Dale Erhart

Destinations, Technology and Aviation expert – Fighters, Airlines & V.I.P. Business Jet. Accident Investigation

Bio

Dale Erhart, “Top Gun Instructor” (Retired RCAF) – Fighter Aviation, International Airline, and International Business Jet Captain

Dale Erhart provides professional talks to captivate, inform and primarily entertain.

His 15,000 hours flying fighters, airliners and premier executive jets provide an exciting backdrop that translates into stimulating stories, insights and creative choices we can make every day.

Dale’s specialized expertise in many fields combined with his diverse background and passion provides passengers with memorable presentations worthy of their welcomed attendance.

Engaging & tactful – with stories that are full of ‘Punch!’.

Dale provides destination lectures on short notice. His ease at public speaking and his relentless preparation of quality presentations results in enthusiastic audiences every time. Experienced regions include Alaska, Panama, Mediterranean, Baltic, South America and more.

Presentations

1) Jet Fighter Aviation: Adrenaline Rush

You feel like you literally strapped into the F-18 Hornet with one of the original, special cadre of instructors. What challenges and excitement unfold when the stakes are your life or your death. Get a special pass through the Air Force front gate to learn the untold stories of Military pilots.

2) Top Gun: Your Top Gun Instructor

Every Nation has an advanced Fighter Pilot school. Learn the origins, the insider stories and you decide if the Movie Classic AND the sequel, Top Gun Maverick were authentic.

3) Business Jets: Part 1 – Not just Glamour, but…. Glitches too!

From the lifestyles of the rich and famous to the behind the scenes requirements to make a seamless operation. A humorous perspective on the background work of V.I.P. flight crew.

4) Business Jets: Part 2 – Do They Make Business Sense?

A focus on the many aspects of business aviation. Are these small planes – Show-horses or Work-Horses?

5) Trouble at 39,000 Feet: When Planes Crash

An insider look into accident investigation. Military and civilian, Dale’s experience in accident investigation provides audiences with many answers they don’t normally get to hear.

6) Air Show Jet Pilot

Feel like you are up there with the world’s best Aerobatic Teams. Dale describes the exhilaration and his perspective of performing on the edge while operating modern Military hardware. You’ll never look at an airshow quite the same again.

7) Amelia Earhart – Facts, Theories, Stories

She upended stereotypes, smashed records and established herself around the world as a role model, then in 1937, she simply vanished.

Learn and uncover her story with perspectives from your guest aviation pilot, specialist.

8) Howard Hughes and the “Spruce Goose” –

Legendary in Aviation and more. The famous eccentric stories of worlds largest airplane.

9) Build Your Own Airplane

This lively topic uncovers the motivation, challenges, and choices to ensure a successful outcome to that personal dream of creating and owning your own pride and joy. Fun for all audiences.

10) Flying: Amphibious Ultralight Aircraft

After the build, you would be amazed what a modern ultralight aircraft can do. Beautiful scenery from ‘Low and Slow’ never looked so enticing.

11) World War 1 Bi-planes

Never before has such a challenge had such low odds of success – but successful it was. Dale was selected to lead a five plane formation of World War 1 Fighter replica bi-planes over an iconic memorial in France commemorating 100 years of World War 1’s Battle of Vimy Ridge in France. His story was part of an epic milestone in Military aviation. Touching the heart and soul of all who wish to always remember.

This story was made into 3 -1 hour documentaries. A Nation Soars.

12) Air Stories (a Crowd Favorite)

Great tales from the disciplines of Air Force, Airline and V.I.P. Personal anecdotes that promise to entertain and enthrall.

12) This is your Captain Speaking (SPARE)

Passengers want to know what is going on up there in the cockpit. Dale explains the philosophy as well as the training that makes your flight so safe. Find out why you are in good hands.

Destination and Regional talks for any occasion.

Well prepared with up to date images and stories from different regions. Alaska, Mediterranean, Panama, South America, – World travel history.

ALASKA

Alaska – the Last frontier – overview of its colourful history – covering the unique world of being part of America in the Northern Latitudes.

Salmon – varieties, migration, life cycle, fishing for sport and commercial history in Ketchikan

Whales – Humpbacks and Orca – fascinating features and behaviours of a mammal that has outstanding size and intelligence.

Local flora – from 330′ to hazardous ‘ankle biters’ the plants of Alaska don’t disappoint.

Glaciers – something that is as simple as your ice cube can make the earth move and affect our entire planet. Myths, legends and eye-popping stories.

Destination Alaska – What to see and do in our ports of call – Alaska destinations have so much to offer. Get a glimpse into what might become one of your greatest cruise experiences.

Wildlife – from bears to toads, Eagles to the beaver. This really is the wild frontier.

Heli-logging. If you thought the offshore fishing in Alaska is dangerous, this industry is unique in its challenges. See what it takes.

Baltic & Norway

To Norway: Viking Roots, Oil Rigs & EV Dreams

Join Dale to explore Norway’s journey from Viking explorers to the world’s richest “Green Lab.” Discover how oil wealth fuels an EV revolution and see the “impossible infrastructure” of Bergen, Geiranger, and Flåm. It’s an insider’s look at the tech redefining this vertical wilderness.

– Southbound from Norway.

North Sea Secrets: Sunken Worlds & Bruges Beer Pipes

Sail over the shallow “Lost World” of Doggerland, a prehistoric land bridge beneath our keel. Then, discover the magic of Bruges—a medieval time capsule saved by its silted harbor and a revolutionary underground beer pipeline. From ancient mammoths to Belgian brews, uncover the North Sea’s best

Baltic Adventures

1. The Amber Highway: From Viking Sails to the Wind Empire.

Trade, energy, and the entrance to the Baltic. Discover how Denmark’s “Sound Dues” built palaces while modern wind turbines now power the future. From the engineering of the “Diving Bridge” to the global success of LEGO, explore the strategic gateway where Viking history meets green innovation.

2. The Silicon Sea: How Medieval Harbors Coded the Future.

Digital revolution, resilience, and underground secrets. Explore Helsinki’s hidden granite city and Tallinn’s paperless republic. From the Hanseatic “Internet” of trade to Estonian supercapacitors recycling gravity in modern ports, discover why the coolest tech comes from the coldest places.

3. Archipelago Architects: Stockholm, Visby & the Vasa Irony

Innovation, safety, and the “Venice of the North.” From the Vasa’s epic engineering failure to Swedish inventions like the seatbelt and pacemaker. Explore Stockholm’s 30,000 islands and the Viking walls of Visby, where medieval legacy meets a nation rising out of the sea by ingenious design.

4. The Sovereign Shift: Polar Pioneers & the Electric Kingdom.

Exploration, wealth management, and sustainable luxury. Trace the path of polar pioneers from wooden ships to airships, and see how Norway’s oil wealth created a $1.5 trillion “green” fund. From Oslo’s iceberg architecture to the electric car revolution, witness the shift to a sustainable future.

South America/ Antarctica

1. Antarctic Flying Heroes: Wings Over the White Desert

Description: Join Captain Erhart to explore the fearless aviators who conquered the world’s most hostile climate. From Admiral Byrd’s first flight over the South Pole to the modern bush pilots navigating the ice, discover the outrageous adventures and specialized machines that made the impossible possible.

2. The Andes Mystery: The Lost Flight of Star Dust

Description: In 1947, the BSAA flight “Star Dust” vanished over the Andes, leaving only a cryptic Morse code message: STENDEC. Using his accident investigation expertise, Captain Erhart provides an insider’s look at how a jet stream and a glacier hid the truth for 50 years until the ice finally spoke.

3. Trapped in the Ice: Mankind’s Battle for Survival

Description: Even the best-prepared explorers can find themselves at the mercy of the Antarctic. Explore the tenacity of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance and the aircraft buried beneath the snow. This is a study of human stamina, leadership, and the creative engineering required to survive the “Ice Tomb.”

4. The Falklands Air War: Courage Above the Clouds

Description: As we visit Port Stanley, discover the strategic genius and tragic heroism of the 1982 conflict. From the “Black Buck” Vulcan raids to the intense air-to-air duels, Captain Erhart shares the spine-tingling stories of aviators on both sides who fought for air superiority over these islands.

5. The South Pole Medevac: The Ultimate Rescue Mission

Description: When a life-threatening illness strikes in the heart of the Antarctic winter, the South Pole becomes a prison. Relive the daring winter rescues of Dr. Jerri Nielsen and Dr. Ronald Shemenski. Witness the “mighty bit of flying” by Canadian crews who landed in total darkness at -60°C to save a life.

6. Cape Horn & The Beagle: Navigation at the Edge

Description: Cape Horn is the “Everest of the Seas,” where the Atlantic and Pacific collide. From the Darwinian mysteries of the Beagle Channel to the precision required to navigate the Apex through legendary gales, explore the engineering and maritime history that defines the southern tip of the world.

7. Frozen Icons: Amazing Antarctic Aircraft Recoveries

Description: Explore the miraculous stories of aircraft “resurrected” from the ice. From a Navy LC-130 Hercules buried for 17 years to the legendary Basler DC-3s repaired in -50°C, Captain Erhart reveals the engineering genius and sheer grit required to fly these icons home from the bottom of the world.

Recent Cruises

Ruby Princess San Francisco Mexico 11 day Mar 7 2026

Celebrity Ascent Crossing Rome to Florida Nov 2025

Celebrity Silhouette Boston to Canada including Quebec City 11 day Sep 18 to 29 2025.

Celebrity Solstice. Alaska Ketchikan to Vancouver and return Bridge Narration Destination speaker Aug 15 to 24, 2025

Celebrity Solstice. Destination Alaska Bridge Narration Destination speaker July 2025

Celebrity Summit Panama crossing bridge narration FLL to LAX and YVR Apr 2025

Grand Princess Los Angeles Hawaii 16 day Feb 2025

Celebrity Edge – Hawaii – Sep 2024

Celebrity Edge – Seattle – Alaska 2 x 7 day Destination speaker Aug 2024

Ruby Princess Vancouver – Hawaii 16 day April 2024

Majestic Princess – Sydney – Fiji – Sydney – Tasmania 21 day Nov 2023