Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, we sit down with Sam Wagener, a UND alum and first-generation pilot who grew up near Eau Claire and now resides in Grand Forks. Today, he serves as a Captain for R.D. Offutt Company, flying the Challenger 350/300 and Citation XLS.
Along the way, he earned a wide range of certificates and type ratings, including the CE-525S, CE-560XL, CL-30, and EMB-505. We discuss his path from UND to corporate aviation, the realities of flying business jets, and what it took to build a career as a professional pilot coming from a non-aviation background.
AeroTalk is the the official podcast of UND Aerospace with new episodes released every Monday! Alongside our host, Matt Opsahl, listeners will explore a range of topics within the field of aerospace. We’ll take you beyond the classroom, talking with alumni, exploring career opportunities in aviation and aerospace, and sharing a few stories along the way. From hands-on tips to industry insights, this podcast is your weekly co-pilot through the ups and downs of life.
Catch every episode on your favorite platform:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XBDIY9...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff7...
Thanks for tuning in and supporting the show! Don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🙌
UND Aerospace is a world-renowned center for aerospace learning, nationally acclaimed for our achievements in collegiate aviation education, atmospheric research, space studies, and earth system science and policy research. With more than 500 faculty and staff members, 1,800+ students from around the world, and myriad programs and projects, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is setting the pace for the future of flight.
Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: instagram.com/undaerospace
Facebook: facebook.com/UNDAerospace
Twitter: twitter.com/UNDAerospace?s=20
In this episode, we sit down with Sam Wagener, a UND alum and first-generation pilot who grew up near Eau Claire and now resides in Grand Forks. Today, he serves as a Captain for R.D. Offutt Company, flying the Challenger 350/300 and Citation XLS.
Along the way, he earned a wide range of certificates and type ratings, including the CE-525S, CE-560XL, CL-30, and EMB-505. We discuss his path from UND to corporate aviation, the realities of flying business jets, and what it took to build a career as a professional pilot coming from a non-aviation background.
AeroTalk is the the official podcast of UND Aerospace with new episodes released every Monday! Alongside our host, Matt Opsahl, listeners will explore a range of topics within the field of aerospace. We’ll take you beyond the classroom, talking with alumni, exploring career opportunities in aviation and aerospace, and sharing a few stories along the way. From hands-on tips to industry insights, this podcast is your weekly co-pilot through the ups and downs of life.
Catch every episode on your favorite platform:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XBDIY9...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff7...
Thanks for tuning in and supporting the show! Don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🙌
UND Aerospace is a world-renowned center for aerospace learning, nationally acclaimed for our achievements in collegiate aviation education, atmospheric research, space studies, and earth system science and policy research. With more than 500 faculty and staff members, 1,800+ students from around the world, and myriad programs and projects, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is setting the pace for the future of flight.
Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: instagram.com/undaerospace
Facebook: facebook.com/UNDAerospace
Twitter: twitter.com/UNDAerospace?s=20
