Today we’d like to introduce you to Carollyne B. Carmichel.
Hi Carollyne B., thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Carollyne B. Carmichel, President and proud founder of Fly-Inn.com. I’ve always had the drive to create something meaningful for our pilot community. My journey began in 1990, while still in college, when I launched into real estate as a builder in San Diego, California. For more than 30 years, I designed, built, and sold homes — a foundation that made building Fly-Inn feel like a natural next step.
The spark came during a moment of extreme boredom when I asked myself: What if pilots could share their properties with one another — creating a community built on adventure and connection? I was off to the races to create that community.
That small idea quickly gained altitude. Pilots began reaching out, eager to list their homes, and I realized this could grow into a tool that serves every pilot and their family. Our short-term rental platform, that handles all of our needs when we fly our airplanes, was created–and the rest is history. Fly-Inn officially launched with the mission to connect pilots worldwide through a lifestyle of travel, camaraderie, and shared experiences.
In 2025, we put our slogan, Travel Like a Pilot, into action with the Fly-Inn Tour — crisscrossing the country to showcase properties and inspire adventure. The tour has slowed down because my top priority is making sure Fly-Inn can operate independently, but we are getting there. Parts of the lower 48, Florida, and Alaska are still ahead, so stay tuned!
Until then, you can follow the journey at YouTube.com/@fly-inn, where we bring many of our short-term rentals to life. My hope is that you’ll be inspired to create your own adventures, share your stories, and help grow this extraordinary community of pilots.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A smooth road? Far from it! Fly-Inn has behaved exactly like any startup — full of challenges, growing pains, and the constant need for attention, not to mention an endless demand of resources and time. It’s our baby, and like any baby, it requires nurturing, patience, and unwavering care. I can’t imagine my life without it, and my dream is for our fellow pilots around the world to recognize just how valuable it is and to use it often.
This truly is a gift to the pilot community, built from the ground up with pilot needs in mind. And to be honest — no one else will ever be crazy enough to take on exactly what we’ve done. That’s part of what makes Fly-Inn so special.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fly-Inn.com. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Fly-Inn is the world’s first fully integrated aviation lifestyle platform — a place where pilots can “Travel Like a Pilot”. Our short-term rental listings is designed specifically for pilots and our families. Every property on Fly-Inn features accommodations, a convenient runway, airplane parking, and ground transportation facilitated in every one of our listings, making it easy to fly in, park your aircraft, and continue your adventure the moment you land! All of the guesswork of how to get around once you land is figured out with Fly-Inn.
NEW on Fly-Inn: pilots and aviation businesses can search for other aviation businesses while promoting theirs in our REVIEWS-POWERED aviation directory, a modern-day Yellow Pages/Yelp exclusively for aviation-related businesses!
Our mission is simple but powerful: to connect pilots with the people, places, and services that make their journeys memorable. We specialize in curating listings that meet the unique needs of the aviation community — from runway-equipped homes with aircraft parking and cars, to aviation businesses of every type, we really have it all and we want everyone to know about it!
What sets us apart is our unwavering focus on pilots. We’re not just another travel or real estate site that happens to have a few aviation-friendly listings — we are built from the ground up for the flying lifestyle. As a pilot-owned and operated business, we understand the thrill of flying in, shutting down the engine, and stepping right into a welcoming space. It truly is a platform built by pilots for pilots. We welcome any other idea you may have so please share with us so we can continue to make this even better!
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Fly-Inn is more than a business — it’s a movement. It’s a network of pilots helping pilots, sharing resources, and creating experiences you simply can’t find anywhere else. Our slogan, “Travel Like a Pilot,” isn’t just a tagline — it’s the heart of everything we do. It really is a FAMILY–The Fly-Inn Family!
I want readers to know that Fly-Inn is here to make aviation more accessible, more connected, and more fun. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a unique aviation-friendly destination, or a product or service, Fly-Inn is your guide for the journey. New exciting stays every day so definitely register, join our Fly-Inn Family, and enjoy! This is your tool, our gift to you!
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a visionary. As a kid, I was constantly inventing ideas, jotting them down, recording them on my tape recorder, and looking for ways to make things better.
My Dad was my hero. He taught me to never give up and that all ideas are worth exploring. That belief shaped everything about me. I never felt the need to follow the exact script I was taught in school — instead, I wrote my own, both for myself and for my children. That independent, creative streak has been my compass ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Fly-Inn.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/flyinnllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlyInnLLC/
- Twitter: https://x.com/flyinnllc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fly-inn
