The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #112

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Episode Theme: Responding to Disaster: Operation Airdrop, Harvey Relief, and the New Car Market

Episode Overview

This episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show centered around the Gulf Coast aftermath following Hurricane Harvey. The show featured a blend of the crew’s characteristic humor, audience call-ins about cars, and—most importantly—a detailed, in-the-moment look into the rapid formation and execution of "Operation Airdrop," an impromptu network of pilots and ground volunteers delivering supplies to hurricane victims. The conversation included the impact of the hurricane on local communities and the car market, shoutouts to volunteers and donors, and healthy doses of pop culture, satire, and music banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operation Airdrop: How It Started and Grew

• [07:25, 09:15, 10:57, 41:44, 77:26, 130:45, 140:24]
  • John recapped being approached by his pilot buddy Doug with, “We need to do something for these Houston people.” (09:15)
  • The concept: use the private pilot network to deliver urgently needed supplies into devastated zones — like a “Cajun Navy with airplanes” (09:38)
  • Website and Facebook group were launched in under a day.
  • “By yesterday, we had almost 100 planes show up from all over the country.” (78:52)
  • The group ballooned to over 400 volunteers in days, including pilots from Texas, Arizona, Mexico, and more.
  • Specialized air traffic codes granted for coordinated volunteer flights.

Notable Quote

"I was actually thinking I'd like to do something. I don't know what. And my buddy Doug Jackson called me right as I was fixing to go into the Dallas auction…. Right there on that phone call, came up with Operation Airdrop."
—John Clay Wolfe [77:40]

2. Ground Realities: The Need, The Gaps, and the Airlift

• [11:09, 12:26, 20:01, 41:44, 83:01]
  • Discussion of National Guard and Salvation Army involvement; bureaucratic bottlenecks, flight restrictions, and confusion on the ground.
  • Supplies most needed: water, non-perishable food, diapers, formula, and women’s hygiene items.
  • Each pilot received fuel cost tax deductions via Salvation Army receipts to incentivize continual support.
  • Noted confusion and infrastructural breakdown: "a lot of people, it’s so screwed up they can’t receive those supplies." [12:23]
  • The role of social media and radio to coordinate pilots, ground volunteers, and donors.

Notable Quote

"If these pilots can get donation receipts for their fuel, then this will keep them coming back. You mean give a pilot a reason to fly, really?"
—John Clay Wolfe [13:00]

3. Flood Impact on the Car Market

• [06:44, 30:06, 103:33, 116:40, 117:18]
  • Loss of up to one million vehicles is radically driving demand and spiking used car values.
  • “If you want to sell your car, go to givemethevin.com or just call in...Your car is worth more today because of the disaster.” [30:10]
  • Flood car warnings: John offered to buy them, but only at "25% of value," and warned about identification and resale risks.
  • Insight into how cars make their way back onto the market after flood events; warning stories about title washing via Mexico (122:18).

Notable Quotes

“That car was worth 10 grand. I'll offer you $2,500.”
—John Clay Wolfe [30:10]

"If you have a hundred thousand pounds of wheat and demand for a hundred thousand pounds of wheat, and all of a sudden you have fifty thousand pounds of wheat, wheat’s more expensive."
—John Clay Wolfe [116:54]

4. Humor, Parody, and Regular Segments

• [36:58, 47:22, 53:44, 59:30, 96:31]
  • Ongoing car pricing with the usual banter: callers try to sell cars, sometimes challenging John’s appraisals.
  • Musical and pop culture talk, e.g., Steely Dan concerts, Led Zeppelin, Heart.
  • Satirical bits, including the “White, Black, Latino, or Other” guessing game [25:00], spoof guest appearances (e.g., “Rush Limbaugh” [56:11, 136:26]), and humor about the First Lady's wardrobe.
  • Irreverent yet empathetic takes on disaster seriousness, keeping the mood balanced.

Notable Moments

• Jokes about the manic gas-buying panic and how “if people didn't go panic and just people didn't fill up...it'll be fine if everyone would just relax.” [18:49, 126:57]
• Hilarious story about “playing tic-tac-toe against a chicken” at Aquamarine Springs. [96:55, 135:36]
• “My name is John Clay Wolf, and I guess I run Operation Airdrop now too.” [35:41]

5. Community & Listener Involvement

• [94:16, 91:32, 48:07, 49:10, 41:44]
  • Listeners called in sharing on-the-ground updates, help organizing food, and sharing GoFundMe efforts.
  • The show repeatedly stressed the role for non-pilots: donating at drop zones, volunteering at airports.
  • Emphasis on everyone, not just pilots, being able to help—“Go to the website and it'll tell you what to donate, where to take it, and the pilots, you're on board." [123:16]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Operation Airdrop is basically that concept for all with general aviation aircraft delivering emergency supplies to flood victim"
  —John Clay Wolfe [41:44]

• "We had nearly 100 airplanes land loaded from Phoenix, Minnesota, Mexico and everywhere in between."
  —John Clay Wolfe [41:44]

• "Give a pilot a reason to fly, really? And then a good cause and make a feel good about all this crap he spent money on that his wife’s been busting his balls over forever?"
  —JD Ryan [13:08]

• "I don't want any flood cars. If I do, I'll buy them, but we're going to bid them at 25%."
  —John Clay Wolfe [30:10]

• **"What about a flood victim? Agreed."
  —JD Ryan [45:54]

• "So we've got a DC-3 leaving Fort Worth Meacham every day, loaded down. And hundreds of private pilots have all banded together to create Operation Airdrop."
  —John Clay Wolfe [140:24]

• "If you can get it to the Operation Airdrop members, that is going to be huge. We can fly straight into Katy now."
  —Caller “Lack Daddy” [49:10]

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Launch and Concept of Operation Airdrop: [07:25–13:24, 77:26–83:54]
• Live Car Valuations, Flood Car Guidance: [05:01–06:44, 15:44–16:24, 30:46–31:59, 116:40–117:18]
• Community Call-ins on Floods, Donation, and Relief: [46:49–49:45, 91:32–93:17]
• Comedic/Satirical Bits and Pop Culture: [36:58–39:17, 53:44–54:42, 56:11–58:33, 94:29–95:16, 96:31–97:14, 135:36–139:15]
• Rush Limbaugh Parody (Various): [56:11, 136:26]
• Music and Band Discussions: [16:35–17:24, 36:56–37:32]
• Relief Updates — Info for Pilots/Public: [27:07–29:41, 123:11–123:43, 131:13–132:27, 140:24–141:19]
• Discussion on Disasters, Market Ripple Effect: [103:33–104:09, 116:40–117:18, 148:08–149:26]

Summary Table: Ways to Help

| How You Can Help | What to Do | Details | | ------------------ | --------------|--------------| | Donate Supplies | Find your local FBO/airport drop site via operation-airdrop.com or the banner at givemethevin.com | Water, diapers, formula, non-perishable food, no clothes | | Volunteer as Pilot | Join Facebook group or respond to Operation Airdrop call-outs | Coordination via ATC, special codes granted for flight missions | | Spread the Word | Social, radio & local events | "We're gonna need dispatchers, we're gonna need some labor help. Awesome." [27:50] |

Overall Episode Tone and Flow

• The show's trademark style: quick banter, humorous asides, sharp satire, and occasional irreverence toward all situations—even tragedy—yet always balanced by real concern for the affected communities.
• John and JD maintained a lively pace, smoothly pivoting between car deals, phone calls, news, and relief organization updates.
• Focus was resolutely practical—what’s needed, where, and how can listeners help?—as well as optimistic, at times overwhelmed by their own success in mobilizing relief.

Closing Encouragement

"My name is John Clay Wolf. It’s been an interesting day. Again, sorry for the stuttering, but it’s not my normal Saturday program... We will be back next Saturday."
—John Clay Wolfe [152:42]

For listeners:
To learn more or to help Operation Airdrop or car flood victims, visit givemethevin.com and click the Operation Airdrop banner.

You can listen to previous episodes of the show at JohnClayWolf.com or search for The John Clay Wolfe Show on iTunes.