The Hangar Z Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 334 Blades of Valor Tour 2026: Inside Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue Part I Mar 02, 2026

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Welcome back to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

We’re excited to be on the third stop of the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour, coming to you from the beautiful state of Florida.
The Blades of Valor Tour spotlights public safety aviation units recognized for outstanding service, and celebrates those who go above and beyond. We aim to promote the good work these agencies do and highlight the standard of excellence they set.

Thank you to the 2026 Blades of Valor sponsor, Switlik, and the support of Massif Flight Suits. Without your sponsorship and support, this tour would not be possible.

These teams serve as the benchmark for the public aviation community. Our mission is to share their stories of unwavering commitment, courage, innovative leadership, teamwork, and technological innovation from agencies setting the standard in public safety aviation, inspiring others to raise the bar in service and safety.
Today’s episode was recorded inside the hangar at Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue, and we’re joined by Capt Jason Vanbuskirk and pilot Alberto Camacho. We’ll dive into the recent regional fly-in held at the base, a Vertical Valor Plus air-to-air photo and video shoot that included the department’s Marine Unit, and an in-depth overview of air rescue operations.
You’ll also hear a detailed description of the Leonardo AW139, from crew makeup and mission sets to the equipment that makes these missions possible. And of course, we’ll talk about the incredibly diverse area of operations, spanning dense urban environments, the Everglades, and open water.
This is another great discussion on mission readiness and the training required to stay current in a wide variety of skillsets.
Many thanks to Vertical Valor Plus, and all our sponsors, for making this Blades of Valor Tour possible. This is a one-of-a-kind tour that includes photography, videography, print, and podcasting. Stayed tuned for lots of original content in the weeks and months ahead.

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

Episode 333 - Blades of Valor Tour 2026: Inside Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Part 2 Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
We are on our first stop of the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour. This is our third annual tour, and we are excited to be in the great state of Florida.
Today we are with Lt Pilot Drew Nicoletti and Pilot Ron Bloezer from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit. Both are military veterans who bring that experience to one of the most versatile aviation units in the country. We'll take a deep dive into the Bell 429 and why it's such an outstanding platform for the wide range of missions this unit must be ready to handle.
The conversation also covers how the aviation unit works closely with specialized teams including SWAT, K9, and Marine units, the extensive training cycle required to stay sharp across so many skill sets, and what emergency preparedness in Florida really looks like-from daily operations to major natural disasters.
This is a great discussion on mission readiness, teamwork, aviation done right, so let’s get started.

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

Episode 332 - Blades of Valor Tour 2026: Inside Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Part I Feb 23, 2026

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

Episode 331 - High-Flying Guardians: The Evolution of Fort Worth's Air Support Part 2 Feb 19, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.

In these episodes, Hangar Z hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray are joined by pilot Scott Hines and tactical flight officer (TFO) Alex Marti from the Fort Worth Police Department’s Aviation Unit.
Scott brings a deep aviation background as an U.S. Army aviator who flew the Bell OH-58D Kiowa, completing two combat tours in Iraq, before later transitioning to Black Hawks with the National Guard and flying medevac for Air Methods. That experience ultimately led him to Fort Worth PD.
Alex is also an Army veteran who joined Fort Worth PD and worked his way into aviation, first serving as a reserve TFO before earning a full-time position in the unit.
Together, we dig into changing the culture within an aviation unit, the challenges and wins of developing and formalizing a TFO program, operating the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, and share impactful experiences flying over Fort Worth. Along the way, we also take a deep dive into the OH-58D Kiowa, its capabilities, and why it left such a lasting impression on those who flew it.
Please take a moment to like and subscribe to the Hangar Z Podcast. We appreciate your support.

Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, Summit Aviation and Technisonic Industries Limited.

Episode 330 - High-Flying Guardians: The Evolution of Fort Worth's Air Support Part I Feb 16, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.

Thank you to our sponsors Rotorcraft Support, Inc., Summit Aviation and Trakka Systems.

Episode 329 - Global Perspectives: Leo Stolk, deputy flight operations manager, Dutch National Police Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
This episode was recorded on location in Cologne, Germany, at European Rotors.
In this episode, host Jon Gray sits down with Leo Stolk, the deputy flight operations manager for the Dutch National Police.
During the conversation, Leo shares insights into his journey from military operations to law enforcement aviation, highlighting his extensive career and the challenges he faced during military missions in Afghanistan.
The conversation delves into the critical role of international collaboration in enhancing law enforcement operations while also exploring the integration of drones in aviation.
Leo emphasizes their complementary function alongside helicopters, showcasing the importance of training in adapting to these innovations.
He also addresses the evolving public perception of law enforcement and how communication plays a pivotal role in aviation operations.
For newcomers to the aviation industry, Leo offers invaluable advice, stressing the significance of continuous learning and effective communication.

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

Episode 328 - Navigating the Skies: Tim Brennan's Path from Military to Maricopa Part 3 Feb 09, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
In this three-episode series, hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray sit down with Tim Brennan, a pilot with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, to trace an extraordinary aviation journey shaped by service, leadership, and life-saving missions. Tim shares what it was like growing up in a small town in north Idaho, the first flight that changed his life, and the path that led him to become an Army aviator, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He also reflects on his time at Quantum Helicopters, progressing from instructor to chief flight instructor, before moving into his current role with Maricopa County. In Episode 3, the conversation culminates in a gripping account of an incredible swift water rescue, offering a firsthand look at the skill, teamwork, and split-second decisions required to save lives from the air. It is a story you will not want to miss.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to The Hangar Z and please share with your friends and coworkers. We appreciate all your support.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Technisonic Industries and Trakka Systems.

Episode 327 - Navigating the Skies: Tim Brennan's Path from Military to Maricopa Part 2 Feb 05, 2026

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Thank you to our sponsors Dallas Avionics, Metro Aviation and SHOTOVER Systems.

Episode 326 - Navigating the Skies: Tim Brennan's Path from Military to Maricopa Part 1 Feb 02, 2026

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Thank you to our sponsors Dallas Avionics, Metro Aviation and SHOTOVER Systems.

Episode 325 - Beyond Borders: Avincis’ Global Response with Group CEO John Boag Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.
This episode was recorded on location in Cologne, Germany, at European Rotors.
In this episode, Jason Quinn, host of The Real ResQ Podcast, and Jon Gray, sit down with John Boag, the Group CEO of Avincis.
Avincis is Europe’s largest operator of emergency aerial services, specializing in aerial emergency medical services, search-and-rescue operations, and firefighting missions.
With a skilled team of over 2,400 professionals and a fleet of more than 200 aircraft, Avincis conducts operations across several European countries as well as in Chile and Mozambique.
During our conversation, Boag recounts the milestones that ignited his passion for aviation at a young age and how he transitioned from pilot to executive. We’ll explore his philosophy as a "disruptive leader" and explore the innovative path Avincis is taking with new technology in emergency services.
We discuss the evolution of aviation technology, the importance of mentorship, the challenges of recruitment and retention in the industry, and the growing threat of wildfires.

But the story doesn't end here. Read the full company profile on our website to discover how this European helicopter giant delivers lifesaving services.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Precision Aviation Group and Robinson Helicopter.

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