The Hangar Z Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 274 - The Courage of Hajime ‘Jimmy’ Sagane and Japan’s Rescue Pilots During the Fukushima Disaster Part 1 Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!
In this two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and guest co-host Terry Miyauchi speak with prior Japanese Coast Guard Pilot Hajime "Jimmy" Sagane.
Jimmy speaks excellent English, but for the best experience, we recommend watching this episode on our HeliCASTS YouTube page to enjoy the benefits of closed captioning. During our conversation, Jimmy recounts the historic and tragic events that unfolded after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. This devastating quake triggered a massive tsunami that claimed over 20,000 lives and critically damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant's cooling system.
Jimmy shares gripping firsthand accounts of the heroic efforts during Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami, including the challenges of search-and-rescue missions, the use of helicopters in cooling efforts, and the emotional weight of recovery work.
Join us as we dive into a compelling conversation about resilience, preparedness, and the dedication of those who serve in public safety aviation.

Thank you to our sponsors Dallas Avionics, Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch and Spectrolab.

Episode 273 - Fighter Pilot and Blue Angel: Scott "Scooter" Moyer Part 2 Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Over the course of his career, he logged more than 4,600 hours, 725 carrier landings, and flew over 80 combat missions.
Among his many achievements, Scott was also selected to join the Navy’s elite Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, an honor reserved for the very best.
Join us as we explore his incredible journey from aspiring pilot to college student, to Naval aviator, to Blue Angel, and eventually, a career in commercial aviation.
Please like, subscribe, and leave us a review so we can continue to bring great conversations like this to you.

Thank you to our sponsors BLR Aerospace, Precision Aviation Group and SHOTOVER Systems.

Episode 272 - Fighter Pilot and Blue Angel: Scott "Scooter" Moyer Part 1 Jul 14, 2025

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Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Dallas Avionics and Wysong Enterprises.

Episode 271 - Insights from LA County Fire’s Air Operations Crew Chiefs Part 2 Jul 10, 2025

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Thank you to our sponsors CNC Technologies, Garmin and Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch.

Episode 270 - Insights from LA County Fire’s Air Operations Crew Chiefs Part 1 Jul 07, 2025

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Thank you to our sponsors CNC Technologies, Metro Aviation and Precision Aviation Group.

Episode 269 - Leadership Series with Los Angeles Chief of Police Jim McDonnell Part 2 Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!
In this engaging two-part series focusing on leadership, hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray sit down with Jim McDonnell, a respected law enforcement officer and newly appointed chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
During this engaging conversation, we explore Jim’s journey from his roots in Boston to a distinguished career in law enforcement, emphasizing the vital role of leadership and the profound impact of small acts of kindness on both officers and the communities they serve.
As they discuss the often-overlooked topics of mental health and trauma within the profession, Jim underscores the need for a supportive culture and better resources for first responders.
He shares invaluable lessons learned during his internship with former LAPD Chief William (Bill) Bratton, as well as reflections on his career—from the Harbor Division to the 77th Street Homicide Division—and the challenges departments face in today’s policing landscape.
Join us as we examine the importance of community policing, the value of air support in law enforcement, and the pressing need for innovative solutions to enhance officer well-being. Jim also addresses the critical issues of recruitment and retention in policing, providing a realistic perspective on the future of the profession.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Quantum Helicopters and Summit Aviation.

Episode 268 - Leadership Series with Los Angeles Chief of Police Jim McDonnell Part 1 Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!
In this engaging two-part series focusing on leadership, hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray sit down with Jim McDonnell, a respected law enforcement officer and newly appointed chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
During this engaging conversation, we explore Jim’s journey from his roots in Boston to a distinguished career in law enforcement, emphasizing the vital role of leadership and the profound impact of small acts of kindness on both officers and the communities they serve.
As they discuss the often-overlooked topics of mental health and trauma within the profession, Jim underscores the need for a supportive culture and better resources for first responders.
He shares invaluable lessons learned during his internship with former LAPD Chief William (Bill) Bratton, as well as reflections on his career—from the Harbor Division to the 77th Street Homicide Division—and the challenges departments face in today’s policing landscape.
Join us as we examine the importance of community policing, the value of air support in law enforcement, and the pressing need for innovative solutions to enhance officer well-being. Jim also addresses the critical issues of recruitment and retention in policing, providing a realistic perspective on the future of the profession.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Canyon AeroConnect and Precision Aviation Group.

Episode 267 Uniting Forces: The Glendale and Burbank PD Air Support Partnership Part 2 Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

The background soundtrack is brought to you by Southwest Airlines departing Runway 15 at the Bob Hope Burbank Airport. We really enjoy these hangar podcasts.
Special thanks to Massif Flight Suits for the support.
Thanks you to our sponsors Metro Aviation, Robinson Helicopter and Quantum Helicopters.

Episode 266 Uniting Forces: The Glendale and Burbank PD Air Support Partnership Part 1 Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

The background soundtrack is brought to you by Southwest Airlines departing Runway 15 at the Bob Hope Burbank Airport. We really enjoy these hangar podcasts.
Special thanks to Massif Flight Suits for the support.
Thanks you to our sponsors Night Flight Concepts, Canyon AeroConnect and Trakka Systems.

Episode 265 Inside Phoenix PD Air Support: Culture Over Technology Part 3 Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!
This inaugural three-part series of the Hangar Z Podcast was recorded on location at the Phoenix Police Department’s Aviation Unit at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, as part of the 2025 Blades of Valor Road Tour. This year, our journey will take us to four agencies across four states, showcasing their exceptional work through print, video, and right here on the podcast.
Events like this tour wouldn’t be possible without incredible support. A special thank you to Airbus and Massif Flight Suits — your support made the 2025 Blades of Valor Road Tour a reality.
The Phoenix Police Department’s Air Support Unit has a unique structure comprising of two distinctive details: Fixed wing and rotorcraft. We were fortunate to sit down with a representative from each detail to get a comprehensive look at the entire operation.
Today’s guests are Glenn Ellefritz, Chief Pilot for fixed wing operations and Scott Hopkins, Instructor Pilot for rotorcraft.
As you might guess from this being a three-part series, you can expect a deep dive into a wide range of topics including Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) selection and training, pilot development, the recent addition of a second Pilatus PC-12, and the challenges of recruitment and retention. You’ll also hear about the fascinating career paths of both guests.
Stay tuned as we explore the Phoenix Air Support Unit’s guiding philosophy of “Culture over Technology.”
For more about our visit to Phoenix PD Air Support, be sure to check out the Brent Bundy articles in the Vertical Valor ASPCON edition and then watch the incredible videos by Lloyd Horgan on the Vertical Magazine YouTube channel.
Thank you to our sponsors Dallas Avionics, Robinson Helicopter and Summit Aviation.

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