Clarity comes from gaining perspective above the clouds, but confidence is born from navigating the turbulence
- Dr. Michaela
The "SkyTalkDoc" has a deep passion for radial engines, flying boats, and vintage aircraft, but flying isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of being. Aviation has always mirrored the way Dr. Michaela coaches and teaches.
Overcoming fear is about understanding the risk, creating safety, and doing it anyway. Her philosophy centers on cultivating a growth mindset, learning to navigate turbulence, trusting your internal instruments, and making peace with the unknown.
That same philosophy inspired her first-ever aeronautical book tour—a transcontinental flight in her 1944 Stinson Reliant V77—and fueled the creation of Scarlett & Co., her vintage-inspired aviation clothing line for women who crave both style and function, she hopes to launch her suitcase at OshKosh 2027.
Her favorite aviation claim to fame is cinching 1st Place in the 2023 Palms to Pines Air Race flying her 1947 Piper SuperCruiser, Poptart—winning in the slowest airplane in the field using nothing but classic stick-and-rudder discipline.
She has also navigated a real in-flight structural emergency, an experience that sharpened her instincts, deepened her love for aviation, and strengthened her ability to stay calm and focused in high-pressure situations.
Readers can explore more of these journeys and projects throughout this section.
Scarlett & Co.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW VINTAGE AVIATION CLOTHING LINE
FAQs
What pilot ratings does SkyTalkDoc have?
pilot ratings/endorsements: commercial, instrument, seaplane, multi-engine, tailwheel endorsement
What types of aircraft does she fly?
Vintage aircraft, Radials, Taildraggers and Floatplanes.
Planespotting on her socials you'll find:
"Poptart" - Piper PA-12 Supercruiser (Cub)
"Patches" - Piper PA-12 Supercruiser (Cub)
"Silver Bullet" - T6 Texan, North American SNJ-4
"Scarlett" - Stinson Reliant V77
"El Toro" - Twin Beech 18
"BabyJet" - Twin Cessna 414
"LadyBug" - Piper PA-18 (Cub) Amphibs
"Dotty" - Piper PA-18 (Cub) Floats
How did she get into flying?
She grew up in Desolation Wildnerness near a small airport known for it's Annual Taildragger Fly In, her first flight was at the age of 12 in a Christian Eagle through the Young Eagles program with the local EAA chapter. In her professional career, she went on to fly thousands of air miles a year with Continential Airlines, as a gold member.
What are some of her noteworthy air missions?
Vintage Aircraft Transcontinental Roundtrip: The First-Ever Aeronautical Book Tour
Flying her 1944 Stinson Reliant V77, Dr. Michaela completed a historic transcontinental roundtrip—the first-ever aeronautical book tour. This mission combined aviation heritage, public outreach, and empowerment storytelling. She preserved the legacy of a rare vintage aircraft while inspiring audiences nationwide with psychology, courage, and resilience from the cockpit.
Winning the Palms to Pines Historic Cross-Country Air Race
In one of aviation’s great underdog victories, she entered the slowest airplane in the field and still brought home the win. Her triumph in the Palms to Pines historic cross-country air race showcased her precision flying, strategic planning, and her belief that mindset often matters more than machinery.
2025 Air Race Classic – Co-Pilot, Cessna 180 SkyWagon
In 2025, Dr. Michaela co-piloted a Cessna 180 SkyWagon in the legendary Air Race Classic, the women’s cross-country race founded by the original Ninety-Nines. The multi-day, high-performance event demanded navigation mastery, cross-country endurance, teamwork, and sharp decision-making across rapidly changing weather patterns.
The PilotMaker
Training in the T-6 Texan is a formidable WWII tailwheel warbird that has challenged pilots for generations.
High-Altitude Mountain Flying in the Sierra Nevadas
Dr. Michaela learned to fly in some of the most unforgiving terrain in California. Mountain winds, density altitude, canyon turbulence, and unpredictable weather sharpened her situational awareness and shaped her philosophy of preparedness, resilience, and calm under pressure.
Commercial Seaplane Operations in Remote Terrain
As a certified commercial seaplane pilot, she has flown in remote areas requiring precision water landings, environmental awareness, and instinctive aircraft handling. These missions expanded her versatility and strengthened her connection to the natural elements of flight.
Emergency Landing Under Pressure
During a airframe failure on a cross-country flight, Dr. Michaela executed a calm, controlled emergency landing—later using the experience to teach emotional regulation, rapid decision-making, and nervous system mastery in high-stress aviation environments.
How does aviation connect to her psychology work?
Flying and mental health share the same foundations:
- Situational awareness
- Managing turbulence (emotional or literal)
- Regulating fear
- Communication
- Training the nervous system
- Learning to trust your instruments—and yourself
This connection is why she created the SkyTalkDoc brand: to help people navigate emotional turbulence using aviation principles.
Does she provide flight lessons?
Michaela shares her journey training in warbirds, vintage aircraft, and high-performance tailwheel airplanes, but formal instruction is provided by her partner, "Commander" Andy, a 35,000-hour bush pilot and owner of a specialized flight school dedicated to warbird, vintage, and tailwheel training. His school offers the same type of expert instruction demonstrated in Michaela’s content—delivered with decades of real-world flying experience. Pilots seeking advanced warbird or tailwheel training can work directly with Commander Andy for professional, FAA-compliant instruction.
Copyright 2026