#pilotlife

you can check the newest update at facebook

Shinji spoke at a Boeing Commercial Airplanes

I had the honor of speaking at a Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) hosted session. Honestly, what resonated most wasn’t my success. It was my failures.The moments I got it wrong. The decisions I wish I could take back.�The times I questioned if I should continue at all. But that’s where aviation teaches us something powerful: Failure is not the opposite of safety. Ignoring failure is. Every mistake I’ve made—�as a pilot, as an engineer, as a human—�forced me to slow down, thi

yushankou31

Mar 292 min read

“I’M POSSIBLE.”

There are nights when a pilot sits alone, looking at the sky, asking one question: “Is this dream even possible?” I’ve asked that question more times than I can count. Being told what you can’t do. Being defined by limitations. Being grounded before you even begin. But aviation teaches us something different. We don’t ignore risk. We don’t chase dreams blindly. We study. We prepare. We build systems. And then—only then—we move forward. Today, we received our prototype design

yushankou31

Mar 272 min read

the Quiet Birdmen

After speaking at the Quiet Birdmen. It is a place where only a few are invited— not for titles, not for numbers, but for one simple truth: what kind of sky you have lived through. Yesterday, I shared my Earthrounder story. A journey once called “impossible”— a one-eyed pilot flying around the world. Moments of zero visibility. Decisions made in silence. The weight of solitude in the cockpit. They listened quietly. And at the end, their handshakes said everything. In that mom

yushankou31

Mar 202 min read

Day 4 – Part 3

Day 4 – Part 3 Another moment during this trip reminded me of the old saying:�“Travelers are companions, and the world is built on kindness.”I received wonderful support from Mr. Kanou, the manager of the outdoor shop TRANSLATION. Starting this year, I plan to fly my aircraft Lucy to camping destinations and combine aviation with outdoor adventures. For that, I needed a large backpack.Because Japan currently has a historically weak yen, I ended up buying many gifts for my kid

yushankou31

Mar 142 min read

Day 4 – Part 2

Day 4 – Part 2 For many years, I have worked with Ms. Ito from ISA, an agency that coordinates many of my speaking engagements in Japan. Although we had met countless times online, this was the first time we actually met in person. Before the presentation, Ms. Ito told the students:“I’m actually a huge fan of Mr. Maeda. That’s why I want all of you to hear his message.”That unexpected comment instantly flipped my “go all in” switch. Because it was a face-to-face presentation,

yushankou31

Mar 132 min read

Japan visit Day 4 - Part 1

Day 4 – Part 1 I have made an important decision: from now on, I will no longer conduct online presentations. My talks are about topics that directly relate to life and death. Because of that, I believe these messages must be delivered face to face. There is a level of passion and human connection that simply cannot be transmitted through a screen. On this day, I spoke to 322 - 10th Grade students at Nakamura High School. The students listened attentively, and several even as

yushankou31

Mar 121 min read

Japan visit Day 2

Japan visit Day 2 -3/7 Starting in 2026, I plan to expand my activities by delivering aviation safety-focused presentations alongside my existing presentations. As part of this preparation, I met with the leadership of the Japan Aircraft Pilots Association (JAPA). The meeting later turned into a wonderful dinner gathering.To contribute to aviation safety in my home country, Japan, Aero Zypangu Project and Shinji Maeda are ready to go all in. I was also honored to be featured

yushankou31

Mar 101 min read

Japan visit Day 1

Japan visit Day 1 - 3/6 Among the many Japanese aviation professionals working actively in the United States, there are people dedicating their lives to training the next generation of pilots. One of them is Mr. Nakamura, a pilot and entrepreneur whom I deeply respect. I had the honor of attending the Tokyo party hosted by Sky Creation, the company he leads. Sky Creation has supported more than 600 graduates and helps aspiring pilots overcome one of the biggest challenges for

yushankou31

Mar 91 min read

Thank You, Doug

Doug is a former DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) and was once Shinji’s boss at Harvey Field — someone who shaped the pilot I am today. After tonight’s presentation, I received a message from him that truly stopped me in my tracks: “Shinji, this is Doug. I loved your presentation tonight, and you did a great job landing at that Russian airport. You did what you had to do. Sometimes, all the rules need to be thrown out to survive.” Hearing these words from a mentor who once eva

yushankou31

Feb 152 min read

The Japan Aeronautic Association

In 2025, Maeda was honored with the “Dream of the Sky Award” by the Japan Aeronautic Association.This prestigious award recognizes individuals who inspire society through meaningful contributions to aviation culture. Maeda’s achievement as a monocular pilot who completed a solo, single-engine flight around the world, along with his continued commitment to aviation safety and education, was highly recognized.His journey represents responsibility, resilience, and the enduring s

yushankou31

Jan 241 min read