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
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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If a soldier is a military combatant that fights on land, and a sailor is one that fights on sea, then what is a 'fighter pilot'?
On this inaugural episode, U.S. Navy Commander Brian “Sunshine” Sinclair visits the show to discuss what a fighter pilot is, some characteristics typical of most fighter pilots, and the various paths to become one. We also debunk cliché Hollywood stereotypes while discussing what a fighter pilot decidedly is not.
Towards the end of the show we discuss a few of the jets used in civilian organizations, including the F-21 Kfir and Hawker Hunter flown by ATAC, the Super Tucano, and the L-39 Albatros.
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Welcome to The Fighter Pilot Podcast!
On this short initial episode, I, your host Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, introduce myself and explain how and why this show came about. I also describe features of the show—expected frequency, length, structure, and more.
Much of this information can also be found on the website’s About page.
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