Stay ConnectedThe Fighter Pilot Podcast explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, the emerging technologies, and most importantly—the people.
Most episodes feature a guest who helps explain military aviation topics such from Vietnam shoot down stories to how AI is changing air combat.
If you love the roar of a high-speed flyby or are enamored by the poise and confidence of the brave men and women who fly, fix, and fight these amazing aircraft, then this show is for you!
Copyright: © E. Vincent Aiello, 2018
Bomber Month rolls on!
This week, retired U. S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Addison Thompson joins us to discuss his career as a test pilot and his role in the development flight testing of the B-1B Lancer. The complex and highly capable 'Bone' presented numerous challenges during its development, and LtCol. Thompson describes how those challenges were met to give the operational B-1B force a safe and effective weapon system.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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Here on the Fighter Pilot Podcast it’s once again Bomber Month!
First up this year is the General Dynamics FB-111A supersonic swing-wing strategic bomber. Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Bill Moran joins us to explain how this aircraft differs from the F-111 and how it was used in Strategic Air Command operations. During the Cold War, SAC bombers and missiles were on alert 24 / 7 / 365 deterring the threat of nuclear war. The FB-111A was a key part of the SAC alert force during the final two decades of the Cold War.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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As the storm clouds of war once again formed in the late 1930's, the Japanese Imperial Navy requested proposals for a new aircraft carrier-based fighter that would dominate all competitors in aerial combat. The result was one of the most revered fighter aircraft to ever take to the skies: the Mitsubishi A6M Type 0, or as it later came to be more affectionately known: the "Zero."
On this episode, Messrs. Mark Murphy and Charlie Lynch discuss the history of the Zero--unarguably one of the most capable carrier-based fighters of World War ll. They also share what it's like to fly one of only five flyable Zeros in existence more than 80 years after its inception.
After the interview, Mr. "Mo" Aguiari stops by with an update on new content and great holiday gift ideas available from our friends over at Warbird Digest Magazine.
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According to Ernest Hemmingway, a man has only one virginity to lose in fighters, and if it is a lovely plane he loses it to, there his heart will ever be. Evidently this is not just true for fighters but for attack planes--even those that started off in your nation's Navy then get thrust onto your Air Force to fly nuclear maritime strike missions.
On this episode, retired RAF Group Captain John "JS" Sullivan explains the Blackburn Buccaneer, a carrier-capable RN aircraft that served the RAF as a nuclear strike platform. JS answers our usual 'aircraft series' questions for a host who knew absolutely nothing about the aircraft going into the interview. JS does a superb job of making us all fall in love with the Buccaneer (...two c's, one n, two e's...).
Listener questions addressed on this episode include logging military flight time, whether an F-14 Tomcat will ever show up on the civilian airshow circuit, and what aircraft would be cool if it were adapted to the carrier role.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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The F-35 Lightning II, a trillion-dollar, highly capable 5th generation fighter, has been described by the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff as a Ferrari which, "you don’t drive to work every day, you only drive it on Sundays." If so, what do we drive to work the rest of the week?
On this episode, Samuel "Spam" Milam, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel who now works for the Sierra Nevada Corporation, joins us to describe the modern light attack aircraft that are simple, cheap, and easy to fly. Aircraft like the A-29 Super Tucano, AT-6 Wolverine, and AT-802 Air Tractor match high tech systems and weapons with low cost and ease of operation, resulting in a compelling solution for low grade conflicts, particularly for nations with limited defense spending.
Listener questions covered include fighter aircraft operation in icing conditions, what happens to pilots when a squadron is disestablished, afterburner use noise concerns for surrounding communities, and the process involved in becoming the TOPGUN threat aircraft subject matter expert. Be sure to check out the Blue Angels Decades project.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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In 1933, English aircraft designer Sydney Camm proposed a radical design for the future of British fighter aviation: a monoplane. Two-and-a-half years later the Hawker Hurricane took to the skies and became a Royal Air Force workhorse, albeit an overshadowed one.
On this episode, Mr. Warren Pietsch, Chief Pilot from the Dakota Territory Air Museum, joins us to discuss the legendary aircraft that helped turn the tide during the Battle of Britain and elsewhere. Mr. Dan Griffith, former RAF test pilot and Chief Pilot at Biggin Hill, joins us as co-host after the interview to discuss his experiences in the Hurricane, including his test pilot perspective of performance and handling characteristics.
Listener questions answered on this episode include a rumor about F-105 afterburners being ramjets, whether U.S. Navy selectively retained graduates (SERGRADs) or Air Force first assignment instructor pilots (FAIPs) get special assignment preferences after completing their tour, and the rationale for which station the AIM-120 is carried on the F-16.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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In 1962 the U.S. Marine Corps issued a request for a heavy lift, ship-based helicopter capable of lifting a 4-ton payload over a radius of 100 nautical miles at a speed of over 150 knots. Boeing offered the CH-47A Chinook, which was already in service with the U.S. Army, while Sikorsky offered the S-65. The latter was selected, and after three years of tumultuous development entered service as the CH-53A Sea Stallion.
On this episode, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve LtCol Matthew “Twitch” Bauman joins us to pay homage to the family of S-65 / H-53 helicopters by discussing the one that became the backbone for the Marines and in which he accrued the most flight time: the CH-53E Super Stallion. Twitch answers our usual ‘aircraft series’ questions and even a few listener questions as he describes this beloved heavy lift helicopter and its rather unflattering nickname / mission.
Please note this episode includes some mild language. Check out the video of a Super Stallion landing with a stuck nose landing gear here.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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Inside America’s Dysfunctional Trillion-Dollar Fighter-Jet Program (NY Times). The U.S. Air Force Just Admitted the F-35 Stealth Fighter Has Failed (Forbes). The F-35 May Be Unsalvageable (The Hill).
Are these headlines fair criticisms of the Joint Strike Fighter or simply yellow journalism? How are we supposed to know what, and who, to believe these days?
On this episode, retired Royal Canadian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former test pilot Billie Flynn leverages his 5,000+ flight hours in the F-16 Viper, F/A-18 Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, and every model of the F-35 Lightning II to offer a nuanced opinion of whether this controversial $1.6T weapon system is worth it, and how “bad” the development setbacks really are given this hyperconnected world in which we live.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep a 70+ year-old aircraft in the air, who funds its maintenance, or how you could be involved to help keep the legacy of the aircraft, pilots, and maintainers alive for future generations to experience? Well, wonder no more!
On this episode, Ms. Leah Block joins us to discuss the Commemorative Air Force, from where it started, to how it's structured, the aircraft on hand, and the fascinating projects in the works, both in the air and on the ground. Following Ms. Block is Mr. Moreno "Mo" Aguiari, who provides perspective as a C.A.F. member and also discusses his role at Warbird Digestmagazine.
During the administrative portion of the show we offer some birthday greetings, announce a special new partnership, and answer a listener question comparing fighter and commercial aircraft navigational systems.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.
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This time last year we heard from Martin "Opus" Richard who was airborne in an F-15 Eagle over Manhattan during the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01.
This year, on the 20th anniversary of that fateful day, we hear from Tim "Conk" Conklin of the Colorado Air National Guard who was also airborne, only in an F-16 Viper and over Denver and Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, far from the actual attacks.
While we now understand who was behind those events and the extent of their plans, the fog of war present during the early hours of the attack was almost fatal for "Bob," the unwitting general aviation pilot who took off prior to the attacks and returned only hours later to a much different world...
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