))
With over 30 years and 30,000 hours in aviation, Michael "Rocket" Blackstone has worked his way to the top of the aviation world currently a captain for a major airline and the owner of 2 successful aviation businesses. Michael shares his passion for the flying business as he encourages you to dive in today, to begin learning to fly, to start an aviation business, to join the military, to get hired by the airlines and to start making your dreams of flying come true!
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you up in the Cirrus SR22 for a night flight to practice instrument approaches with the G-1000 and to witness the Christmas Star over the Pacific Ocean! Michael attempts to explain in layman's terms what this incredibly rare event is for those of you who have any interest in the science of astronomy. This event is cal…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes his first flight in an SR22! Experience the most successful most modern, most capable single engine piston aircraft on the planet as Michael takes his first lesson in the SR22. The incredibly designed 'Cirrus Perspective' Avionics package using the Garmin G1000 navigation is revolutionary and represents the direction …
…
continue reading
Michael talks with his friend Art Koral about his recent purchase and delivery of his 1981 Pitts S-2A. Michael recalls taking his first flight in his dad's 1981 Pitts S-2A at age 8, which triggered him to buy his own 1998 Pitts S-2C when he was 26. These amazing aerobatic biplanes are legendary in the aerobatic world but both have significant chall…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you flying in the Saab 340 from his Business Express days between February 26, 1998 - January 1999. During his time at 'Biz Ex', Michael flew as a co-pilot on the Saab 340A/B accumulating over 700 hours of turbine time. He was based out of Portland, Maine, and then Boston Massachusetts. Michael loved flying this amazi…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you back to his first solo flights at American Airlines as a new hire in 1999. Michael started his career at age 25 as a Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727, then transitioned to the Boeing 757/767 fleet where he became a First Officer and flew his first 'solo' with his father as the Captain of his first trip on the lin…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you back to 1990, when his father soloed him at at the Chino Airport on April 15, at age 17, in the Marchetti SF-260C. On this spring day, Michael and his dad shared an experience that very few lucky pilots get to share together. This historic moment marks when Michael's father passes the torch of flying from one gene…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you back to 1986, the year of TopGun and shares how Air Combat USA was created. From the time Michael was a child, he and his father loved fighter aircraft. Michael's passion for Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) comes out, as he shares what it was like to teach aerial combat for over 4,000 hours in the Marchetti SF-260! …
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael introduces you to the art of flying fighters. If you have always wondered what flying a WWII fighter is like and how to get the most performance from your flying machine, this episode is for you. Michael walks you through what Angle-of-Attack (AOA) is and how it works, the difference between Rate vs. Radius and what the Lif…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you on an epic 1,090 mile journey from Orange County, CA to Sherman, Texas in his open cockpit Waco biplane. Michael and his friends son, Danny, who is learning to fly, gets the experience of a lifetime flying with Michael in his beautiful open cockpit Waco biplane for 12.5 hours of stick and rudder time. Experience w…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael talks about what the most exciting areas in aviation are. From the time Michael experienced flight for the first time, aerobatics has been the most influential on his decision to make flying his life. Formation flying, and aerial combat in his father's company Air Combat USA in the Marchetti SF-260s sealed the deal. If you …
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael highlights the optimal traits and personality characteristics of the best pilots he has had the pleasure of flying with over the last 30 years. There are many similarities between all pilots when it comes to following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), following the checklist, attention to detail, discipline, and honing o…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael reflects back on thousands of flights he took with his father. From the very beginning, starting in his dad's Pitts, Michael learned from one of the best aviators in the business how to safely handle emergencies inflight, on the ground and before they happen. These are 9 of the most useful tips Michael's father taught him o…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael takes you along as he flies his 'Twin Beech' for the last time on a 1,911 nm transcon from the West Coast to the East Coast on his final flight as the Captain of his own 1957 Beech E18S - 9600, one of the first true airliners of the 1940s-50s. This flight represents the end of an era for Michael, as he hands the keys to his…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael shares with you what his first steps were to getting his Private Pilot License, and how much fun it was to achieve this at age 17, when it was more difficult than it is today to locate and learn the required information. Michael then lays out for you what steps you should take right now to start your adventure of earning yo…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Michael walks you through the intricate details of operating his Pitts S-2C. You will learn the major differences between the Pitts models and why Michael chose the Pitts S-2C as his first aircraft to share his love of aviation with the world in. Get ready learn how to fly aerobatics in a Pitts S-2C. Learn how Michael became 'one w…
…
continue reading
In this episode, you will hear how Michael "Rocket" Blackstone bought his first aircraft, the 1998 Pitts S-2C, and created SkyThrills! from scratch with almost no money saved and no one helping him financially. "Rocket" was a 26 year old professional aerobatic pilot flying 10 days per month for the airlines, with around 3,500 hours total time and a…
…
continue reading
This episode introduces you to Michael "Rocket" Blackstone and a brief look back over the last 30 years at his colorful history in the aviation world! Michael began flying with his father, Michael "Maverick" Blackstone, at just 8 years old, learning to fly aerobatics with his dad's aerobatic Pitts S-2A biplane. Since then, "Rocket" has become a ski…
…
continue reading
