He Learned How to Fly at Age 43, and then Circumnavigated the Earth w/ Robert DeLaurentis

Flying around the world is rare. Doing it solo is even rarer. Doing it twice, once along the equator and once over both poles, is unheard of. But that’s exactly what entrepreneur and aviator, Robert DeLaurentis, achieved. And he didn’t do it in a jet with a support crew on standby. He did it in highly modified aircraft pushed beyond its intended envelope, relying on custom ferry tanks, improvised fixes, and the kind of real-time decision-making that leaves zero margin for error. These weren’t sightseeing flights; they were missions built on risk, resilience, and engineering improvisation at 31,000 feet. Most circumnavigations are engineering challenges. Robert turned his into a multi-layered mission: scientific research, global outreach, and a stress test of what a single pilot and a single aircraft can actually endure. Along the way, he carried NASA-funded experiments, gathered atmospheric data over the poles, and documented systems failures that would’ve ended most expeditions. He navigated cyclones, fuel constraints, unpredictable polar weather, and airspace so remote he had to calculate every pound of fuel twice. But the story doesn’t stop at the poles. Robert has also built a financially self-sustaining airport, a discovery-flight pipeline for high school students, and a blueprint for how small airports can support the future of urban air mobility. How do you take the mindset required for a polar circumnavigation and apply it to rebuilding an airport from scratch? And what does it look like when an aviation legacy is engineered just as intentionally as a record-breaking flight? In this episode, the star of the new movie PEACE PILOT joins me to unpack the equatorial flight that pushed a Malibu Mirage to its limits, the polar expedition that demanded a three-times-extended-range Commander, and the string of failures, near-misses, last-second adjustments, and improbable wins that held the entire mission together. You’ll also learn; Why meaning (not adrenaline) sustains pilots through extreme-risk missions What it takes to execute equatorial and polar circumnavigations The scientific payloads carried over the poles The realization that reframed Robert’s entire mission The emotional and spiritual cost of flying alone in the most remote places on earth The business model behind a self-sustaining private airport How discovery flights and upgraded training aircraft engage the next generation Why legacy matters more than any single record or milestone About the Guest Robert DeLaurentis is a Polar and Equatorial Circumnavigator, Peace Pilot, Speaker, Author, and Entrepreneur. Robert went on the audacious quest to fly to the South Pole and then the North Pole, surviving temperatures as low as -60°C, in a 38-year-old, heavily modified Turbo Commander 900. This daring venture is not merely a test of flying skill and human endurance but a profound journey of peace and planetary unity under the banner “One planet. One people. One plane.” Setting out three years after his first solo circumnavigation, Robert confronts not only the extreme challenges of the polar skies but also a series of life-threatening technical mishaps and a global pandemic. From taking off against unfavorable winds over daunting mountain ranges to dealing with fuel leaks and multiple system failures, each moment of the flight could very well be his last. PEACE PILOT captures not only the heart-stopping action and terrifying close calls but also delves into Robert’s internal voyage towards greater self-awareness and commitment to environmental conservation. This film is a gripping narrative of survival, human fortitude, and the urgent collective effort needed to safeguard our planet. To watch the movie, visit peacepilotthemovie.com or go to https://flyingthrulife.com/ to learn more about Robert. About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level executives in sales, operations, and leadership roles within the aviation and aerospace industries. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association. Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website , Apple Podcasts , or Spotify , and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!