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 Rotorcraft Support, Inc., Summit Aviation and Trakka Systems.

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.

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.

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 Dallas Avionics, Metro Aviation and SHOTOVER Systems.

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 Dallas Avionics, Metro Aviation and SHOTOVER Systems.

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.

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 Daniel Rosenberg from the Swedish National Police.

Rosenberg is a remarkable guest whose journey in law enforcement has taken him from patrolling the streets of Sweden, to playing a pivotal role in the Air Support Unit.

With over a decade of experience, including work on a surveillance team combating organized crime and serving with the Swedish Security and Intelligence Service, he has gained unique insights into the importance of intelligence in policing. Since joining the Air Support Unit in 2018 as a tactical flight officer, he has focused on training and developing mission equipment and tactics.

Today, we’ll explore how he's leveraging advanced systems to visualize information, enhancing proactive responses in critical situations. We also talk about the integration of drone technology in policing and the evolving landscape of law enforcement operations.

Join us as we explore his innovative approaches and the future of air support in law enforcement.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing and Robinson Helicopter.

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

In this two-part series, we go international and speak with Hangar Z co-hosts and international instructors. The panel includes Harald Brink, chief tactical flight officer from the Dutch national police; Lt Clay Lacey from the Texas Department of Public Safety; and Jon Duke, a U.K. military aviation veteran and contributor to Vertical and Vertical Valor magazines.

This conversation goes beyond borders to examine the common ground and critical differences in air support operations between the U.S. and Europe. From suspect behavior that looks the same in Dallas as it does in The Hague, to the training that makes agency operations effective and efficient.

We talk about the intense task saturation of the tactical flight officer—a job we argue is the most difficult in all of law enforcement—and the crucial safety threshold of simulator training, plus the tactical impact of flying single-engine helicopters versus the big twins.

Check out the article "Aerial Pursuit Across Continents" by Jon Duke, who joins us to help cross-pollinate these incredible conversations into print. You can find the article in the Fall issue of Vertical Valor magazine. Visit VerticalMag.com to read more about this collaboration that came to life, alongside this recording!

Thank you to our sponsors Bell, CENTUM and Metro Aviation.