Ep. 298-1 The Brown Angel: Crop Dusting with Davis Darnell (Part 1)

In this first half of a two-part interview, host Nik Fialka sits down with Davis Darnell, a third-generation crop duster from the Mississippi Delta. Davis—coined "The Brown Angel" by Nik for the ag aviation world—has logged over 10,000 hours of tailwheel, turbine PIC in the ag skies, flying the kind of missions that define grit, skill, and precision. This conversation dives deep into the life of an agricultural aviator: from growing up in Glen Allan, Mississippi, to becoming a solo pilot at 19, flying single-seat turbine aircraft before most kids have figured out college plans. Davis shares the thrill and danger of his world—early mornings, low passes, power lines, and pure stick-and-rudder flying—while unpacking how mentorship, family legacy, and small-town values shaped his aviation journey. CONNECT WITH US Are you ready to take your preparation to the next level? Don't wait until it's too late. Use the promo code "R4P2025" and save 10% on all our services. Check us out at www.spitfireelite.com! If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at podcast@spitfireelite.com, and if you need a professional pilot resume, go to www.spitfireelite.com/podcast/ for FREE templates! SPONSOR Are you a pilot just coming out of the military and looking for the perfect second home for your family? Look no further! Reach out to Marty and his team by visiting www.tridenthomeloans.com to get the best VA loans available anywhere in the US. Be ready for takeoff anytime with 3D-stretch, stain-repellent, and wrinkle-free aviation uniforms by Flight Uniforms. Just go to www.flightuniform.com and type the code SPITFIREPOD20 to get a special 20% discount on your first order. #Aviation #AviationCareers #aviationcrew #AviationJobs #AviationLeadership #AviationEducation #AviationOpportunities #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilot #AirlineJobs #AirlineInterviewPrep #flying #flyingtips #PilotDevelopment #PilotFinance #pilotcareer #pilottips #pilotcareertips #PilotExperience #pilotcaptain #PilotTraining #PilotSuccess #pilotpodcast #PilotPreparation #Pilotrecruitment #flightschool #aviationschool #pilotcareer #pilotlife #pilot