The Hangar Z Podcast

• Episode 253 - Air Support Funding Solutions Part I

  Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!The Hangar Z Podcast has extensively talked about the two primary challenges facing public safety aviation: Politics, and funding. We have dedicated considerable time to discussing the political aspects of this equation.In this two-part series, host Jon Gray discusses the challenges and solutions related to funding aircraft and mission equipment for law enforcement agencies. Joined by experts Ed Van Winkle and D.C. Greer, the conversation delves into the intricacies of aircraft financing, the importance of education for new aviation leaders, and creative solutions for acquiring necessary equipmentD.C. Greer is a senior vice president of Government Capital Corporation, a nationwide public finance company, headquartered in Southlake, Texas. With over 30 years in public finance, his efforts have been focused largely in the public safety sector. D.C. served three years in the U.S. Army and is a graduate of Northwestern State University, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.During our conversation, Ed Vanwinkle reflects on his over 20 years of service at the Gainesville Police Department in Florida, where he retired as captain. His diverse roles included aviation, narcotics, detectives, patrol, S.W.A.T., and training. He served as the Narcotics Unit commander, S.W.A.T. commander, and unit commander of the Joint Aviation Unit with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. After retiring, Ed spent nine years as the law enforcement sales manager at Airbus Helicopters and is now the vice president of law enforcement and OEM projects for CNC Technologies. He is also an active commercial helicopter pilot, flight instructor (CFII), and fixed-wing pilot.This conversation also delves into the advancements in aviation technology, particularly focusing on the integration of CNC live systems and the bi-directional flow of information that enhances operational efficiency for air crews.This is an important episode for anyone in public safety aviation, but especially for those in a position seeking funding solutions to purchase new aircraft or mission equipment.Thank you to our sponsors, CNC Technologies, Vertical Valor and Vertical MRO.

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• Episode 252 A Career in Review With Tony Webber Part 2

  Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Helicopter Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!In this two-part series, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely sit down in the recording booth of Vertical Magazine at VAI Verticon in Dallas, Texas, with one of our favorite people in law enforcement aviation.Pilot Tony Weber has 42 years of experience on the job with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, 32 of which were spent working air support. Tony has been a guest and co-host on The Hangar Z Podcast, but this time, there is a fantastic bonus.Tony’s wife Wendy joins us to discuss the journey of a spouse in law enforcement. You do not want to miss Wendy’s perspective on the good times, the bad times, the loss of friends, the SWAT call-outs, the wildfires, the celebrations, and even the retirement. Wendy’s insight provides a great path to a successful marriage in a law enforcement family.Tony will discuss his amazing career from the academy as a 20-year-old, to his jail tour, patrol duty, SWAT, and his 32 years in aviation. He has seen firsthand a great deal of change over those years in a variety of airframes, technology, safety, CRM, and unit culture.This was a wonderful conversation with two amazing people and there might even be a few surprises, including a first on The Hangar Z — a “Game Show.”Thank you to our sponsors Precision Aviation Group, SHOTOVER and Summit Aviation.

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• Episode 251 A Career in Review With Tony Webber Part 1

  Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Helicopter Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!In this two-part series, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely sit down in the recording booth of Vertical Magazine at VAI Verticon in Dallas, Texas, with one of our favorite people in law enforcement aviation.Pilot Tony Weber has 42 years of experience on the job with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, 32 of which were spent working air support. Tony has been a guest and co-host on The Hangar Z Podcast, but this time, there is a fantastic bonus.Tony’s wife Wendy joins us to discuss the journey of a spouse in law enforcement. You do not want to miss Wendy’s perspective on the good times, the bad times, the loss of friends, the SWAT call-outs, the wildfires, the celebrations, and even the retirement. Wendy’s insight provides a great path to a successful marriage in a law enforcement family.Tony will discuss his amazing career from the academy as a 20-year-old, to his jail tour, patrol duty, SWAT, and his 32 years in aviation. He has seen firsthand a great deal of change over those years in a variety of airframes, technology, safety, CRM, and unit culture.This was a wonderful conversation with two amazing people and there might even be a few surprises, including a first on The Hangar Z — a “Game Show.”Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Metro Aviation and Trakka Systems.

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• Episode 250 - From the RAF to the Royal Navy: A Conversation with Jon Duke

  Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!This episode was recorded at European Rotors in Amsterdam in November 2024. In this episode I was able to sit down with Jon Duke. Jon is a contributing writer for Vertical Magazine and has an extensive background in aviation, including his flying career in the United Kingdom's military. Jon was an air traffic controller in the Royal Air Force and a helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy. During the conversation, Jon shares his remarkable journey from a young aviation enthusiast to air traffic controller and, ultimately, a helicopter pilot. We'll explore the unique challenges faced during search-and-rescue missions, and the invaluable lessons learned throughout his career. This discussion will emphasize the significance of managing confidence in aviation, transitioning from search-and-rescue operations to broader military roles, and the essentials of effective communication in air traffic control.Jon also spent time as a flight instructor. In this conversation, he reflects on his experiences with students and highlights the importance of mentoring the next generation of aviators. We also have an opportunity to touch on his contributions to aviation journalism through Vertical Magazine and the vital role it plays in promoting careers in this dynamic field. Thank you to our sponsors Precision Aviation Group, CNC Technologies and Airbus. 

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• Episode 249 - Leadership and Innovation: Dave Ellis's Impact on Spokane County's Aviation Unit Part 2

  Welcome to another episode of the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Valor magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!On today’s episode, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are thrilled to welcome Dave Ellis.  Dave is a pivotal figure in the development of Spokane County Sheriff’s aviation program.Dave takes us through the journey of building the program from the ground up, sharing insights into the political and financial challenges, the role of data tracking, and the power of community engagement. He opens up about his background and his diverse career. We discuss law enforcement and coaching, including his recent incredible success coaching a high school soccer team.We dive into the vital role of communication and education in ensuring the aviation program’s growth and sustainability. The conversation also explores how youth sports teach life lessons, the unique perspective of referees, and the challenges of law enforcement in Spokane County.You’ll hear about the evolution of Spokane County’s aviation unit, including decisions around aircraft selection, advancements in aviation technology, and how real-time situational awareness is enhancing public safety. Dave shares his insights on UAS technology, drone integration, and the growing role of AI in emergency response.Throughout the episode, we touch on Dave’s journey toward agency accreditation, innovations in training, his roles with the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), and his involvement in shaping active shooter response curricula.We truly appreciate our followers. If you are enjoying Hangar Z, please help us spread the word—and don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share.Thank you to our sponsors Night Flight Concepts, Robinson Helicopter and Trakka Systems USA.

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