Michael Lofton on Flying Rock Stars, Aviation Adventures, and the Story Behind Flying Rocks

Send us Fan MailAn unexpected conversation with a guy who arranged charters to fly rock stars around and was once carded for being too old to buy wine at Walmart. In this episode of Seriously, Bud, the guest is Michael Lofton, who has an intriguing background in aviation and music. Michael unfolds his aviation journey, starting with flying a Cessna as a teenager, leading to a longer career in private aviation. He mentions his early musical interests and shares a humorous anecdote about being carded while buying wine at Walmart.Michael shares a remarkable segment about his career shift from teaching flying and inspecting aircraft to running flight charters for various rock bands. It began from an unexpected phone call from a musician's agent, leading him to organize tours for notable artists like Jimmy Buffett. Michael dives into the challenges of arranging large aircraft with adequate passenger capacity and financial backing for these tours. The conversation moves to some entertaining and less glamorous aspects of his job, including managing the needs and sometimes destructive behaviors of rock bands on tour. He discusses the complexities of securing aircraft and the synchronicities in his career, such as how he was almost involved in Ricky Nelson's ill-fated flight.Michael references his book, "Flying Rocks," which details his experiences and mishaps during these flights. He explains his motivation behind writing it for his grandchildren, ensuring his adventurous life stories are documented. The book serves as a fascinating expose on the less-known backstage occurrences of the private aviation industry.Michael's journey eventually led him to New Hampshire to be closer to his family, particularly his grandkids. He describes the transition from his aviation career to working in digital marketing and SEO, a skill he developed out of necessity. He closes by suggesting potential future guests for the show, including his son, who is a WordPress expert, and Jonathan Watson, a fellow WordPress professional with a podcast on Lord of the Rings.