Alaska’s aviation pioneers-Behind-the-scenes insight into the Exxon Valdez oil spill response and floatplane operationsWhether you’re a pilot, aviation enthusiast, or just love real-life survival stories, Glenn’s unique perspective and humble storytelling will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Alaska’s Legendary Bush Pilot: Terry Holliday In this unforgettable episode of Coffee and a Hanger, we sit down with Terry Holliday—Alaska Aviation Hall of Famer, Wright Brothers Award recipient, Craig Taylor Award recipient, and living legend of the Alaskan skies. His story begins in 1957 when, at just 12 years old, he wandered into a canvas tent in Anchorage and met a man rebuilding an airplane engine. That chance encounter set him on a lifelong path of flight, adventure, and survival.Terry recounts growing up in Anchorage, learning to weld with a coat hanger, rebuilding aircraft engines alongside his father, and learning to fly the hard way—without GPS, relying only on instinct and the land. But it was the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake—one of the most powerful quakes in North American history—that became a defining moment in his life. When the ground tore open and buildings collapsed, Terry didn’t run—he stepped into chaos to rescue the injured. Hear how that experience shaped his philosophy: when someone’s in trouble in the Alaskan wilderness, you don’t wait, you go. It showed him that his mechanical skills, his courage, and his instinct for survival could continue to save lives. Weather, darkness, remoteness—none of it mattered. Terry shares harrowing stories, hard lessons, and the deep bond between man and machine, forged in some of the harshest and most beautiful landscapes on Earth. #alaska #flying #aviation