Fighter Pilot Podcast

Phillip Frawley is not only a retired Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot, he is a Guinness World Record holder for being the oldest and longest-serving fighter pilot in the world. With a half-century of service and nearly 500 flight students taught, "Frawls" has seen it all.This Zoom interview was originally recorded during a late 2020 happy hour session for FPP Patreon supporters.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

U.S. Air Force Reserve fighter pilot, Justin "Hasard" Lee, describes his career flying the block 50 F-16 before transitioning to the F-35 and ultimately starting a compelling YouTube channel. His exploits and many lessons learned are captured in his book, The Art of Clear Thinking.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Retired U.S. Navy fighter #pilot, James "Slug" Kidrick, makes a case for aviation museums and how to keep patrons, besides just children, walking in the door. Slug had a hand in making the necessary arrangements for a San Diego Air & Space Museum (https://sandiegoairandspace.org/) F-14 Tomcat to appear on an aircraft carrier flight deck for the first time in more than a dozen years.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Retired U.S. Navy captain and MH-60 Seahawk pilot Alan "SugarBear" Worthy explains how military forces and weapons systems designed primarily to destroy and kill are also used to help and heal during natural disasters and humanitarian crises.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Miss the old show format where Jell-O answers listener questions and makes announcements in his usual quippy style? Well, you're in luck! This week he and guest co-host Ken Katz catch up like old times and clear out the mail bag.Then Ken interviews civilian test pilot Shannon "Bam Bam" Lunsford on the careful considerations and risk mitigation strategies employed when flying a prototype aircraft for the first time. Get ready for "miles of orange wire" and "YAPS" probes on this episode of the Fighter Pilot Podcast...Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former U.S. Navy A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, and F/A-18 Hornet pilot Jerry "Lefty" Schubert stopped by the show during a 2020 Happy Hour to share stories on grit, Naval Aviation, and fatherhood.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Designing and flying a vehicle intended to travel at five times the speed of sound or more presents significant challenges—add a human occupant and the stakes go even higher.On this episode, former U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress pilot Daniel "Doc" Millman, Ph.D, now of Stratolaunch, joins guest cohost Ken Katz to discuss the challenges of hypersonic aircraft design and flight, and how the U.S. military compares to other nations developing hypersonic aircraft and weapons.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Tom "Trotts" Trotter describes flying the beloved F-14 Tomcat and how it compares to the F/A-18 Hornet, then attending TOPGUN as one of the first Hornet students and later commanding the school.Original music by Jaime Lopez. Video produced by Kevin Harold of Showgun Media.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Mr. Tim Kinsella joins former U.S. Air Force Flight Test Engineer and Fighter Pilot Podcast cohost Ken "Primetime" Katz to discuss the various non-intrusive ways aircraft structures are tested in development and throughout the aircraft's service life.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper pilot Jeff "Tico" Tice was callsign 'Stroke 1,' the flight lead for the ill-fated "Package Q" strike on Iraq just days into Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Stroke 3 miraculously dodged multiple Iraqi SAMs and made it home safely where his HUD footage became a sensation. Tico was not so lucky...Read about Package Q here.Watch the Stroke 3 video here.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former U.S. Air Force cargo pilot Bob Strang describes flying the beloved but not-well-known C-7 Caribou on risky resupply missions during the Vietnam Conflict, often landing on extremely short runways freshly cut from the jungle with no navigational aids or runway markings—all while being fired upon by the enemy.Visit the C-7A Caribou Association:http://www.c-7acaribou.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

A discussion on how the next generation air dominance fighter will redefine air warfare with retired U.S. Air Force General J. Mike "Mobile" Holmes, hosted by Matt Arny.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Trey Williams joins Retired U.S. Army CW5 (and future Army Aviation Hall-of-Famer) Stan Wood to discuss the Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and their role in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu immortalized in the 2001 movie, 'Black Hawk Down.'Be sure to visit and contribute to the Night Stalker Association as well as Trey's company Aevex and Stan's, Fulcrum Concepts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Scott Chafian and Brian "Sunshine" Sinclair return to introduce Authentic Media, a game-changing subscription service providing exclusive military aviation content and community.Authentic Media subscribers will enjoy access to audio shows offering historical perspectives, detailed engineering, and personal stories—all curated by experts in the field. Subscribers will also be part of a thriving community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for military aviation.If you are looking to enhance your knowledge and appreciation of military aviation, Authentic Media is the perfect choice. Visit https://www.authenticmedia.io to learn more and start your journey today.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former U.S. Air Force F-15, F-5, and F-16 pilot, and Fighter Weapons School graduate, Fred "Spanky" Clifton, describes flying the MiG-29 Fulcrum as a Luftwaffe exchange pilot following German reunification after the Iron Curtain fell.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

U.S. Air Force Colonel (sel) Tom "WCMD" Meagher and former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Beau "Stewie" Griffith describe how advancements in technology, electric propulsion, and government / industry partnerships are accelerating development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.Learn more about AFWERX here: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/Agility Prime: https://afwerx.com/agility-prime/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

A discussion on how advancements in autonomy, automation, artificial intelligence, and other technological advancements are influencing warfare. Guest host Matt Arny interviews retired U.S. Army Colonel Brad Boyd of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

U.S. Navy Captain and Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing Commodore Sam "Flesh" Bryant describes how the introduction of the CMV-22B Osprey as a replacement for the C-2A Greyhound is changing the nature of aircraft carrier operations and, specifically, the carrier onboard delivery (COD) mission.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Retired U.S. Navy Commander and two-time Blue Angels demonstration pilot Jerry "Turkey" Tucker describes flying airshow performances first in the F-4 Phantom II and then the A-4 Skyhawk, even years later after a fatal mishap caused him to be drafted back on the team.Visit the website of Ryan Nothhaft, grandson of Blue Angels' founder Butch Voris, here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom II pilot Dee "Bones" Conger describes his military career and how he adapted the fighter pilot ethos into his business endeavors on this first episode in our new video-centric format.Visit Bones' fixed base operations, Circle Air Group, at Gillespie Field (KSEE) in San Diego, CA and online: https://www.circleag.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Welcome to the Fighter Pilot Podcast!This trailer describes the show: who it's from, who it's for, and what it's all about. Be sure to check out our website and for exclusive content, check out our Patreon Page.To connect with us, email: questions@fighterpilotpodcast.com or leave a voice message: 877.MACH.101.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Fighter Pilot Podcast friend and mentor Rob Kibbe of The MuscleCar Place returns for a year-end look at 2022 and what's in store for 2023.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Every year we feature the hard working men and women of NORAD who tirelessly monitor threats all year long and then, on December 24th, add the mission of tracking Santa.Enjoy this update on the NORAD Santa Tracker program featuring U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. James Porterfield, the NORAD and NORTHCOM Senior Enlisted LeaderAnd Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Fighter Pilot Podcast.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Aircraft carrier landings are generally regarded as one of the most difficult—and dangerous—activities performed in an airplane. Turn out the lights and add some ocean swell and these landings are downright treacherous. But with recent technological advancements comes a system that so simplifies and improves the safety of these landings that the U.S. Navy is exploring doing away with carrier qualifications as the capstone of a student naval aviator's training for the first time in history.On this episode, U.S. Navy Captain Dan "O.J." Catlin joins FPP cohost Matt "Flounder" Arny to discuss the precision landing mode, once known as MAGIC CARPET, that revolutionizes fixed-wing aircraft carrier landings to the point of nearly making them routine.Listener questions addressed on this episode include Navy flight school selection tracks, A/A training kill removal, flight callsigns, unique aircraft personalities, tips to succeed in flight school, and the lowdown on the F-22 pilot who raised his landing gear too early while operating in NAS Fallon, NV with a TOPGUN callsign.Learn more about the Raytheon Missiles & Defense Joint Strike Missile here.Episode artwork by Janek Krause. Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

“The Future” will tell the listener about new technologies in use and on the horizon that will better train the warfighter in combating 5th Gen threats as well as better modeling joint interoperability. Topics will include datalinks and platform interoperability, low observable technology, space- and cyber-warfare in air combat, and the evolution of modeling technology. The episode and series will culminate with an unclassified description of LVC: what it is and how it works; how it mitigates the challenges discussed previously; and discussing how LVC not only provides better training, but that better training means all-live flight time is more profitably used.Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

“Putting it All Together” takes concepts from the preceding episodes and explains large scale exercises, introducing assets beyond fighters and even beyond aviation assets to train for modern multi-domain joint operations in settings such as Air Wing Fallon, Red Flag, and the Army’s NTC and JRTC. Host and panel stories illustrate the objectives and processes of these events as they have evolved over time as well as further demonstrate the limitations of exclusively physical training ranges and expense of flight hours both in monetary and airframe costs.Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

“Putting it All Together” takes concepts from the preceding episodes and explains large scale exercises, introducing assets beyond fighters and even beyond aviation assets to train for modern multi-domain joint operations in settings such as Air Wing Fallon, Red Flag, and the Army’s NTC and JRTC. Host and panel stories illustrate the objectives and processes of these events as they have evolved over time as well as further demonstrate the limitations of exclusively physical training ranges and expense of flight hours both in monetary and airframe costs.Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

November 23rd marks the release of the second great Naval Aviation movie of 2022, Devotion, except unlike the previous--this one is based on actual events. Korean War F4U Corsair pilots Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner became the U.S. Navy's most celebrated wingmen for events expertly described in a book of the same title by Mr. Adam Makos.On this episode, our warbird cohost Trevor "Boat" Boswell returns to celebrate the movie release with an interview conducted by FPP friend Rick "Nack" Hartnack with former U.S. Marine Corps F-4 Phantom pilot and current F4U Corsair owner John French. After, Mr. Makos joins Boat to discuss his book and involvement in the movie adaptation.Check out Mr. French's involvement helping injured veterans enjoy the great outdoors at highergroundusa.org, and for a copy of Devotion signed by Congressional Medal of Honor awardee, Tom Hudner, visit valorstudios.com.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

“The Threat” describes the nature of America’s aerial adversaries and how we simulate them. Host stories and experiences explain the concept and need for DACT and OPFOR while also discussing the changes over time in potential enemy aircraft, the surface-to-air threat, and our own Aggressor/Adversary aircraft including the declining ability of traditional Aggressor aircraft to model modern threats.Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

The Fighter Pilot Podcast would not be possible without the support of the hundreds of veterans who served both in uniform and, in this case, in the studio.To those who have served: happy Veterans Day and thank you, from a grateful nation.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations