96. What young pilots want, with Clay Simmons

Over 40% of active student pilots are under age 30 and Clay Simmons is one of them (he even built a Carbon Cub at age 22). He explains the unique expectations this new generation of pilots has, how the GA industry can be more successful in reaching out, and why mentors are so important. Clay is also an active backcountry pilot, so he shares advice for pilots who want to fly taildraggers and explore off-airport destinations. In the Ready to Copy segment, Clay talks about homebuilding tips, campfire cooking, and great architecture. SHOW LINKS: Richard Collins Writing for Young Pilots: https://airfactsjournal.com/2025/01/announcing-the-2025-richard-collins-writing-prize-for-young-pilots/ Clay’s winning article from 2024: https://airfactsjournal.com/2024/04/2024-collins-writing-prize-winner-blister-flight-six-pilots-and-an-angel/ Sporty’s 2025 Pilot Training Courses: http://sportys.com/discover