STAHL SPEED: A Legacy of Flight, Family, and the Bag That Went to Africa

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to grow up in the cockpit, teach your sons to fly, travel the world for a living, and safari in South Africa—all while carrying the perfect flight bag—ask veteran airline pilot Matt Stahl.

Matt Stahl has aviation in his blood. He first took to the skies in a no-radio, no-nonsense Cessna 140, learning to fly from his father at a small airport in Nebraska. He soloed at 16 in a Cessna 152—before he could legally drive a car. Decades later, he passed on that same love of flying to his twin sons, Ryan and Jackson. Ryan earned his private pilot certificate in a Cessna 172 at Sporty’s Academy, and not long after, the family bought a Piper Cherokee 180. In that airplane, Ryan earned his instrument rating, and Jackson began his flight training with his dad in the right seat. Aviation, for the Stahls, isn’t just a hobby—it’s the family language.

That Cherokee 180 holds another piece of the Stahl story. Shortly after purchasing it, Matt took his father—then 77—up for a flight to get him recurrent. They flew out of the very same Nebraska airport where Matt had learned to fly four decades earlier. This time, Matt was the instructor, his father in the left seat. He signed his dad’s logbook that day. The circle was complete.

From Lunken to Kruger

Matt and I go way back. Our kids went to school together, and each year we team up with other local Cincinnati aviation friends to host Landing at Lunken, an outreach event that gives students hands-on exposure to aviation careers. The program includes a tour of CVG (personally facilitated by Matt), a walk-through of a 737 airliner, and a deep dive into the world of business and GA aircraft at Lunken (LUK), where I organize the GA portion as founder of Flight Outfitters.

At our most recent event, I handed Matt our brand-new Flight Deck Pro bag to test on his next trip. Less than 24 hours later, he was airborne again—this time headed to South Africa for a five-day layover in Cape Town, followed by an unforgettable safari just outside Kruger National Park.

“I’ve Gone Through Seven Bags—This One’s a Winner.”

Matt’s flown with just about every bag imaginable over the years: from Brightline to Swiss Gear, he’s tried them all. But here’s what he had to say after two weeks with the Flight Deck Pro:

“I’m really, really happy with it. I’ve had at least seven different bags, and this one’s just right. It fits under the RJ seat—just barely sticks out, but no one’s ever said anything. I took it on Airlink out of Johannesburg, packed with my headset, sunglasses, bug spray, sunscreen, gloves, and still had room for a jacket. And these are strict airlines. It passed every test.”

Whether flying an Airbus A350, squeezing onto an Embraer 195, or navigating security in Cape Town, the Flight Deck Pro handled it all. It’s a bag that’s equally at home on a commercial flight deck or in the back of a safari truck in the African bush.

The Heart of Flying

Matt’s not just a pilot—he’s a legacy builder. Married to Patty Stahl, a longtime flight attendant, the two have built a life crisscrossing the globe. They’ve both been with the same airline for nearly three decades, and their shared stories are filled with night skies over the Serengeti, sunrise safaris, and layovers in Barcelona.

While none of the Stahl daughters pursued aviation careers, they’ve all experienced the joy of travel. Ashley, Katie, and Lauren have been global travelers since childhood—thanks in part to their parents’ airline careers and a well-used stack of buddy passes. From weekend getaways to international adventures, the whole family has made the most of life at 35,000 feet.

A Family Affair

There’s something magical about a family that flies together. Between Ryan, Jackson, Katie, Lauren, Ashley, Patty, Matt—and Grandpa Stahl, back in the left seat of that old 180—this isn’t just a story about aviation gear. It’s about legacy, passion, and passing the yoke from one generation to the next.

At Flight Outfitters, we design gear that helps you pilot your own adventure. That’s why it means so much when someone like Matt Stahl puts our bag through its paces across continents, cockpits, and cabins—and comes back asking for the backpack version too.

Matt, thanks for flying the Flight Deck Pro. And thanks for being the kind of pilot who inspires the next generation—not just through words, but by showing them what’s possible when your life takes flight.