What happens when a lifelong passion for aviation, speed, and service collides with a legendary cross-country challenge? In this episode of The Future in Flight Podcast, host Shawn Staerker sits down with Chris Holder of Concord Battery and Charlie Duffie of CJ Aviation to unpack an ambitious and heartfelt mission: a 31-hour Cannonball Run across the United States to raise $1 million for the Tango 31 Aero Club.

Chris and Charlie dive into the history of the Cannonball Run, the engineering and performance behind Charlie’s hand-built Factory Five Type 65 Coupe, and the logistics of attempting a coast-to-coast drive at speed—all while honoring the legacy of Kevin Lacey, founder of Tango 31. The conversation highlights how Tango 31 has transformed the lives of underserved youth by teaching them to build, maintain, and fly aircraft, producing pilots, A&P mechanics, and aviation leaders now working across the industry.

Beyond the car and the run, this episode is about giving back, sustaining aviation education, and creating a future pipeline of skilled professionals. With industry-wide support, major sponsors, and a growing wave of momentum, this Cannonball Run is more than an endurance challenge—it’s a mission to ensure Kevin Lacey’s vision lives on and expands nationwide.

Thank you to everyone supporting this effort and helping keep aviation dreams alive for the next generation.

The Cannonball Run for Tango 31 Aero Clube

• A 31-hour coast-to-coast Cannonball Run honoring Tango 31
• Southern Route: Jacksonville Beach, FL to San Diego, CA
• Goal: Raise $1 million to ensure long-term sustainability for Tango 31 Aero Club

The Mission Behind Tango 31

• Founded by Kevin Lacey, aviation icon and mentor
• Youth rebuild donated aircraft from the ground up, then learn to fly them
• Alumni now include corporate pilots, A&P mechanics, and industry professionals
• Funds will support insurance, travel, aircraft operations, and program growth

The Car & The Build

• Hand-built Type 65 Factory Five Type 65 Coupe
• 480 horsepower, ~2,740 lbs, built for speed and endurance
• Inspired by Carroll Shelby’s aviation and racing legacy
• Designed for performance, safety, and long-distance comfort

Industry & Community Support

• Sponsors include Concord Battery, Michelin, Lightspeed Aviation Headsets, and more
• Strong backing from aviation manufacturers and distributors
• Early commitments already exceeding $70,000

What’s Next

• Teaser videos and updates rolling out on Concord Battery’s social platforms
• Planned stop at Tango 31 in McKinney, Texas, with youth aircraft escorting part of the run
• Car appearance (and possible drag race!) at Sun ’n Fun

0:00 – 0:44 | Introduction & the 31-hour Cannonball concept 0:45 – 4:39 | History of the Cannonball Run & route selection 4:40 – 11:41 | Tango 31 Aero Club, Kevin Lacey’s legacy, and youth impact 11:42 – 16:29 | Record times, strategy, and modern-day challenges 16:30 – 22:30 | The Factory Five Type 65 Coupe: design, power, and performance 22:31 – 27:30 | Logistics, fuel strategy, comfort, and endurance 27:31 – 31:24 | Sponsors, fundraising, and how to get involved 31:25 – End | Final reflections, legacy, and the future of Tango 31

• Tango 31 Aero Club (Donations via Zeffy): https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/31-hours-for-tango-thirty-one
• Concord Battery: https://www.concordebattery.com/
• AviNation USA: https://www.avinationusa.com/
• Creative Relay Media: https://creativerelaymedia.com/
• BULBag: https://bulbag.com/

🎧 Episode Summary

What happens when a hand-built Shelby Daytona Coupe, a cross-country Cannonball Run, and a youth aviation nonprofit collide? In this episode, host Shawn Staerker takes listeners on an unforgettable journey where speed meets purpose and aviation becomes a force for generational change.

The story begins with Chris Holder (Concorde Battery Corporation) and Charlie Duffie (CJ Aviation)—two lifelong aviation enthusiasts undertaking a bold mission: driving a 408-horsepower Shelby Daytona Coupe coast-to-coast in just 31 hours to raise funds for Tango 31 Aero Club, a youth aviation program that has transformed dozens of young lives. Their run honors the legacy of Kevin Lacey, Tango 31’s founder, whose passion for mentoring underserved youth through aircraft restoration and flight training continues to inspire the aviation community after his passing.

From there, Shawn shifts gears—literally and figuratively—into aviation innovation, spotlighting Hartzell Propellers and their new Falcon Series, which brings century-old engineering expertise into the affordable aviation market by cutting propeller weight in half without sacrificing reliability.

The episode closes with a fascinating deep dive into one of aviation’s most important safety tools: the phonetic alphabet. Shawn unpacks its wartime origins, international testing, and why words like Alpha, Bravo, and Niner are carefully engineered to save lives in noisy cockpits and across language barriers.

This episode is about legacy, persistence, and community—and how aviation thrives when people refuse to let good ideas, or good people, be forgotten.

✨ Key Points

🏁 31 Hours for Tango 31

• Chris Holder and Charlie Duffie attempt a Southern Cannonball Run from Jacksonville Beach, FL to San Diego, CA.
• Goal: 31 hours, symbolizing Tango 31 Aero Club.
• Mission: Raise $1M to make Tango 31 self-sustaining after the loss of founder Kevin Lacey.
• Tango 31 students rebuild donated aircraft and learn to fly them—many go on to aviation careers.
• Over $70,000 in commitments pledged immediately after the mission was announced.
• Ultimate vision: Expand Tango 31 into a nationwide model for youth aviation education.

🛩️ Giving Back Through Aviation

• Kevin Lacey’s legacy lives on through the students he mentored.
• Over 40 youth have gone through Tango 31 since 2017.
• Alumni now work as pilots, A&P mechanics, and for companies like Cirrus Aircraft.
• “No pressure, no diamonds” becomes the guiding philosophy of the mission.

⚙️ Hartzell Propellers & Affordable Aviation

• Hartzell Propellers has been innovating since 1917.
• The Falcon Series is designed for engines like the Rotax 916.
• Weight reduced from ~40 lbs to ~20 lbs—major performance gains.
• Mission-specific prop design supports LSA, kit aircraft, and modern sport flying.
• OEM partnerships (CubCrafters, Van’s) can reduce costs for builders and pilots.

📡 The Aviation Phonetic Alphabet

• Developed through WWII and finalized internationally by ICAO and NATO.
• Designed to eliminate confusion across languages, accents, and poor radio quality.
• Examples:
  • Alpha (ALFA) for global pronunciation
  • Tree, Fife, Niner for clarity
• Used worldwide by pilots, ATC, emergency services, and beyond.
• One of aviation’s most successful safety innovations.

🕒 Chapter Timestamps

0:00 – 1:30 | Introduction: Speed, purpose, and aviation community 1:31 – 9:40 | 31 Hours for Tango 31: The Cannonball Run mission 9:41 – 11:00 | Honoring Kevin Lacey & the legacy of Tango 31 11:01 – 16:20 | Hartzell Propellers: Century-old innovation meets modern flying 16:21 – 22:30 | Propeller evolution, weight savings, and mission-based design 22:31 – 33:30 | The aviation phonetic alphabet: History, safety, and global impact 33:31 – End | Final reflections, community call-to-action, and closing thoughts

🔗 Links & Resources

• Tango 31 Aero Club: https://www.t31aeroclube.com/
• Concorde Battery Corporation: https://www.concordebattery.com/
• CJ Aviation: https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/cj-aviation/
• Hartzell Propellers: https://www.hartzellprop.com/
• AviNation USA / Aviation Magazine: https://www.avinationusa.com/
• Creative Relay Media: https://creativerelaymedia.com/

In this high-energy interview, Michelle Leon, Operations Manager at Levil Aviation, discusses the common thread that links her diverse career background: people. From her early days in hospitality and dentistry to leading operations in aviation and manufacturing, Michelle explains how the philosophy of servant leadership has guided her success.

We explore how Levil Aviation is disrupting the avionics market with affordable, safety-enhancing equipment and the specific strategies Michelle uses to build a paperless, highly efficient workplace. The conversation also tackles the critical need for workforce development and how early exposure to trades can change the trajectory of students' lives.

➡️ Be sure to check out our newest show sponsor: BULBag USA!

• Servant Leadership: Being in the trenches with your team and focusing on their growth leads to a more resilient culture.
• The Appreciation Gap: Utilizing the 'Five Languages of Appreciation' to recognize employees in the way they actually want to be seen.
• Women in STEM: Overcoming industry biases by maintaining credibility and leading with knowledge.
• Early Exposure: The importance of introducing middle schoolers to CNC machining and robotics before they choose a career path.
• NORSEE Approval: A breakdown of how the FAA allows safety-enhancing equipment to reach pilots faster.

00:00 - Introduction and Michelle's diverse career journey 00:54 - Servant leadership lessons from the dentistry world 03:54 - Why workforce development energizes the team 04:54 - Moving toward paperless and digital-first operations 06:11 - Boosting morale through the Five Languages of Appreciation 08:04 - Earning respect as a woman in aviation and manufacturing 13:06 - Why middle school is the 'sweet spot' for trade exposure 19:32 - Introducing Levil Connect: The future of data collection 22:12 - Deep dive into the FAA's NORSEE approval process 28:29 - Advice for building a professional network

• Levil Aviation Official Website
• Creative Relay Media
• AviNation
• BULBag USA