Anthony Oshinuga is a competition air racer and aerobatic artist. In this episode he shares his journey to becoming a sponsored air racer, how he and his sponsor Epic Fuels are doing their part for the Covid-19 crisis, how he is inspiring young black Americans to pursue their dreams in aviation, and his advice to aspiring competition aerobatic pilots. Get that extra bit of inspiration you might need today, and listen in!
Anthony Oshinuga is a competition air racer and aerobatic artist. In this episode he shares his journey to becoming a sponsored air racer, how he and his sponsor Epic Fuels are doing their part for the Covid-19 crisis, how he is inspiring young black Americans to pursue their dreams in aviation, and his advice to aspiring competition aerobatic pilots. Get that extra bit of inspiration you might need today, and listen in!
You're listening to the forever on the fly podcast What are baby nerds Welcome to episode number three of the forever on the fly podcast, your bi weekly dose of aviation inspiration, education and entertainment. I'm your host Diane and this is my co host Jose mama what we're here to get you guys kicked down aviation. Our next guest is dedicated aviator, athlete engineer entrepreneur with an absolute heart of gold and passion for aviation and passion for spreading the love for aviation. Everywhere he goes. He's a competitive air racer and aerobatic RTS sponsored by Epic fuels, those aviation Alpine Stars and a whole list of others. The guy's killing it out there. It sounds like the dosa keys man. Most interesting pilots in the world and he is here to share his most memorable aerobatic performance. I'm really excited for this story, you guys. It's kind of insane. And the COVID-19 crisis, how it's affected the aerobatic community, what he's doing to do his part for the COVID-19 crisis, and how he's out there inspiring young black Americans to get involved with aviation mad respect. Anthony ocean yoga. Teach me how to accept failures and get back up. I'm Anthony ocean, and I'm forever on the fly. All right, Anthony ocean new guy. Welcome to the show. Hey, thanks for having me. This is amazing. I'm so excited to talk with you guys. Bought aviation ultimate aviation. Hell yeah. Well, your passion for it definitely shows through everything that you do. Thank you. We also have my co host here, Jose. Jose. What's up, man? What's up brother? How you doing? Man? Living the dream and quarantine baby. Yes. Stuck in four corners all day. And you know, sometimes lost in planes up in airplane go fly around. Dude, I bet that's amazing, though. Yeah. Especially the kind of flying you do, brother, but I'm sure we'll get into that here soon. Yeah. Thanks for coming on the show, homie. Thanks for having me. Yeah. So Anthony and I met who was back in? Gosh, it must have been 2014. Yeah, it's been a minute. Yeah. It was a long time. 2014 I was a flight instructor flying out of Long Beach, California. And you were doing some flying down in French Valley in your pits. And we ran into each other at the FBO down there and we're getting fuel we got to talking. Need to shoot data promotion video to get sponsorships? Yeah, it was funny because I'm early that day, I was sitting in the FBO just minding my own business. This helicopter kind of comes in because the first Valley usually the helicopters don't really park right in front of that field, kind of like that. So she comes in, she lands parks, and I'm just kind of like, like, who who's out there? Who's out here. And I see this girl come out of the shades. I'm like, top gun to in reality it was so it was amazing. So she comes in, she has a student with her. So I'm like, Dude, she's so she's an instructor. So not only she's just a, she's now a regular pilot. She's like a CFI. Like, I'm gonna train you how to survive. And so when I saw her, I introduce myself say, Hey, my name is Anthony, this and that we, you know, we talked it up a little bit and then talk to you. And then, you know, I was working on you know, I was working on competition, airbags and whatnot. And one of my goals is to get sponsored. But I needed a fuel sponsor, because I'm like, Well, I'm flying on a flight all the time. And I'm bringing literally bring hose, my pilot because the gas cost of flying this airplane all day. So I said to myself, well, I need to put something together and pitch it to sponsors. So that's when I thought about the money. And I said, Hey, can you help me out with this? Can you I need a helicopter pilot that's really skilled. And she came out and she killed it. She smashed it. So I think we did it in 30 minutes. It was That's how good she was. Usually. That's pretty legit. Yeah, it was. It was pretty good. And I think the part you left off Anthony was hey, don't park next to my airplane. Right. away. Yeah. Yeah, that was actually a really that was one of the more challenging jobs that I had. Because at that point, I had only been instructing for probably less than a year out of flight school. We got both footage that day. It was awesome as opposed to Yeah, no kudos to you. Like I said, I mean that that's what etched your name in my mind. I'm like, I'm never gonna forget this woman ever again. She's my go to person money, somebody? A helicopter. Yeah, that was a super fun day. So yeah. Speaking of which, you've had some epic luck. accomplishments. Thank you. Yep. Including being sponsored by Epic fuels. So you got your goal right we did you get that from the promotion video that we made? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that's so cool that. That is cool. It was awesome. Yeah, call the marketing guy and his pitch to marketing guys say Hey, this is who I am. This is what I'm doing. This is how passionate I am. This is my goals. By the way, watch this video. And they'll still on a call for like 15 minutes and it just worked out worked out perfectly. So you primarily fly the pitch pitch pitch special. Yep. So yeah, I own a couple airplanes. But for competition airbags, air racing air shows, I use the SS one to pitch special. Primarily because it's so maneuverable. It also brings a little nostalgia to the crowds. Because usually, when you go to an airshow you see you know, a modeling airplane flying around doing this thing, but you know, you don't you don't usually see you know, a biplane every two wings, doing the same thing. It just it just I think it catches in my experiences, it catches the attraction from the crowd. They always always pay attention looking at pointing that you know, as airplane as I fly up in the air, and the beautiful aircraft and I love the paint job that you guys have on it to read. It's really pretty. So one of the coolest things I think I've seen you do in the recent years is when you flew under a jumping Monster Jam truck. That was like, such a crazy stunt. Can you tell us a little bit about about that? What were some challenges that you had doing that stunt and were you nervous about that? Well, I was I was definitely scared when I get the phone call. So it happened like this. You know, it's my I got a call from a group area code number picked up. Say hey, are you Anthony ocean, okay? Yes, yes, I am. I am Fe New the robot looking for somebody we're trying to jump a Monster Jam truck over someone as they fly. I hung up the phone because I thought that it was a joke. I'm like this you what? Come on, man. They call me back. And he said, he said please don't hang up. This is Monster Jam. We got your information from several air show outfits in the area. And everybody keeps pointing at you the saying that this guy can do the job. So then I said okay, well, I sent I sent him to my agent. So my agent, I guess, was doing his thing for two weeks. And he finally came back to me and said hey, it's it's it's happening. And it's real. I'm like, okay, so then he explained to me the details what needs to happen, I still wasn't convinced that this was still safe. So got a hold of one of my good friends. Shifty. He's an Air Air Race boss at abrino. And so he'd be kind of my safety guy and stunt coordinator when I was doing this thing and I just kind of put him through the wringer I needed to see some things I needed first I need to do this truck jump like he said he could do so I need to see that and I need to see that he could do it consistently. So once I saw that the truck truck can jump at the appropriate height consistently has been just when I started preparing myself, getting myself in the airplane understanding the chicane the course and all that good stuff and doing I think we did I think I did 240 passes at altitude, simulating the truck jump before I said, Okay, truck is half now it's time for you to come and jump over me as practice. Wow, man, isn't it? Yeah, it's it was it was a good experience. But I said, I mean, as an aerobatic pilot, we don't unimpeachable cost pilots. We're not really stunt pilots for pilots. We don't do stunts, because the thing is something that we don't know the outcome, we actually go practice and practice and practice and, and understand and know that this outcome is going to happen 100% of the time, and then, you know, then we do in front of, you know, a crowd and an air show, or this case for the Monster Jam truck, you know, doing 240 passes ensured that, you know, that truck was gonna hit me I was gonna hit the truck and whatnot. What got you into flying aerobatics, like what was uh, what was one of the main focuses that made you think like, Hey, this is what something I want to pursue. Aviation was not a lot to do it so yeah, I know it's a very it's a niche sport. I think we have like maybe 300 aerobatic athletes out there, maybe in the world. But you know, when I was younger growing up, when I got my I got bit by the book, I wanted to be an Air Force pilot, my mom, my dad was like, No, can't, can't do that. Because I don't want you to go out there and shoot people. And when she died, I was like, Oh, whatever. I was 12 I didn't really get it. I was really upset. Because Top Gun came out. I was like, I want to be Maverick, Maverick man. And you'll find my dues, you know, let's go get this mission done. And we're having it. They weren't having it. And also then, you know, fast forward a few years later then I got introduced to competition airbags. You know, I got I got introduced to loops and rolls and I was like, this is legal in my head is totally legal. You got to do it a safe altitude. And this is you got to wear a parachute and whatnot. And then from there, and I'm competitive. Bye. nature so when I found that there was competition aerobatics, I was like holy smokes man is you can compete, you can compete in the nation, you can those world aerobatic competitions where you can go to the Czech Republic or somewhere in Europe or France and go compete out there. It's pretty, it's pretty amazing. So, I mean, just just the fact that, you know, competing against myself, which it is I'm not really competing against anybody. I'm competing against myself every day. So I'm working on my craft getting better. Be more precise, when I'm in the air every single day. It's just I don't know, it's described as like a it's like one of those reels hunger type of thing. So you want to keep on showing yourself and do better. I feel like a training montage coming on here. Practicing. Yeah. So yeah, I mean, that's pretty much how, you know, I saw I got started with that, come, come share back stuff. So now it's like, I got, I'm really blessed and lucky to have the support that have with the sponsorships and stuff like that. Because I tell you right now, like I ever mentioned to you earlier, flying airplanes is not cheap. Maintenance. Gas, for sure is not cheap. So just, you know, be having those support systems around me to help me with those costs allows me to really, really intensely focus on my craft, I don't have to worry about oh, I'll have any gas money today. fly airplanes, nose like nose is I have competition with myself. It's like, well, what is the sunset? On the final day? Right? Yeah, just a couple conversations I'm having this year, obviously COVID kind of put a wrench in everyone's plans. As especially affected aviation have big way. And that includes air shows. And so I assume you you and your career have been heavily affected by COVID and everything that it said that it's done. Um, it's definitely affected us. I don't think we're dead. I mean, they're they're a pocket of pockets of air shows that are happening throughout America, you know, but they had to be very creative on that how they structure their show, move forward. For instance, there's I think there was one in New York, New York City. There's one in Florida, there was one I think Washington but essentially what they're doing is you know, they do a drive in like a drive in air show. So people drive in and they see in the car, they wash their shirt from the car so that's how they kind of that's how they're kind of combating it right now. But I mean, ultimately, you know, people don't want to sit in the car wash their show, they want to get outside get eat a hot dog, feel the fresh air, you know, beating against them. And smell that smell that fuel from the coming from the jets or from their plants. But you know, We're surviving barely, but we get by I think that Well, I know when COVID is gone by next year, sometime. I think well, we'll get back to boohoo, we'll go back to normal. I cried a little bit. When they canceled Oshkosh this year, I really wanted to go my year and yeah, no, totally. Yeah, no, but you know, but the thing about it is once we get back and going off cash is going to be sold out. It's gonna be bananas. Everybody's be so hungry to get out there and go camp and fly their planes in get that aviation camaraderie that we get from our fellow aviators. You know, hangar talk the whole nine. There people are missing it right now. So once cars is back and running, it's gonna be bananas. I'm going to be there too. Yeah, I can't wait to see you there. And Anthony's. I was reading out your profile, and it was talking about, like, another business you have as far as doing tours and wine tours and stuff like that. What other type of aircraft do you use for that? Or yeah, so I have, so I Oh, three. So I own a 1940 Blanca as a tripletail. It's a old school, retractable airplane. I just use that as it's just an antique plane, like classic stuff. But for the tours I use for the tours, I use a Cessna 178 model built in 1940. It's pretty cool. We got to I did the C's, we did the interior, so it has a retro look to it. Get put a bigger motor and there's more horsepower for those high D high density altitude situations. So because I'm taking like three or four, you know, three or two passengers and whatnot. So I use that to do the tours and it's a nice slope flying plane, you know, flying over the vineyards really slow at 500 feet. It's kind of pretty cool. Yeah, man, I'm reading your profile. And I was like, Man, that's pretty. That's pretty sick. I live in Temecula myself. And I was like, Man, I need to Oh, yeah. Quite the wine kind of soil. Yeah, man. I am you know what, and it's funny because growing up, but I didn't like one I thought one was too bougie you know, I like my Jameson my whiskey, you know, but being doing these tours run, you know, I've been doing as tourists my business been around since 213. So I've been doing this for a while. So, of course you start to, you know, mind start to grow on you. And it really opens your mind. It's a good place. Take a date today. It's just different. It's different from going to a bar or a club or going, like you're at a winery to go and you were here during the day to drink and it's okay to drink at 10 o'clock in the morning or 12. I think that's the best part. I mean, what a pickup line. Hey, what's up ladies, I'm a pilot, and I'm going to take you around all the wineries and tonight. You know what? I haven't used it. I haven't used that car yet. But I would love to use the cart where I can like, maybe hire a helicopter pilot like yourself and have a date. In the field somewhere. We just have like a picnic blanket and just have wine all day. That would be epic. That would be pretty badass. Yeah, but then I wouldn't get them have any and you know, that would suck for me. Though I deeply regret the day Anthony took me around to all of the macula Lindsay and I were hurting the next day. Oh, yeah, we have fun. That was it was a good time. It's a great time, I was painful. As pilots. As far as our issues were zero to 100. Real fast, you know. So one of the things that you got to do this year, speaking of going back to COVID, and everything, epic fuels sent you on a crazy mission to fly all the way around the nation to hand out PPE to FPOs around the country. Yeah, the campaign was reach for the sky, we've got the ground. And that campaign was just to show the ground support crew like Hey, guys, we care about you, we actually thank you for what you're doing. Because if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be able to be flying in the air. Because you know, when we land, we need fuel. They're there to fill us up. Or if you come off a jet, they'll park you in the hangar for the night or whatever, to pretty much take care of you. So epic feels first came to me about this effort. It was just going up and down California. And then the President came on board was like, let's think a little bit bigger guys. What about the nation? So went from like 300 nautical miles to 6651 nautical miles. So some ridiculous. So I mean, of course, they jumped on it. But then you know, they wanted to do it in 80 days. So 6000 something miles in 18 days. And now it was a challenge because you know, as a pilot, what gets pilots in danger, and most of the time is they get the get get their itis like I got to get there right now. And I don't I don't fall susceptible to that. So I let him know that, okay, I could do this, we could do this. But if weather is along my track, we're down for the day, if I'm tired, we're done. For today, I'm only flying for four hours a day because I don't want to fly. I don't want to be flying for eight hours. I mean, I can but I didn't want to because it's got to think about the longevity. So 18 days of flying, you're flying eight hours a day with no catch up to nuts. Yeah. So it was all those those negotiation things that we talked about. But, you know, I can say that we accomplish the mission, we stopped by 44 stops 23 MPOs. And we handed out PPS by facemask a monk to say, you know, thank you and enhance sanitizer. And I think, you know, everybody's really excited and happy, you know, of course, upon departure, you know, give a nice high performance departure so people can see the capabilities of their craft I think they really like that to school where they act like this I don't know they're like take off like everybody a survey like hey, visit like bumper stickers on the back of your of your airplane that says Call this number was actually fly. So I saw you drifting a bit drifting over. Oh, so one thing that I did want to touch on just everything that's been good been going on in America. In regards to race, I You are a part of a very small percentage of black pilots in America. I know in my eight year career, I've probably only personally met a handful of pilots of color. And why do you think that is? I think it starts from there's a couple of things right. So I think number one is education. I think like, you know, you know, when I go into these perverse committees and show up my airplane people don't believe it. Even even African American committee so like, maybe you're a pilot doesn't matter. I think it's just education that they don't have those resources available to them. I was fortunate enough. When I was growing up my dad, I'm being first generation American born in Austin, Texas. My dad took me to an airport when I was a little kid and he had a friend who was in college that was getting licensed and stuff so we would sit there and airport Wi Fi all day. So Somebody is part of his community. So you don't have that, like the suburbs of Chicago. Like, it's pretty bad in those places. So, so yeah, so number one is education. I'm to be resources. I think just having like having resources having like, like me, or someone like me, you know, the shows that show up in these communities, and then just spread the news. Spread the news, like you could do this, that we don't have, we don't have that right now. And I'm trying to be that light, you know, I'm always jumping, when there's an opportunity where I can go speak to kids impoverished communities, and just inspire them and show them what what is possible. But it's amazing that people like, like, someone like you, who's in the spotlight, who's accomplished so much, can be a hero to these kids and inspire younger generations to go after their dreams, if that's something that they aspire to do. So that's, that's absolutely. That's awesome. I think it's just like it says education. Because, yeah, I've been through situations where, you know, people were racist, or well, a lot racist, I won't say a lot a lot racist. And it's just it just, like I said, goes back to education. How do you deal with that? Do you just quit. I mean, there's been many people in the energy industry to says that I'm not good for the industry. But of course, they're not African American or that ethic. So you have to understand who's talking to you. And then you also have to understand why they're saying what they're saying. Because maybe they were educated differently. I was, I was fortunate enough where I have, you know, my parents are awesome, you know, born and raised in Africa. So they taught me what I needed to know. And that's why I have a lot of confidence in myself. And, and I think that's another reason why I'm doing what I'm doing. So again, I say education, educated because people can't take, I mean, what my dad taught me when I was younger, and it still stands still stays with me today. He says, you know, education is the one thing that it that no one on this planet can take from you. He's right, you read a book and we can take that that from you. Do you put knowledge in your head you feed your you feed your mind your soul? Nobody can take that from you make it literally take intellect from you, if you if you learn it and apply it. And that's what I do that year. Like it's such a good role model man, especially to like a lot of the kids and stuff like thank you. Yeah, so yeah, my respects. Thank you. Thank you. You go in and you talk to kids in elementary school, high school, what age group do you are just everybody? Um, I do I do everybody. But I mean, the big hits are though, of course, K through 12th grade, right. So for I went to this, I was invited to go to be a key speaker, keynote speaker at the NBA net national business aviation Association. Every year is pretty big. And I remember when they invited me down. I was preparing wanting to talk to like, 100 people. But I was shocked, because there was about over 1100 people showed up, people bust down from Washington, DC from Florida. I'm like, holy smokes, man. So we had to get a big room to accommodate all these people. And I was able to, you know, like I said, inspire, do what I do and tell these kids like, you know, just, you know, just look, look at me, you could do it. You could do it too. Well, you certainly have the gift of gab, I know that I wouldn't be able to get in front of 1100 people and make a speech I would just like get so nervous and probably run off the stage and, and sweat but no, thank you very much. Yeah, I didn't start it and start that way started with like one just talking to one kid at the airport or in the hood or somewhere, you know, where he's, you know where they're from. And then it went from one to two to two to 1010 and 100. So yeah, it just took time. But thank you. You got it. Great showering you with compliments today. Showers. Are there any scholarships? I haven't looked. But are there any scholarships for ethnic background? Or like, you know, if you're African American or for flying, or there's Yeah, they are like I know old bat. Oh, bap is an African American organization aviation organization out there that have given out scholarships. So if they're given out some I'm sure there's more like, I'm sure like the Tuskegee Airmen, they have. They have like a, like some type of fun, you know, fun where they give out scholarships to aspiring ethic, folks. Yeah. Something. Oh, for sure. Yeah, I would just I was curious, because I know aside from your right about the education background of it, but I always felt like the monetary aspect of it could also be a challenge. Yeah. Oh, yeah. 100% It's always a little bit harder, you know, on that aspect of things, to kind of find the funding. Yeah, you know, yeah, money was you know, growing up I mean, we didn't have a lot. We didn't have anything at all. So he's just being creative. Like when I wanted to buy my first airplane, which was the Cessna 170. A, I had to figure out how do I make this airplane pay me? How do I pay the airplane off? And how do I get there? So I had a plan all this, obviously, I had to get a job, I had to stop, or I had to stop partying, as, you know, prioritizing what's important to me, did that things fall in place, I was able to save a lot of money, put a nice downpayment, get a loan on their plan, pay that loan off within, you know, a year of, because when I get the airplane, alright, created a business model of what I wants to do and how I want to make some money. And you know, things start falling into place. So this is, you know, we don't have money, you have to be creative. Yeah, this is how things are in life. Military is always a route people can take, that's what I did. Yeah, to go to flight school, I got the GI Bill and was able to get all my flight school paid for. And so there's definitely different routes people people can take, but it's definitely a really inspiring story to hear how you were able to set a goal, and, you know, achieve it and work your ass off to get there. And so I think seeing somebody like you who was able to accomplish their dreams and their goals and their mission. That's, that's pretty awesome. Thank you very much. Yeah. I mean, I feel like I feel like there's so many more things I want to accomplish. Right? So I'm just I just, I just keep on going. Just keep on keepin on. I guess that's the saying here. Did you have any heroes growing up? So I didn't aviation. I mean, my father, even though he's not he's not a pilot or anything but me his quality, his attributes, but he how he attacks life, his outlook on life. That is essentially, you know, like I said before, is how I get by. And ultimately, ultimately, he was a mentor, even if it wasn't aviation. I mean, of course, I had questions within the realm of aviation, but he could use his life experience and answer the question, I'm like, Oh, my gosh, that's perfect. It took a very long time for me to find a mentor in aviation because of course there's no African Americans there's nobody is ethnic, right? So it comes down to a few things like, you know, who can I trust? Who really sincerely has my back who's not going to get Joseph my success and actually wants to be who's gonna apply? Right, you know, when I when? So, you know, it was hard. It was really it took me I started competitionyour back in 2010. It took me like, nine years to find that mentor. And he's not any snack. He's not black. Yeah. Who is your mentor? Who did you dominate Jeff bourbon, and he's a competition aerobatic pilot. Yeah, it's pretty badass. Yeah, it's pretty good. The airshow pilot too feisty yet 110. It's like the set two airplanes are connected together with the what's the afterburner underneath? What? Um, I looked that up right now. Every is pretty sick. is dope. Like he he could do a lot with that. It's called a yak one tangent. Perfect. Yeah, yeah. Fun. Oh, dang, man. Yeah, that thing looks sick. Yeah, it's told you were there any last words of inspiration that you would like to say to the listeners, anybody out there aspiring to be an aerobatic competition pilot? What would you what would you say to them, I would say, you know, if this is if this is truly, truly want, you want prepared to be miserable and broke, because there's going to be a lot of work. But, you know, with, you know, with a lot of work and being broke. It's a journey. And I think that, you know, one of the things that people do is you know, they can't wait to get to the end. But enjoy the journey because when the journey is done, you're done. It's done. For instance, if I want to be like one of the world's and place first place, right, it's a struggle, plan every day, whatever the case is, but again, look at the struggle this look at this journey, because it's building me is building some really great qualities of me rise teach me determination that that given up fortitude, teach me how to set goals, teach me how to accept failures and get back up to teach me that fail. It's okay to fail. Because, actually, if I was perfect, had no failures. In my record, I wouldn't be a good pilot. I think a pilot is someone who fails, right? You work on your hammerheads or you fall on the highway. But can we do it again, maybe we can perfect or work on a spin the mess that spin on let's make it perfect. Every time you fail on doing something you actually get better. Nobody told me that. I learned this. So for all those people out there that are on this journey, and you may not fail, but just keep keep digging, keep pursuing keep going because at the end of the day, When it journeys done, you want to be able to look back and say, Yo, that was me. I did that. I made. I made it through there. I'm here now. Oh, yeah. Yeah, enjoy the journey. Enjoy the path. And it sounds like yours was an amazing one. Phil Yes, highs and lows and failures and successes but definitely, failures are where all the growth happens. That's, that's where we learn that's where we grow. So embrace those that's really really good advice. So thanks. Yeah, thank you for coming on the show. This is yo for having me. It was great. You know, anything for you and great meeting you down here sir. Yeah, you got it Okay, that is all the time that we have today you guys but I hope that Anthony was able to give you guys some that extra inspiration you might have needed today. And a huge shout out to Anthony ocean yoga for coming on the show. super grateful for you man. Hope you guys enjoyed the show. And hope you guys tune in for the next episode because the mind blower Go ahead. Give us a follow subscribe. Give us a rating leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you. Have a great day.