What does the future of aviation really look like as we head toward 2026—and how can today’s pilots, students, and aviation dreamers prepare for it? In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker takes listeners on a forward-looking journey through the biggest shifts shaping aviation’s near future. From airline industry pressures and evolving airport experiences, to revolutionary changes in flight training and the FAA’s new MOSAIC rule, this episode is all about opportunity at a moment of pivot for aviation.

Shawn then spotlights hands-on innovation with a deep dive into the Silverlight Aviation Recon, a versatile, trailerable experimental aircraft designed to solve real-world ownership challenges like hangar shortages and rising costs—without sacrificing performance or fun. The episode wraps with expert insight from Lou Mancuso, “The Landing Doctor,” whose unconventional training philosophy has helped produce safer pilots and buttery-smooth landings through a return to fundamentals.

This episode is about innovation, accessibility, and mastery—and why the next generation of aviators has more paths into the sky than ever before.

• Airlines face mounting pressure from costs, staffing, safety, and fuel—creating a crossroads moment.

• Airports are embracing biometrics and tech, but empathy and human connection are becoming key differentiators.

• Travelers want seamless, tech-enabled experiences without losing the human touch.

• Global pilot demand remains strong due to retirements and fleet growth.

• Flight schools are integrating VR, AR, AI-powered tracking, and digital logbooks.

• Modular and accelerated training paths could get students job-ready in as little as 12 months.

• Removes weight limits for new Light Sport Aircraft designs.

• Expands LSA to allow up to four seats.

• Enables more advanced aircraft systems with proper endorsements.

• Opens new, more affordable pathways into flight training and ownership.

• Kit-built experimental aircraft with folding wings—deployable in 10–15 minutes by one person.

• Trailerable design solves hangar waitlists and storage costs.

• Configurable with nosewheel or tailwheel landing gear.

• Engine options from 100 hp to 160 hp turbocharged.

• Excellent visibility, backcountry capability, and real-world versatility.

• Taught by Lou Mancuso of Sebring Flight Academy.

• Focuses on slow flight down the runway to master sight picture.

• Emphasizes fundamentals over instruments—sometimes covering the panel entirely.

• Resulted in zero accidents, incidents, or insurance claims in eight years.

• Training resources available free online for pilots and instructors.

0:00 – 1:00 | Introduction & aviation’s crossroads heading into 2026 1:01 – 2:50 | Airports, biometrics, and the importance of empathy 2:51 – 5:16 | Flight training evolution & FAA MOSAIC rule breakdown 5:17 – 7:14 | Why 2026 is a turning point for young aviators 7:15 – 12:56 | Silverlight Aviation Recon: design, performance & ownership innovation 12:57 – 14:58 | Why the Recon makes aircraft ownership more accessible 14:59 – 17:57 | The Landing Doctor: mastering landings through fundamentals 17:58 – End | Final reflections on skill, simplicity, and the joy of flying

• Silverlight Aviation Recon: https://silverlightaviation.com/

• The Landing Doctor: https://thelandingdoctor.com/

• AviNation USA: https://www.avinationusa.com/

• Creative Relay Media: https://creativerelaymedia.com/