Six Decades of Aviation Engineering with Jimmy Tubbs

In this episode of Aviation Masters, Mike Busch sits down with legendary aeronautical engineer Jimmy Tubbs for a deep, wide-ranging conversation that spans more than six decades of aviation experience. From military engineering and piston engine innovation to PMA certification battles and the future of autonomous flight, this episode is a masterclass in how general aviation has evolved and where it may be headed next. Jimmy shares the untold engineering stories behind cylinder design, chrome vs. nickel processes, engine certification challenges, and the hard lessons learned while building some of the most influential piston engine components in modern aviation. This is a candid, technical, and deeply human conversation with one of the quiet architects of how we fly today. ⏱ Chapters 03:00 – From Small-Town Texas to Aeronautical Engineering 07:00 – Military Aviation, Engineering Labs & Learning to Fly 12:00 – Inside ECI: Cylinder Reconditioning & Early PMA Work 17:00 – Channel Chrome vs. Nickel Cylinders: What Really Matters 27:00 – Building New Cylinders & The Birth of Titan Engines 36:00 – TBO, On-Condition Maintenance & FAA Certification Reality 42:00 – The Titan Cylinder AD: What Actually Happened 53:00 – Engine Monitoring, CHT Management & Pilot Responsibility 01:05:00 – Life After ECI: PMA Consulting & Supply Chain Challenges 01:19:00 – Diesel Engines, Automation & The Future of General Aviation 01:30:00 – Final Reflections on Innovation, Aging Aircraft & Passion for Aviation 📍 Subscribe to Aviation Masters for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the future of GA.