Author: Judith Mole

Our latest series of podcasts is called Ten Random Questions for… We have come up with 250 flying-related questions and have fed these into a random question generator. Each fortnight we interview a pilot using ten randomly selected questions. The results are interesting, educational, insightful and sometimes hilarious. No two sets of questions are ever the same. We start our series with Lee Tryhorn, proprietor of the Free Flight Academy, a paragliding school and guiding service which operates all over the world. Lee is a keen acro pilot and he has some interesting tales to tell!

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In this podcast Judith Mole examines how we make decisions, what influences our decision making process and looks at ways we can make better decisions. Drawing on research from economics, psychology and neuroscience, she examines how the brain works and applies good general advice to a flying context and gives you some tools to try to help you make good decisions when it comes to being on launch and deciding whether to take off or not. The podcast covers topics like how to find people you can trust, examining your current emotional state, brain responses to experts and sky gods and tips for making good decisions when you are standing on take-off. Essential listening for new (and old!) pilots.

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In this latest podcast Judith Mole talks to John Hovey, an experienced first aid trainer and expedition leader with the with the National Outdoor Leadership School (www.nols.edu). The podcast looks at what to do in the event of an accident, covering liability, taking charge, moving a casualty, emergency procedures, kit to carry etc. This podcast could help you feel prepared if you have the misfortune to witness, or be involved in, an accident.

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Gavin McClurg is a professional adventurer. As well as circumnavigating the world by boat, he used to be in the US ski team, is an accomplished white-water kayaker and he currently holds the North American foot launch distance record (387 km), set from his home town of Sun Valley to near Helena, Montana. 

In summer 2014, Gavin and Will Gadd, himself a flying, climbing and ice climbing legend set out to complete a 700 km traverse of the Canadian Rockies and fly to the US border and into the record books – they did the distance flying, without any hiking. The aim was to make forward progress only when they were in the air. The project was filmed and sponsored by Reel Water Productions and Red Bull and will be released as “The Rockies Traverse”.

The Canadian Rockies are remote and there are few landing opportunities, which made the flying both exciting and dangerous. Added to that, Will and Gavin had never met before commencing the adventure. As a result of this amazing trip, Gavin and Will were nominated for the prestigious National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Award. In this podcast, Gavin explains the background to the journey and lets me have an insight into the planning and execution of this remarkable adventure.

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