Podcast Summary

The Code To Winning, Episode 076

Episode Title: Born to Fly: Breaking Barriers in Aviation and Business
Host: Kagiso Dikane
Guest: Robin Petgrave, Founder of Celebrity Helicopter and Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum
Date: January 24, 2026

Overview

In this inspiring episode, host Kagiso Dikane welcomes aviation entrepreneur Robin Petgrave to share his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to leading the largest African-American aviation company in North America. Robin discusses how he broke barriers in aviation and business, the mindset behind his entrepreneurial success, and his dedication to empowering youth through aviation education. The conversation is filled with anecdotes about personal drive, practical business strategies, mentorship, and the “code to winning” in a field with limited representation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Robin’s Early Fascination with Aviation

• Background: Born in Jamaica, moved to Boston at age 10, growing up as the only black family in town.
• Spark: An early fascination for buses and eventually seeing helicopters at Logan Airport.
  • “One day, I wound up at Logan Airport and I'm seeing airplanes take off and land. … Then one day, I saw a helicopter…hovered above the ground, floated around the airport. So you see this little black kid running through the airport…” [00:00, 05:03]

2. Breaking the Myth: You Don't Need the Military to Fly

• Misconception: Told by everyone he’d need to join the military to become a pilot.
• Realization:
  • “So I moved out here to LA, and then when I was out here, I went on a sightseeing flight… And the pilot was a guy about my age… He said, 'No, you just paid and took lessons.'" [00:00, 05:03]
  • “I had $2,000 credit on a credit card, and I whacked that thing down like I was in Vegas… And sure enough, a year later, I was teaching people to fly helicopters.” [01:33, 05:03]

3. The Entrepreneurial Mindset

• Mantra: Take the first step and figure things out as you go.
  • “If you got something you love and you want to do it, you just start taking steps in that direction and things will fall into place.” [01:33, 05:03]
• Business Beginnings: Started Bravo Helicopters and Wing after refusing to compromise safety as a flight instructor.
  • Built the largest African-American aviation company in North America.
  • “I was rocking 16 helicopters, 12 airplanes, five stretch limousine, 20 exotic rental cars. I owned three houses…22 full time pilots working for me.” [09:20-11:03]

4. Impact and Giving Back: Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum

• Inspiration: Realized the lack of representation at school career days.
• Mission: Founded Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum to “make entrepreneurs by inspiring kids.”
  • “Wouldn't the ultimate entrepreneur be a person that is making other people entrepreneurs?” [14:04]
• Results and Stories:
  • 8 kids set 15 aviation world records through the program.
  • Example: A girl who started at 12, flew across the country at 15, now in med school.
    • “She flew one of our airplanes from Compton all the way across the country to Newport News, Virginia…Now, she's doing her residency at Cedar Sinai to be a neurosurgeon.” [16:01, 16:35]

5. Practical Business Lessons: Financing and Scaling

• Financing: Creative approaches over capital required.
  • “A lot of people get stuck…where do I get the financing? …I just know, one foot in front of the other.” [01:52, 17:25]
• Networking & Resourcefulness:
  • “Associate with people with the money or the thing you need, show them the value you bring. You don't necessarily have to have a lot of money.”
  • “There are people who have airplanes that are just sitting in their hangar…you meet one of these people and say, ‘Can I exercise your airplane?’” [18:56]
• Buying vs Leasing: Lease equipment first, establish cash flow, then purchase when you have a proven track record.
  • “It's not a good idea to buy right away because you're tying up a lot of capital… Lease in the beginning.” [22:02]

6. The Power of Kindness and Service

• “People like to be around people that they wish they were, or people that are kind…it's contagious. That stuff comes back to you.” [25:43]
• By offering to help and being persistent, Robin created opportunities—including his initial flight instructor job by sweeping floors and assisting at the airfield. [25:43-29:44]

7. Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence

• Advice for the shy or uncertain: Just be nice, show up, offer help—don’t focus on what you lack.
  • “You don't have money? You have labor, you have attention, you have time…if you do that, it comes back twofold or more.” [30:48]

8. Mastery and Safety in Aviation

• Training and Safety: Importance of humility and self-monitoring to avoid overconfidence.
  • “Overconfidence is one of the biggest killers of all pilots. …There’s old pilots and there’s bold pilots, but there’s no old, bold pilots.” [02:30, 37:10]
• Experience: Over 26,000 hours of safe flying—emphasizes skill, humility, and striving to be the best.
  • “I have over 26,000 hours of flying. Most guys when they retire from the airline, they have about 20,000.” [31:56, 36:20]

9. The Value of Competition

• “The competition is good…You have to be the best at it, because people will go to them, they'll find you, and they'll keep coming back to you.” [31:56]

10. Memorable Moments & Celebrity Clients

• Production work as a challenge:
  • “I’ve done movies where I’ve landed on top of [the US Bank Tower]… Santa Ana winds were blowing… but for me, it was like child’s play.” [42:34]
• Entering elite circles via skill:
  • “There’s no real reason I’m supposed to be here. I’m hanging out with Michael Jackson…Magic Johnson introduces me as his pilot.” [42:34-49:49]

11. Networking, Marketing, and the Modern Entrepreneur

• “You could be the best…but if nobody knows about it, how do you get them to use your service?”
• Adapt and use the latest technology and social media: leverage Instagram, TikTok, and even ChatGPT to automate responses and boost conversions.
  • “Now you can use ChatGPT to ask…how do I get [my business] to be ranking number one in search engines?” [50:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Flight and Purpose:
  • “If you got something you love and you want to do it, you just start taking steps in that direction and things will fall into place.” [01:33, 05:03]
  • “Wouldn't the ultimate entrepreneur be a person that is making other people entrepreneurs?” [14:04]
• On Representation & Inspiration:
  • “The kids are looking at me like they just saw a unicorn. They're like, You the pilot?” [11:39]
  • “If you guys start right now, while you're in elementary school…think about what you like to do…someone will pay you to do it.” [11:39]
• On Kindness and Networking:
  • “If you are just…kind to other people, it's contagious. That stuff comes back to you.” [25:43]
• On Overconfidence in Aviation:
  • “There’s old pilots and there’s bold pilots, but there’s no old, bold pilots.” [37:10]
• On Success and Access:
  • “When you have something that you like to do and you’re determined to be the best at it, that kind of work ethic turns into success, it turns into money, it turns into fame, and it’s contagious for everybody around…” [49:49]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Origin Story & First Encounter with Aviation: [00:00–07:00]
• Entrepreneurial Mindset, Flight School Launch: [07:00–11:00]
• Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum & Mentoring Youth: [11:03–16:35]
• Business Lessons: Financing, Networking, Leasing vs Buying: [17:25–24:39]
• Kindness, Breaking In, and Opportunity Creation: [25:43–30:48]
• Aviation Licenses & Skill-Building: [31:41–36:20]
• Safety & Staying Humble: [37:10–42:00]
• Production Stories & Celebrity Experiences: [42:34–49:49]
• Networking, Branding, and Modern Marketing: [50:25–55:29]

Conclusion

Robin Petgrave’s story is not just about personal triumph but about creating opportunities for others, advocating for representation, and channeling passion into purpose. His approach boils down to relentless curiosity, resourcefulness, unwavering kindness, and always striving to be the best—advice that applies not only in aviation and business but in life itself.

For more:

• Visit celebheli.com
• Follow on Instagram: @robin.the.at.tam
• TikTok: @CelebrityHelicopters

“Be prepared to have a great time.” [55:40]