Air America and Other Risky Flying Exploits - Neil Hansen - Coffee In a Hangar Podcast

Sponsored by: https://sportaircraftseats.com/ Neil's Book: https://a.co/d/0aCmcF10 Our website: Coffeeinahangar.com In this episode of the Coffee in a Hangar podcast, I sit down with Neil Hansen (author of Flight: An Air America Pilot Story of Adventure, Descent, and Redemption) for one of the most jaw-dropping conversations we’ve ever had. Neil’s story spans everything from high-risk flying in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, to the hidden world of Air America and the CIA, and the kind of missions that never made the nightly news. We talk about flying the C-123 aircraft on low-level airdrop runs, what “hard rice” really meant, why Neil changed the way he approached airdrops to survive, and what happens when you’re hit, lose control, and have to make decisions that most pilots will (thankfully) never face. Neil also shares how his life took a dark turn after returning home—leading into Drug Smuggling, the money, the danger, the consequences, and the redemption that followed. If you’re into aviation history, Southeast Asia-era stories, or the mindset of pilots who operated on the edge of the envelope—this one is for you. Subscribe for more long-form pilot stories, hard-earned lessons, and conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.