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
Former F-16 Viper Demo Team pilot and retired U.S. Air Force Major John "Rain" Waters stops by to discuss his new show, the 'Afterburn Podcast.'
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Few aircraft capture the imagination like the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Designed for a carrier-based one-way nuclear strike--a mission it mercifully never performed--the diminutive plane instead established a solid reputation as a capable conventional attack aircraft during the Vietnam conflict. The jet went on to serve as the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron's aircraft and is still in service today, in various capacities, nearly six decades later.
On this episode, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Steven Briggs (R.I.P.) joins us to discuss the venerable Skyhawk, also known as the "Scooter" or "Heinemann's Hot Rod" after the plane's legendary developer. The Admiral answers our usual 'aircraft series' questions leveraging his extensive experience in the jet, which includes 229 combat missions over Vietnam.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a robust aviation capability comprised of numerous fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft stationed all over the country and deploying all over the world. This "fifth branch" of the U.S. military enforces laws, conducts search and rescue, maintains navigational equipment, and performs a host of other important tasks. And in a time of war, they can even help battle our nation's adversaries.
This week, U.S. Coast Guard Commander Dan "Rainman" Warren joins us to help us understand everything we ever wanted to know about the Coast Guard but were afraid to ask. Listener questions include the use of gloves when flying and how to confirm a "kill" in long distance air-to-air engagements.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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Bomber Month was a blast but it’s back to our namesake aircraft this week with a look at the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. Mikael “Duke” Grev, former lieutenant in the Swedish Air Force, joins us to discuss this delta-wing, canard-equipped, single-engine fighter including it’s armament, performance, and many variants. Read more on Duke’s Gripen experiences in his Hushkit article, and check out his company Avioniq here.
During the listener question segment, guest co-host Tra “Fish” Calisch returns to help us address sporting event flyovers, wingmen training and responsibilities, and the future of manned naval aviation.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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Fighter Pilot Podcast friend and mentor Rob Kibbe of The MuscleCar Place returns for a year-end look at the highs and lows of2019, and what's in store for 2020.
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Bomber Month concludes with the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.
This week, U.S. Air Force Major Nick "Wolf" Anderson and SMSgt Steve Napier join us to discuss the cutting-edge 'Stealth Bomber' and its enigmatic flying-wing design, not just flying but maintaining this complex machine. We discuss capabilities, weapons, even a little on low-observability and tactics before wrapping up with an introduction of the in-development B-21 Raider.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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Bomber Month marches on with the former Rockwell (now Boeing) B-1 Lancer.
This week, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel Chris "Wacky" Wachter joins us to talk about the bomber canceled by one president but reinstated by another in a role quite different from what was originally intended. The "Bone," which in many ways is unlike any other bomber--such as swing-wings and afterburning engines--remains a vital part of the U.S. arsenal employing a wide array of weapons in a host of missions.
Here is a link to the article regarding a "Bomber for the U.S. Navy" as mentioned during the interview.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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Bomber Month continues with the mighty Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
This week, Mr. Ken Katz, a former U.S. Air Force flight test engineer who literally wrote the book on the B-52, joins us to talk all about the mighty "BUFF" including the several variants, its many weapons, and most impressively--how it may end up being the first military aircraft to fly operationally for 100 years.
Episode artwork adapted by Janek Krause. Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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Here on the Fighter Pilot Podcast it's Bomber Month!
First up is the venerable Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and joining us is Mr. Mike Rowland, former curator of the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia where a B-17 is being meticulously restored. Also joining us on this episode is retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Crawford Hicks (R.I.P.), a former WW II B-17 pilot who was shot down on his 10th mission in the European Theater and held prisoner until the end of hostilities.
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Retired U.S. Navy Commander Guy "Bus" Snodgrass, former communications director and chief speech writer for Secretary of Defense John Mattis, stops by the podcast to discuss his new book, Holding the Line.
Bus will be back on the show in 2020 for an episode on Air-to-Air Mission Planning.
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