Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine.
In this episode, we sit down with flight nurse Danica Mainridge—a clinician whose story is as inspiring as it is unforgettable. From her path into critical care to the day everything changed in the aftermath of her company’s helicopter crash, Danica takes us inside the split-second decisions, the raw emotions, and the long road of personal recovery that followed.
Together, we explore the weight of trauma, the necessity of resilience, and the strength that comes from within. Danica opens up about grief, identity, and what it truly means to care for others while finding healing yourself.
And stay tuned till the end as we share how Danica’s courage and dedication earned her the much deserved Blades of Valor Recognition of Service, Courage and Flight award.
This is not just a story of survival—it’s a story of courage, purpose, and the unbreakable spirit of a flight clinician.

Thank you to our sponsors Precision Aviation Group, Spectrum Aeromed and Technisonic Industries.