The Hangar Z Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 353 - The Foundation of Honor: A Police Week Special with Craig Floyd Part 2 May 14, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.
This episode is being released during Police Week 2026, a time set aside to honor the brave men and women in law enforcement who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. It’s a week of reflection, remembrance, and gratitude for our fallen brothers and sisters.
Today’s guest is someone who has dedicated much of his life to ensuring those sacrifices are never forgotten—Craig Floyd. This is Craig’s second time joining us on the podcast. The last time we spoke in May of 2024, we were standing together in the rain at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.—a fitting backdrop for a man who has been such a powerful voice for the fallen.
Craig is the founder and president of Citizens Behind the Badge and the original chief executive officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. His work has had a lasting impact on how our nation honors its law enforcement heroes.
In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the incredible story behind the creation of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Judiciary Square. We explore the original vision of NYPD legend Mario Biaggi, who later served as a U.S. Representative, and how Craig’s time working for him as a legislative assistant helped set this monumental project in motion.
What followed was decades of dedication, perseverance, and relentless effort to bring that vision to life—an extraordinary achievement completed without government funding.
This is a fascinating, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it truly takes to build something that stands as a lasting tribute to sacrifice, service, and honor.

Thank you to our sponsors Becker Avionics, BLR Aerospace and Robinson Helicopter.

Episode 352 - The Foundation of Honor: A Police Week Special with Craig Floyd Part 1 May 11, 2026

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Thank you to our sponsors Becker Avionics, Onboard Systems Hoist and Winch and Robinson Helicopter.

Episode 351 - Mike Durant: Blackhawk Down and Beyond Part 2 May 07, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.
Today, we are truly honored to be joined by Michael J. Durant—retired Chief Warrant Officer 4, Night Stalker, and MH-60 Black Hawk pilot—whose story is one of extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering determination.
In this episode, Mike takes us all the way back to his very first flight in a helicopter—the moment that sparked a passion and set the course for a remarkable career. Although he initially entered the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer, he never lost sight of his goal of becoming a pilot. He walks us through his journey into Army Aviation, including his time flying medical evacuation missions in South
Korea and later serving with the 101st Aviation Battalion in Kentucky.
From there, we dive into his selection into the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, where he deployed on high-risk missions as part of one of the most capable aviation units in the world.
Mike then shares the harrowing details of Oct. 3, 1993, when his Black Hawk was shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia. He recounts the heroic actions of Delta snipers Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, whose sacrifice helped keep him alive, as well as his own fight for survival through severe injuries and 11 days of captivity.
We also explore the mindset that carried him through—how his training, mental toughness, faith, and personal philosophy, shaped his ability to endure and overcome one of the most intense combat survival stories in modern history.
Mike’s story is one of skill, courage, resolve, gratitude, and perseverance—these are episodes you will not want to miss.
Thank you to all our followers and our incredible sponsors for making conversations like this possible.

Thank you to our sponsors Metro Aviation, Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch and Precision Aviation Group.

Episode 350 - Mike Durant: Blackhawk Down and Beyond Part 1 May 04, 2026

Show notes

Thank you to our sponsors Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing, CNC Technologies and Rotorcraft Support Inc.

Episode 349 - APSCON 2026: What to Expect in Fort Lauderdale Apr 30, 2026

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This episode of The Hangar Z Podcast is brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.
The Hangar Z Podcast welcomes Airborne Public Safety Association CEO/Executive Director Dan Schwarzbach, APSA President Dave Ellis and Broward Sheriff's Office Sergeant Paul Sada.
In this episode of The Hangar Z Podcast, we have the opportunity to talk about APSCON 2026 ahead of the July 13–17 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
During the conversation, we talk about what to expect at APSCON 2026, including the new Broward County Convention Center/Omni host hotel, the water-taxi-accessible campus, and the training and networking opportunities that will be a part of this year's must attend conference.
This year will sell out quickly, so do not wait to book your room and register for the conference at publicsafetyaviation.org

Thank you to our sponsors Precision Aviation Group, Summit Aviation and Spectrolab.

Episode 348 - Navigating Mental Wellness with Dave Wuertz: Peer Support in Action Part 2 Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
Today’s episode is a powerful and deeply human conversation centered on service, trust, and taking care of one another in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Our guest is Dave Wuertz, manager of peer support for PHI Air Medical.
Dave’s story is shaped by a lifetime of service in the medical field—starting with an emergecny medical technician (EMT) class in college, and influenced even earlier by his father’s work on an ambulance. From those early experiences, Dave went on to become a paramedic, a trainer, and eventually, an air medical flight nurse. Along the way, he also became a founding member of the peer support program at PHI Air Medical, helping build a culture that recognizes mental wellness as mission-critical.
In this episode, we dive into why peer support matters so much in public service—especially in air medical—why proactive peer support is far more effective than reactive approaches, and why trust is the cornerstone of any successful program.
Dave shares impactful incidents from his time as an air medical flight crew member and from his work supporting others, offering real-world perspective on what these crews face every day. We also discuss the mindset of “four to go, one to say no,” and how speaking up can be the difference between a safe mission and a tragic outcome.
You’ll also hear an overview of PHI Air Medical’s nationwide footprint and the scale of responsibility carried by its teams across the country. And as a special connection for longtime listeners, we talk about Dave’s long-standing professional relationship with one of our favorite guests, Dr. Tania Glenn, and how that collaboration reinforces the importance of mental wellness training done right.
This is an honest, meaningful conversation about caring for the caregivers—and one you won’t want to miss.
Thank you to all our sponsors and to our loyal listeners. Please take a minute to like, subscribe, and share The Hangar Z Podcast.

Thank you to our sponsors CENTUM, Metro Aviation and Summit Aviation.

Episode 347 - Navigating Mental Wellness with Dave Wuertz: Peer Support in Action Part 1 Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Thank you to our sponsors Rotorcraft Support, Inc., Technisonic Industries and Trakka Systems.

Episode 346 - John Nielsen: Transforming Law Enforcement Aviation Part 2 Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.
Today’s episode features a true pioneer in airborne law enforcement—retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) pilot John Nielson. With more than 11,000 hours as pilot in command and another 3,400 hours as a second-in-command, John’s career is a masterclass in dedication, innovation, and mission-driven flying.
We start at the beginning of his journey on the ground, patrolling out of the Malibu Station along one of the most dangerous stretches of road in California—the Pacific Coast Highway. From there, John takes us through his transition into the air support unit, first as a tactical flight officer and eventually as a fixed-wing pilot.
But what truly sets this conversation apart is John’s relentless 15-year effort to bring FLIR technology into CHP’s fixed-wing program. That vision ultimately became reality with the integration of the MX-15 system into a Cessna 206—and the results in the very first year were nothing short of remarkable.
John also shares the story of his final flight before retirement—a mission that perfectly captures the impact of that technology, ending with a successful FLIR-assisted find.
Now, as the CEO and founder of AirMax Patrol, John continues to shape the future of airborne law enforcement by delivering cost-effective, proven solutions for air support units across the country.
We also dive into the capabilities of the Diamond DA62 and why it may be one of the best-kept secrets for law enforcement aviation.

This is a conversation about persistence, innovation, and leaving a legacy that continues to save lives.
Settle in—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, Rotorcraft Support and Technisonic Industries.

Episode 345 - John Nielsen: Transforming Law Enforcement Aviation Part 1 Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.
Today’s episode features a true pioneer in airborne law enforcement—retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) pilot John Nielsen. With more than 11,000 hours as pilot in command and another 3,400 hours as a second-in-command, John’s career is a masterclass in dedication, innovation, and mission-driven flying.
We start at the beginning of his journey on the ground, patrolling out of the Malibu Station along one of the most dangerous stretches of road in California—the Pacific Coast Highway. From there, John takes us through his transition into the air support unit, first as a tactical flight officer and eventually as a fixed-wing pilot.
But what truly sets this conversation apart is John’s relentless 15-year effort to bring FLIR technology into CHP’s fixed-wing program. That vision ultimately became reality with the integration of the MX-15 system into a Cessna 206—and the results in the very first year were nothing short of remarkable.
John also shares the story of his final flight before retirement—a mission that perfectly captures the impact of that technology, ending with a successful FLIR-assisted find.
Now, as the CEO and founder of AirMax Patrol, John continues to shape the future of airborne law enforcement by delivering cost-effective, proven solutions for air support units across the country.
We also dive into the capabilities of the Diamond DA62 and why it may be one of the best-kept secrets for law enforcement aviation.

This is a conversation about persistence, innovation, and leaving a legacy that continues to save lives.
Settle in—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Metro Aviation, Robinson Helicopter and Trakka Systems.

Episode 344 - Coldstream Helicopters: Calm Under Fire in a Helicopter Crisis Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.
Today’s episode comes to you from the floor of Verticon in Atlanta, recorded inside the Vertical Plus booth, where the energy of the industry and the people who drive it were on full display.
Our guests are pilots Brian Dunn and Brian Atkinson of Coldstream Helicopters in Kelowna, British Columbia—this year’s recipients of the VAI Salute to Excellence Pilots of the Year award.
Between them, they represent both experience and the next generation of aviation professionalism—Brian Dunn with an incredible 50 years in the cockpit, and Brian Atkinson just four years into what is already proving to be an exceptional career.
In this episode, we dive into their individual paths into aviation, the lessons learned along the way, and the shared mindset that brought them together in a moment that would define both of their careers.
You’ll hear the gripping story of an in-flight emergency while fighting a fire in an Airbus Super Puma—low, slow, and heavy with a full bucket of water, moments away from making a drop, when they suddenly lost all electrical power and experienced dropping rotor RPM. What follows is a powerful account of teamwork, communication, and composure under extreme pressure.
This is a story about preparation meeting reality, and how recent simulator training directly influenced their decision-making in those critical seconds. Ultimately, it’s about professionalism, trust, and doing the job when everything is on the line.
This is an incredible conversation you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors CNC Technologies, SHOTOVER Systems and Spectrolab.

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