On the Step with thatmallardguy - podcast cover

On the Step with thatmallardguy

On the step is the ultimate one stop podcast for all thing’s floatplanes and flying boats. It’s my mission, to interview people within our industry to get you the most interesting, amazing and relevant stories.
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Episodes

#74 - My Martin Mars holiday extravaganza!

Follow Trent on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/trent_robinson_aviation/?hl=en Buy my kids book, Marty the Mallard! https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CHQPVDHK?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber...

Dec 01, 20241 hr 30 minEp. 74

#73 - I'M GOING TO (see the) MARS!!

Parked up atop the ramp at her home in Sprout Lake since the 2016 Oshkosh Airshow, the Mars will soon fly once more. This will be an historic event. One of the last times, a 1940’s era, 4 engine flying boat, one with a wingspan greater than a 747-300, will ever fly again. And I had to get there to check it out myself. Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplan...

Jul 27, 202442 minEp. 73

#72 - Around Australia in a Searey with David and Cathy

Responding to an advert on Facebook, Cathy Babis is joining David Geers on a journey around Australia in his Searey amphibian, taking around 60 days with many incredible stops along the way! Follow their journey with the link below! https://www.100asa.com.au Buy my kids book Marty the Mallard from me directly! https://forms.gle/BaR42kZAq7SPWiXPA Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw...

Mar 31, 202454 minEp. 72

#71 - Seabee Owner and Former Fighter Pilot Jim Whalley

Last year in the month of April, I embarked on what would end up being one of the most exciting weeks of my aviation career, training 7 highly experienced pilots how to fly the floating hull aircraft on a 75-year-old Republic Seebee. I had always dreamt of flying the seebee, but never before had I even seen one until I was in formation with the one I was about to instruct on, sitting in a Gazelle helicopter with the great man and my guest today, Jim Whalley at the controls.

Sep 04, 202355 minEp. 71

#70 - 23yo Aussie Flying Floats in Alaska, Ollie O'Halloran

Every seaplane pilot has dreamt of doing this at one stage, packing their suitcase, requesting an upgrade to business but getting shafted in economy for 14 hours, ok maybe not that part, but all seaplane pilots look at flying in Alaska as one of the pinnacles in the industry, and Aussie pilot Ollie O’Halloran is doing just that. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! ht...

Jun 13, 20231 hr 22 minEp. 70

#69 - John Ramsden and Mallard's, Twin Otters, Buccaneers and the rest!

A self-confessed lucky bugger who answered a phone call back in the early 80’s that changed the direction of his career forever, John Ramsden took that opportunity and has flown seaplanes around the world including both the radial and turbine mallard, the twin otter and continues flying today in the Cessna caravan amphibian. A true Aussie seaplane legend who doesn’t mind a beer either. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.inst...

May 31, 20231 hr 27 minEp. 69

#68 - Icon A5 Dealer Gary-James Knight

Gary was halfway through his flight training for his commercial licence when his dream of becoming an airline pilot changed. He discontinued his training, became a real-estate agent and got into sales. An add for a sales job at Icon came to his attention and now Gary spends his days selling one of the worlds most popular new flying boats. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube C...

Apr 08, 20221 hr 11 minEp. 68

#67 - My wife Jenna Bolton! Helicopter Pilot and Mallard Business Manager

Jenna was once a helicopter pilot but is now the business manager of the Mallards I fly… yes yes yes, that makes her my boss, but she’s a great boss, well really a leader because she does a great job at what she does and I’m so proud and excited to have her on the podcast. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?vi...

Apr 01, 20221 hr 32 minEp. 67

#66 - Gweduck Flying Boat with Walter Fellows

When anyone talks about twin engine flying boats, they think of the Grumman aircraft, the Goose, Widgeon, Mallard and Albatross. Yes ok, there are others, the Catalina for example, but they are all very old. We only just heard of the rebirth of the Albatross a couple of episodes ago, but that’s a long way away and is a huge aircraft. The Gweduck could be one of the more popular private flying boats coming to the market! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follo...

Mar 25, 20221 hr 7 minEp. 66

#65 - Katie Cowley's Career So Far

She has chased jobs around the world, and is now in a small commuter airline, but has some great stories to tell from her experiences in the seaplane world. Katie is a very cheery girl who brings in great positivity to any conversation! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplane Pilots Ass...

Mar 18, 20221 hr 11 minEp. 65

#64 - The Turbine Albatross with Amphibian Aerospace Industries CEO Dan Webster

There’s been a lot of talk lately about this project, with news articles, videos and multiple interviews available online and with any ambitious project such as this, there is certainly anticipation and expectation, along with scrutiny, and as much as AAI have a cohort of people passionately getting on board in a show of support, they certainly have their doubters as well. Dan shares an update on the companies progress and plans for the future. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon...

Mar 11, 20221 hr 23 minEp. 64

#63 - Seaplane Insurance with Ian Tait

Ian discusses how insurance works and specifically insurance in the seaplane world. It’s a conversation a little bit different than the normal but I’m sure you will all learn something new just as I did! EPISODE NOTES TEMPLATE Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplane Pilots Association: ...

Feb 18, 20221 hr 15 minEp. 63

#62 - South Coast Seaplanes Owner Tim Gilbo

His company, South Coast Seaplanes operate Maule aircraft on the South Coast, of NSW Australia, and Tim talks about how he got to where he is today which certainly wasn’t the path I was thinking, as well as seaplane training and seaplane insurance! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplan...

Feb 11, 20221 hr 20 minEp. 62

#61 - Aviat Husky Seaplane Dealer Kevin Oaks

Kevin was also a sales manager at Progressive Aerodyne selling the Searey Aircraft and is also representing the Seabear Russian built twin engine flying boat made famous by Michael smith when he flew it from England to Australia retracing the 1919 great Air Race on its 100 year anniversary two years ago. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/cha...

Jan 21, 20221 hr 4 minEp. 61

#60 - Old Pilot Bold Pilot Blaine Bjarnarson

Blaine has written a book about his life called Old Pilot Bold Pilot and I have included links to his facebook page in the show notes, but before reading about his career, let’s hear about it first! LINKS TO BUY BLAINE'S BOOK BELOW! (BLAINE PREFERS IF YOU BUY VIA HIS FACEBOOK PAGE THROUGH WHATSAPP TO AVOID COMMISSION) https://www.facebook.com/TwinOtterFlying/ https://aviatorsbookshelf.ca/products/old-pilot-bold-pilot-by-blaine-bjarnarson Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/th...

Jan 14, 20221 hr 15 minEp. 60

#59 - Dr Ben Williams, Private Seaplane Owner

Working full time as an orthopaedic surgeon, Ben is the owner of 2 aircraft, it was three only a few months ago, and has a great passion for aviation and seaplanes. It is only right that Ben is the first guest back to the show after a break mainly because he is the one keeping me too busy to do interviews! So blame him folks!Working full time as an orthopaedic surgeon, Ben is the owner of 2 aircraft, it was three only a few months ago, and has a great passion for aviation and seaplanes. It is on...

Jan 08, 20221 hr 12 minEp. 59

#58 - Flying Boat Film Creator Dirk Braun

Ok onto todays guest. For a while now, Instagram has been in awe of the content being produced by the account “Flying Boat Film”, but we didn’t know what it was all about! Scenes of Albatross touching down in beautiful locations were getting us very excited about a future movie coming to our screens on a topic we are all crazy in love with. Well at Oshkosh under the stars, with the eyes of aircraft enthusiasts locked onto the big screen, the Flying Boat Film was finally released. On with me to t...

Aug 18, 202127 minEp. 58

#57 - Seaplanes at EAA AirVenture 2021

Oshkosh 2021 is upon us now and one of the coolest parts of the show is obviously the seaplane base! If you’ve never been before, like me, or you’re gearing up to go, Steve McCaughey shares what we will be expecting at this years event. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplane Pilots Ass...

Jul 24, 202145 minEp. 57

#56 - Grumman Widgeon Owner Mike Rutter

Mike Rutter is a young American who has restored a Grumman Widgeon left in a hangar for over 20 years waiting for its next owner. Taking over 3 years to complete, he now enjoys the nostalgia of owning a 75 year old Grumman Flying Boat! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplane Pilots Asso...

Jul 12, 20211 hr 1 minEp. 56

#55 - New Zealand Radial Otter Pilot Steven Newland

On today's episode we’re talking Ag cats on floats, otter radials on floats, floatplane mountain flying, resume building, obscure medical conditions, hungry Tiger sharks below the floats, point of no return seaplane flying, beach bikini’s, starting seaplane companies, fishing from seaplanes, hammocks on seaplanes, New Zealand float flying… and no, we don’t have 20 people in to talk about all these incredible topics, we have just one! http://www.stevennewland.com Support On the Step via Patreon h...

Jun 25, 20211 hr 30 minEp. 55

#54 - Angle of Attack founder Chris Palmer

Chris Palmer has created a great business called Angle of Attack, well known for incredible video content through YouTube and Instagram, but also running a great online ground school through his website. WEBSITE: https://www.angleofattack.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/angleofattack/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDe2nrsxVaoIsjFS2SpzzQ PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/aviatorcast-flight-training-aviation-podcast/id799239198 Support On the Step via Patreon htt...

Jun 15, 20211 hr 5 minEp. 54

#53 - Chalk's Ocean Airways Senior Captain Arthur Campbell

Arthur Campbell flew all of the Grumman Flying Boats at Chalk's Ocean Airways in his 18 year career with the company. His stories of his time flying off the water will take you back to the good old days of Flying Boat aviation in Miami and the Bahamas. Chalk's Ocean Airways Orlando Sentinel Article: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1988-10-23-0070460178-story.html Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/t...

May 28, 20211 hr 29 minEp. 53

#52 - Mark Muscat: My first floatplane job was at age 49!

After gaining his commercial pilots licence at age 39, Australian Mark Muscat found a passion for seaplanes as he entered the sector late in his career. His aviation highlights include flying De Havilland Beavers and Cessna Caravans in the Whitsunday Island and taking command of a Single Turbine Otter in Fiji,

May 21, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 52

#51 - Two Grumman Flying Boats and a FireBoss before age 35: Peter Klein

This week's guest Peter Klein is a good mate of mine and an incredible pilot who has had an amazing journey through the seaplane an aviation industry. He has flown not one but two multi engine Grumman flying boats, has flown seaplanes in multiple countries and now helps combat wildfires in both Canada and Australia as a fire-bombing pilot on the 802 fire boss. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ ...

May 07, 20211 hr 33 minEp. 51

Australian Seaplane Pilot Conference 2021

Click on the link below for Grumman Mallard Safari itineraries: Darwin to Airlie Beach Airlie Beach to Darwin Seaplane Pilots Association of Australia Website: https://www.seaplanes.org.au Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplane Pilots Association: On the Step is proudly sponsored by th...

Feb 10, 202130 min

#50 - Sydney Seaplanes CEO Aaron Shaw

Floatplanes and flying boats in Sydney have such a rich history, from the QANTAS flying boats of the 30’s to today’s iconic Beaver floatplane flying past the Sydney Opera House or Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney Seaplanes have been in the news lately with some exciting ventures on the horizon, including a new regular transport route connecting Sydney and Canberra, as well as the potential of an electric engined Cessna Caravan Amphib. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmall...

Jan 22, 20211 hr 2 minEp. 50

#49 - 24 year old Caravan Amphib Pilot Alex Fisher

At just 24 years of age, Alex Fisher has already started his own seaplane company, has flown seaplanes internationally, is a Seaplane Pilots Association of Australia committee member, and at the start of his career set the Australian record for the youngest person to fly solo around Australia! So much accomplished at such a young age.

Jan 15, 20211 hrEp. 49

#48 - Chief Pilot of the Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures Emma Holdgate

Showing an interest in aviation at an early age, Emma was given a chance to jump straight into floats in New Zealand before making the move to Australia, being thrown in the deep end to run a floatplane operation in the croc infested waters of the Northern Territory. Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as...

Jan 08, 20211 hr 11 minEp. 48

#47 - Alaskan Beaver Pilot and Seaplane Instructor Chris Turner

Following in his father's footsteps with a career in aviation, Chris Turner took the seaplane path and now enjoys working as a seaplane instructor for 6 months of the year in Florida, followed by 6 months of the year in Alaska! Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Check out my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber Seaplane Pilots Association:...

Jan 01, 20211 hr 4 minEp. 47

#46 - Sharks in the Runway Author Paul Harding

Could you imagine a more magical place to fly seaplanes for a living? Paul Harding made the Bahamas his home and workplace for over 20 years, flying Maule floatplanes. He has done the incredible job of writing his own biography also, titled Sharks in the Runway. Paul Harding’s book “Sharks in the runway” https://www.amazon.com/Sharks-Runway-Seaplane-Fifty-Year-Bahamian/dp/1911525948 Support On the Step via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguy Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagr...

Dec 25, 202052 minEp. 46
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