For Flying Out Loud

In this episode, I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome a Stuart McInally, whose story is as bold and inspiring as they come. At the highest level of professional sport, he stood not only as a world-class rugby player but also as a captain representing his country. He earned 49 caps for Scotland, captained the national team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and was a respected figure on fields across the globe.

But rather than hanging up his rugby boots and settling for a quiet life, he chose to chase another dream - one that takes him from scrumming down in packed stadiums to cruising thousands of feet above the Earth. Having started flying years earlier, he made the courageous decision to retire from rugby, swap his rugby boots for flying boots and pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot. His story is a testament to pursuing what you love, no matter where you start.

Follow @stuartthepilot on instagram!
With thanks to  @edinburghrugby for the kind use of the introductory video.

This episode is sponsored by Flight School Wingman. Expert support to help you achieve your dream of becoming a pilot. Learn more about their courses here https://flightschoolwingman.com/academy/becoming-a-commercial-pilot-courses

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In this episode, we dive into the incredible story of Wings for Warriors, a charity giving wounded veterans a future worth fighting for—literally. 

From one of our guests who survived a sniper attack in Afghanistan and found purpose in the cockpit, to another, who overcame the loss of a limb to achieve his dream of becoming a commercial pilot.

From battlefield to flight deck, my two guests in this episode are proving that resilience, determination, and a second chance can take you to the skies.

So, buckle up—this is one you don’t want to miss!

Please consider donating to Wings for Warriors by clicking on this link: https://www.wings4warriors.org.uk/donate#:~:text=PayPal%20Donations,box%20on%20the%20PayPal%20page.
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In this episode we welcome Lieutenant’s Michael Vivian and Scott Sunderland to the For Flying Out Loud podcast. They are two serving members of the Royal Navy, both serving as Fleet Air Arm pilots on the Wildcat helicopter. In 2024, these two pilots embarked upon a challenging but as you’ll learn, extremely rewarding journey to re-launch the display of the Wildcat Helicopter in an exhilarating pairs display season. 

Unlike most other display teams,  the job of these isn’t to display for the public. It’s to teach the next generation of aviators to fly and fight the Wildcat Helicopter. 

2024 saw the team awarded the Steedman Sword at RIAT for best British Display Team, beating the Red Arrows, Typhoon and Chinook Display teams of the RAF. The first time this had been won since the predecessors to the Black Cats, the Lynx pair in 2003.
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Daniel Robinson is a former RAF fighter pilot who started his career flying the Tornado F3. One of Britain’s top fighter pilots, In 2006, recognised for his outstanding flying ability and natural flair for building effective teams, he was chosen as the first non-US citizen to fly the 5th Generation F22 Raptor for the US Air Force.
 
In 2006, a life-defining moment and intersection of time, education and experience combined with his passion for aviation saw him venture into a completely new realm at the very cutting edge of technology. A chance encounter.
 
In this episode it was a great pleasure to welcome Daniel Robinson, founder and CEO of Red 6.
This episode is brought to you by SkyChaser Aviation Recruitment - finding you the perfect pilot for your operation. Learn more about them here https://www.skychaser.aero/

Content warning: This podcast episode contains discussions about suicide, which may be distressing to some individuals.
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In August 2021 at just 19 years old, Zara Rutherford started on a journey to fly solo around the world in a Shark ultralight aircraft. In Jan 2022, 155 days later, this was completed. And in doing so, she broke the Guinness World Record for the youngest woman flying solo around the world and also reduced the gender gap of this record by 11 years between the current youngest male who was 18 and the previous female record holder who was 30. What an incredible achievement!

Zara is also a published author and you can purchase Zara's book 'I Flew Around the World' here.
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