Fighter Pilot Podcast

We've been at it pretty steadily since launching on January 1st and the kids have been on spring break this past week--so we're taking a little pause from our normal programming routine. However, we didn't want to go completely dark so here are highlights from the two Facebook Live sessions that took place earlier this month. If you already caught those then there's nothing new here, although they are lightly edited for content and relevance.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

When observing military aircraft in flight–be it at an airshow or during the flyover of a sporting event–most of us, most of the time, think nothing of the immense costs and effort required to get those aircraft flying. From routine servicing and upkeep to the repair or replacement of major aircraft components, the required resources can often reach dozens of man-hours and tens of thousands of dollars per flight hour, especially as technologically-advanced military aircraft age.On this episode, Major Dave “Chucky” Chown of the Royal Canadian Air Force shares details on the RCAF and some of its missions before diving into a thorough discussion on aircraft maintenance, with the F/A-18 Hornet as the main reference. Prepare to be amazed at the resources you never knew were required, and forever change the way you observe military aircraft in flight.During the listener question segment, we discuss the difference between parachutes used in skydiving and ejection seats, the handling differences between the Hornet and Super Hornet, why aircrew change squadrons, what “All Weather” means, and more.Bumper music by Incompetech.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

On May 10, 1972, U.S. Navy lieutenants Randy “Duke” Cunningham and Bill “Willy D” Driscoll launched from the aircraft carrier Constellation in an F-4 Phantom II, callsign Showtime 100, on a “routine” flak suppression mission over North Vietnam. The strike force was met by dozens of enemy fighters and in the ensuing melee Duke and Willy D downed their third, fourth, and fifth enemy MiGs, becoming the Navy’s only aces of the conflict. But the eventful mission was far from over as Showtime 100 never made it back to the “Connie….”Hear the rest of Willy D’s captivating story and the lifelong lessons he drew both from his combat experiences and subsequent interviews with dozens of other air combat aces around the world. Then find out how he turned those lessons into riveting presentations designed to improve the performance of a variety of audiences from TOPGUN classes to Fortune 500 executives. His experiences and lessons are articulated in his critically acclaimed book Peak Performance, How to Achieve Extraordinary Results Under Difficult Circumstances (Triple Nickel Press, 2012). Visit Willy D’s website to learn more about this true American hero.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Ever notice that a B-52 Stratofortress is a bomber, an F-14 Tomcat is a fighter, and a T-45 Goshawk is a trainer? What a coincidence! …well, not really. And it’s also no coincidence that we in the West call the Chinese J-8 fighter and Russian Tu-160 bomber the FINBACK and BLACKJACK, respectively.On this episode, retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Josh “Popeye” Larson explains the alphanumeric naming conventions used to describe U.S., European, Russian, and Chinese warplanes. Be sure to stick around until the end of the episode, after the flyby, to learn the designation of the airplane we all know as Air Force 1.During the Q&A segment, listener Wolfgang from Germany asks whether anyone has ever stolen a military jet for a short trip. Click here to read about the time a young U.S. Marine decided to take an A-4 Skyhawk out for a joyride–at night!Bumper music by Incompetech.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

TOPGUN – aka the Navy Fighter Weapons School. An institution that develops and provides graduate-level strike-fighter tactics.Top Gun – A 1986 American romantic military action drama motion picture starring Tom Cruise.Although they may sound the same and the latter is loosely based on the former, the fact is TOPGUN the school and Top Gun the movie otherwise have very little in common. But that’s okay–a movie based too closely on how things really are would be mind-numbingly boring!On this episode, U.S. Navy Commander Andy “Grand” Mariner, the TOPGUN commanding officer, joins us to describe how the school came to be, how it operates today, and what it’s like there for both students and instructors. Spoiler alert: it's nothing like the movie.Episode artwork and bumper music by Slater Aiello.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

On this episode, U.S. Navy aerospace operational physiologist Commander Susan "Cyclone" Jay explains how flying high-performance jet aircraft takes a toll on the human body.We discuss pulling Gs, air sickness, decompression sickness, trapped gas, and spatial disorientation.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Passing gas is nothing to be ashamed of--in fact, it is a vital skill required of most military aviators. There are different ways to do it, and there are many occasions when passing gas is not only appropriate but necessary.On this episode, U.S. Navy Captain Fitz “Dud” Lee explains how and why military aircraft refuel in flight, as well as which aircraft are capable of doing so. We also exchange a few “sea stories” related to how managing aerial tankers are vital to flight operations at sea aboard an aircraft carrier.Bumper music by Incompetech.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Ever wonder how ejection seats work or how it might feel to ride one?On this episode, U.S. Navy Commander Rafe “Bloach” Wysham offers a brief history on ejection seats, how they work, how aircrew inspect them before flight, and why–in multi-place aircraft–it is important to have the ‘Eject Select’ switch in the proper position as demonstrated by the non-aviator backseater who ejected himself out of a perfectly good F-14 Tomcat (click here for the whole story). Bloach wraps up the discussion with a harrowing story of the time an ejection seat saved his life from a doomed Tomcat–a mishap that tragically claimed the life of his pilot.Bumper music by Incompetech.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

People who work in dangerous professions are generally outfitted with protective equipment to minimize the chance of injury in the event of a mishap. Military pilots require not only such special gear but also survival and evasion articles in the event they have extended waits for rescue and must evade the enemy in the process.On this episode, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Aaron "Vern" Vernallis joins the show to explain the flight clothing and equipment F/A-18 aircrews wear in flight. We go inside-out, bottom-to-top, discussing flight suits, boots, g-suits, torso harnesses, survival vests, helmets, and more. Hard to visualize on a radio show? Yup. Check out our 5-minute YouTube video where Vern demonstrates donning the gear we discuss on the show.Bumper music by Incompetech.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Only in the movies do fighter pilots enjoy cool nicknames like “Viper”, “Iceman”, or “Maverick.” In the real world, callsigns are generally plays on names (e.g. “Notso” Sharp), reflective of a pilot’s physical resemblance to some well-known character (“Shrek” Olsen), or the result of a mistake the pilot made at some point in his or her career (“Skids” Pennington). Admittedly, they are at times derogatory, and frequently not politically correct, but they are almost always funny.On this episode, U.S. Navy Captain Brian “Ferg” Fergusson stops by to explain those whimsical, often juvenile nicknames many military aviators go by instead of their real names when flying and, on the ground. Learn how callsigns are assigned, whether they ever change, and why it’s actually a good thing when a new fighter pilot despises a newly-assigned callsign.Bumper music by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations