Welcome to the HangerZ podcast brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and partnered with Vertical Valor Plus.

Today's episode was recorded on the floor of Verticon in Atlanta, at the Vertical Plus booth. We had a great week at Verticon and several great conversations and this was one of them. Today's guests are Lt Brad May and Sgt Dustin Gomez of Pasadena Police Department's Air Support Unit.

Lt May has a unique history in the unit. He's been there as an officer, a sergeant, and now the lieutenant of the unit. Great conversation about that.

Sgt Gomez talks about his unique situation, and about learning the ins and outs of the air support unit.

We also discussed the purchase of two new Bell 505s for the unit. They worked with CNC Technologies to get everything done--the whole package. We'll talk about that relationship with CNC, and how unique it is. You don't want to miss this episode.

This was a great conversation on the floor of Verticon. Hope you enjoy it.

Thank you to all our sponsors and thanks to all of you who listen and watch. We really appreciate your support. Don't forget to like and subscribe.

Thank you to our sponsors BLR Aerospace, Dallas Aviation and Metro Aviation.

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor.

Today we’re joined by a familiar and respected voice in the public safety community, Dr. Tania Glenn. Following her appearances on episodes 176 and 177 of the Hangar Z Podcast, she returns to the show to dive into one of the most critical topics facing our profession: mental wellness.

Dr. Glenn brings more than 30 years of experience working with first responders and members of our military, supporting those who operate in high-risk, high-stress environments. She’s the author of 10 books, including two for children, and is a sought-after keynote speaker and instructor, presenting across the country on resilience, wellness, and performance. Dr. Glenn has also contributed insightful articles to Vertical Valor, further connecting her work to the aviation and public safety communities.

We’re excited to have her back to continue this important conversation. For more information about Dr. Glenn and her team, visit TaniaGlenn.com. Be sure to also visit smashingthestigma.com to view her latest documentary, Warriors and Healers.

Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, SHOTOVER Systems and Wysong Enterprises.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor +.

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, where we continue our ongoing series of conversations on leadership in law enforcement.

In this episode, we’re joined by two exceptional leaders: Chief Ed Delmore of the Pelham Police Department and Chief Scott Hughes of the Hamilton Township Police Department.

Both chiefs bring decades of experience and a proven track record that led them to the highest levels of leadership within their organizations. Beyond the badge, they are also thoughtful voices in the profession, having authored numerous articles on leadership, current events in law enforcement, and tactical considerations. Today, we dive deep into two of those articles and use them as a springboard for a wide-ranging discussion.

We explore leadership philosophies, the importance of training, protecting your people, maintaining standards, retention and recruitment, and what it truly means to lead from the front. Chiefs Delmore and Hughes speak candidly about standing for what’s right, applying common sense to leadership, and refusing to tolerate toxic behavior within the ranks.

This is an honest, insightful conversation with two chiefs who lead with courage, integrity, and clarity of purpose. No matter your role in law enforcement, there is something to learn from these two incredible leaders.

Thank you to MHM Publishing and the Vertical HeliCASTS podcast platform for making all of this possible. Please continue to like, subscribe, and share the Hangar Z Podcast.

Thank you to our sponsors Bell, BLR Aerospace and Precision Aviation Group.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor +.

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, where we continue our ongoing series of conversations on leadership in law enforcement.

In this episode, we’re joined by two exceptional leaders: Chief Ed Delmore of the Pelham Police Department and Chief Scott Hughes of the Hamilton Township Police Department.

Both chiefs bring decades of experience and a proven track record that led them to the highest levels of leadership within their organizations. Beyond the badge, they are also thoughtful voices in the profession, having authored numerous articles on leadership, current events in law enforcement, and tactical considerations. Today, we dive deep into two of those articles and use them as a springboard for a wide-ranging discussion.

We explore leadership philosophies, the importance of training, protecting your people, maintaining standards, retention and recruitment, and what it truly means to lead from the front. Chiefs Delmore and Hughes speak candidly about standing for what’s right, applying common sense to leadership, and refusing to tolerate toxic behavior within the ranks.

This is an honest, insightful conversation with two chiefs who lead with courage, integrity, and clarity of purpose. No matter your role in law enforcement, there is something to learn from these two incredible leaders.

Thank you to MHM Publishing and the Vertical HeliCASTS podcast platform for making all of this possible. Please continue to like, subscribe, and share the Hangar Z Podcast.

Thank you to our sponsors Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing, CNC Technologies and Metro Aviation.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

Today’s episode is a powerful and deeply personal conversation about courage, resilience, and determination. Our guest is retired Sgt Yvette Tuning of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Air Support Division.

Yvette opens up about a life-changing cancer diagnosis that turned her world upside down—losing her Federal Aviation Administration medical, navigating multiple incorrect diagnoses, and learning firsthand how critical second opinions can be. She shares the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment, the fight to beat cancer, and the uphill battle to return to work and regain her medical certification.

This is an inspiring story of perseverance in the face of uncertainty, but it doesn’t stop there. Yvette also discusses an officer-involved shooting she was part of, the lasting impact of critical incidents, and what strong, authentic leadership looks like inside an aviation unit—especially when things don’t go according to plan.

This episode is honest, emotional, and motivating, and it highlights what’s possible when you refuse to quit, even when the odds are stacked against you. Our conversation contains adult topics and language. Settle in—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Bell, CNC Technologies and Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

Today’s episode is a powerful and deeply personal conversation about courage, resilience, and determination. Our guest is retired Sgt Yvette Tuning of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Air Support Division.

Yvette opens up about a life-changing cancer diagnosis that turned her world upside down—losing her Federal Aviation Administration medical, navigating multiple incorrect diagnoses, and learning firsthand how critical second opinions can be. She shares the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment, the fight to beat cancer, and the uphill battle to return to work and regain her medical certification.

This is an inspiring story of perseverance in the face of uncertainty, but it doesn’t stop there. Yvette also discusses an officer-involved shooting she was part of, the lasting impact of critical incidents, and what strong, authentic leadership looks like inside an aviation unit—especially when things don’t go according to plan.

This episode is honest, emotional, and motivating, and it highlights what’s possible when you refuse to quit, even when the odds are stacked against you. Our conversation contains adult topics and language. Settle in—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing, Precision Aviation Group and Robinson Helicopter.

Welcome back to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

We’re excited to be on the third stop of the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour, coming to you from the beautiful state of Florida.

The Blades of Valor Tour spotlights public safety aviation units recognized for outstanding service, and celebrates those who go above and beyond. We aim to promote the good work these agencies do and highlight the standard of excellence they set.

Thank you to the 2026 Blades of Valor sponsor, Switlik, and the support of Massif Flight Suits. Without your sponsorship and support, this tour would not be possible.

These teams serve as the benchmark for the public aviation community. Our mission is to share their stories of unwavering commitment, courage, innovative leadership, teamwork, and technological innovation from agencies setting the standard in public safety aviation, inspiring others to raise the bar in service and safety.

Today’s episode was recorded inside the hangar at Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue, and we’re joined by Capt Jason Vanbuskirk and pilot Alberto Camacho. We’ll dive into the recent regional fly-in held at the base, a Vertical Valor Plus air-to-air photo and video shoot that included the department’s Marine Unit, and an in-depth overview of air rescue operations.

You’ll also hear a detailed description of the Leonardo AW139, from crew makeup and mission sets to the equipment that makes these missions possible. And of course, we’ll talk about the incredibly diverse area of operations, spanning dense urban environments, the Everglades, and open water.

This is another great discussion on mission readiness and the training required to stay current in a wide variety of skillsets.

Many thanks to Vertical Valor Plus, and all our sponsors, for making this Blades of Valor Tour possible. This is a one-of-a-kind tour that includes photography, videography, print, and podcasting. Stayed tuned for lots of original content in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you to our sponsors CENTUM, SHOTOVER and Wysong Enterprises.

Welcome back to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

We’re excited to be on the third stop of the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour, coming to you from the beautiful state of Florida.

The Blades of Valor Tour spotlights public safety aviation units recognized for outstanding service, and celebrates those who go above and beyond. We aim to promote the good work these agencies do and highlight the standard of excellence they set.

Thank you to the 2026 Blades of Valor sponsor, Switlik, and the support of Massif Flight Suits. Without your sponsorship and support, this tour would not be possible.

These teams serve as the benchmark for the public aviation community. Our mission is to share their stories of unwavering commitment, courage, innovative leadership, teamwork, and technological innovation from agencies setting the standard in public safety aviation, inspiring others to raise the bar in service and safety.

Today’s episode was recorded inside the hangar at Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue, and we’re joined by Capt Jason Vanbuskirk and pilot Alberto Camacho. We’ll dive into the recent regional fly-in held at the base, a Vertical Valor Plus air-to-air photo and video shoot that included the department’s Marine Unit, and an in-depth overview of air rescue operations.

You’ll also hear a detailed description of the Leonardo AW139, from crew makeup and mission sets to the equipment that makes these missions possible. And of course, we’ll talk about the incredibly diverse area of operations, spanning dense urban environments, the Everglades, and open water.

This is another great discussion on mission readiness and the training required to stay current in a wide variety of skillsets.

Many thanks to Vertical Valor Plus, and all our sponsors, for making this Blades of Valor Tour possible. This is a one-of-a-kind tour that includes photography, videography, print, and podcasting. Stayed tuned for lots of original content in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you to our sponsors CENTUM, Dallas Avionics and Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch.