363 Buying and Learning to Fly a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet and SOE with Dr. Mark Alford
Aviation News Talk podcast
Glass Cockpit Publishing
4.8 • 730 Ratings
🗓️ 10 January 2025
⏱️ 66 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Max talks with Dr. Mark Alford, who shares his journey transitioning to the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet. He completed a nine-day type rating course in Knoxville, preparing through extensive study and simulator sessions to master the jet’s systems and emergency procedures.
Mark highlights the challenges and rewards of his Supervised Operating Experience (SOE) with Max, which involved 25 hours of mentorship to remove his type rating restriction. They undertook diverse flights, including weather flying, night landings, and mountain approaches, like Eagle County Airport’s challenging RNAV GPS approach and high-performance departure. Mark also recounts mastering the Garmin G3000 avionics, emphasizing the importance of training tools and preparation.
Personal stories enrich the podcast, such as inspiring a young aviation enthusiast in Wisconsin and connecting with aspiring pilots at FBOs. Mark reflects on how SOE training boosted his confidence for complex airspace and re-routing, as shown during recent flights to Southern California.
Mark advises aspiring jet pilots to focus on mastering avionics and adapting to new systems. His journey showcases the technical challenges and personal fulfillment of flying advanced aircraft, inspiring listeners with his progress and passion.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Have you ever wondered what it would be like to buy a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet, get a typewriting |
| 0:07.1 | for it, and then fly around the country with an instructor for 25 hours? |
| 0:11.2 | I help people do that all the time, and today we'll be talking with Dr. Mark Alford |
| 0:15.0 | about his experience doing that and about our adventures flying around the country together. |
| 0:19.7 | It is new to him vision jet. |
| 0:21.6 | Hello again and welcome to Aviation News Talk where we talk in general aviation. |
| 0:25.6 | My name is Max Trescott. I've been flying for over 50 years. I've written several books and I'm the |
| 0:29.8 | 2008 National Flight Instructor of the year. And my mission is to help you become the safest |
| 0:34.8 | possible pilot. Last week in episode 362, we talked about Jiu Air Flight |
| 0:40.6 | 2216, a Boeing 737 that landed gear up in South Korea, and about why it didn't slow as it slid |
| 0:48.5 | down the runway. So if you didn't hear that episode, you may want to check it out at Aviation |
| 0:52.9 | newstalk.com slash 362. |
| 0:55.6 | And if you're new to this show, welcome. Glad you found us here. And now in whatever app that |
| 1:00.8 | you're using, touch either the subscribe key, or if you're using Spotify or the Apple podcast app, |
| 1:06.3 | the follow key, so that next week's episode is downloaded for free. And of course, this is a listener-supported by people like you. |
| 1:14.7 | So if you've been listening for a while, feel that you're getting value from the show and have thought, |
| 1:19.0 | yeah, I'd kind of like to support the show. |
| 1:20.6 | But you haven't just gotten around to it yet. |
| 1:23.2 | Take a moment right now. |
| 1:24.7 | Stop what you're doing. |
| 1:25.9 | And go ahead and sign up to become a member and support the show. |
| 1:28.5 | And when you do, I'll read your name on the show. |
... |
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