Navigating thunderstorms, aircraft maintenance, and in-flight decision-making—what really happens behind the controls when things get tense? ⚡✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dig into real-world scenarios that every pilot can learn from. From forecasting convective weather to navigating point-of-no-return decisions over the Rockies, the hosts break down:

• How to determine if a forecasted thunderstorm is safe to navigate around

• What really happens when you get too close to convective activity

• Brandon’s intense near-storm experience with family onboard—and what he’d do differently today

• Key external pressures that quietly influence your aeronautical decision-making

• The most overlooked pre-buy inspection items for first-time aircraft owners

• How to handle aircraft logbooks, AD compliance, and title/registration pitfalls

• Recovering from radio mistakes (and why ATC isn’t as scary as new pilots think)

Whether you’re a student pilot, a new aircraft owner, or a seasoned flyer looking to sharpen your safety mindset, this episode is packed with practical, experience-based aviation insights.

🚀 Tune in and elevate your pilot decision-making, weather awareness, and maintenance knowledge—one episode at a time.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Stay inspired, stay safe, and keep chasing your aviation dreams.

Pearl Harbor, aviation history, and real lessons for today’s pilots—how does a two-hour attack from 1941 still shape the way we fly today? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into the aviation side of the Pearl Harbor attack, exploring how 353 Japanese aircraft caught the U.S. by surprise and what modern pilots can learn from the event. From warbirds like the P-40 Warhawk, B-17 Flying Fortress, the Dauntless, and the Japanese Zero, to breakdowns in communication and readiness, the hosts connect one of history’s most significant aviation-driven moments to general aviation today.

They discuss:

• How the attack unfolded and the timeline of the first and second waves

• Why only a handful of U.S. aircraft were able to get airborne

• The roles of Zeros, Kates, and Vals—and their impact on the fleet

• Situational awareness lessons student pilots can apply today

• Communication breakdowns, ATC parallels, and traffic awareness

• Aircraft limitations, density altitude, V_NE, and pilot decision-making

• How warbirds demonstrate performance, energy management, and aircraft handling

• Personal insights, travel stories, and the importance of readiness in GA

🚀 Whether you’re a student pilot, history buff, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode blends real aviation knowledge with one of the most dramatic moments in military history—offering practical flying insights, safety takeaways, and a fascinating warbird breakdown.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired on your aviation journey.

What’s the right way to tell your CFI you’re confused? Should student pilots buy their own headset early? And is it normal to feel like you’re getting worse before you get better? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into real student-pilot frustrations and answer top questions pulled from Reddit and listeners, including:

• Why regressing during flight training is completely normal—and how to push through it

• How to stop overthinking your landings and build true pilot instinct

• Whether to trust school-provided headsets or invest in Bose, Lightspeed, or David Clarks early

• How to confidently tell your CFI you don’t understand something (without feeling embarrassed)

• The best weekly flight-training schedule for faster progress and lower overall cost

They also share personal stories—from Brandon learning instrument scan embarrassingly late to Carson’s early headset upgrade and even a tangent about parachutes, spins, burnout, and staying healthy enough to stay current.

🚀 If you’re a student pilot, a new private pilot, or someone trying to learn smarter—not harder—this episode is packed with practical tips, relatable training struggles, and humor from the cockpit.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—follow, subscribe, and keep leveling up your aviation journey.

— Sponsored by Stratus Financial, supporting the next generation of pilots.