Interview with pilots who tell stories about their adventures, lessons learned and laughs had. Mainly Alaska based bush pilots who tell stories of growing up in the wilderness of the last frontier.
Air America and Other Risky Flying Exploits - Neil Hansen, Ep 28
Sponsored by: https://sportaircraftseats.com/Neil's Book: https://a.co/d/0aCmcF10Our website: Coffeeinahangar.comIn this episode of the Coffee in a Hangar podcast, I sit down with Neil Hansen (author of Flight: An Air America Pilot Story of Adventure, Descent, and Redemption) for one of the most jaw-dropping conversations we’ve ever had. Neil’s story spans everything from high-risk flying in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, to the hidden world of Air America and the CIA, and the kind of missions that never made the nightly news.We talk about flying the C-123 aircraft on low-level airdrop runs, what “hard rice” really meant, why Neil changed the way he approached airdrops to survive, and what happens when you’re hit, lose control, and have to make decisions that most pilots will (thankfully) never face.Neil also shares how his life took a dark turn after returning home—leading into Drug Smuggling, the money, the danger, the consequences, and the redemption that followed.If you’re into aviation history, Southeast Asia-era stories, or the mindset of pilots who operated on the edge of the envelope—this one is for you.Subscribe for more long-form pilot stories, hard-earned lessons, and conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.
18 Dec 2025
Bob Breeden, Flying in Alaska and Argentina
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.
1 Dec 2025
Ty Christensen - Bush Landings & Risk Management
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
Inside a recent episode
Air America and Other Risky Flying Exploits - Neil Hansen, Ep 28
Published 17 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] But then you had all this Sanskrit writing on it, which if you folded it upright and just showed the hundreds, it looked like a $100 bill. Got it. But you ended up with a briefcase full of this stuff. And maybe that whole briefcase full might buy you dinner in a regular restaurant. You couldn't carry enough money around with you to pay a bill. To get anywhere. To buy breakfast, you couldn't carry enough money. So it was all credit until the end of the month. And then you get somebody to haul around the briefcase and dole out packets of 100 real notes. They didn't count them. Each one was... You just take a packet. […]
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