'Flight surgeon'—that must be a specially-trained medical doctor who performs surgery on a specially-adapted aircraft, right? Not exactly. On this episode, U.S. Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel Rocky "Apollo" Jedick joins us to explain what flight surgeons are, how they are trained, what they do, and who they serve (hint: it's not just pilots). Former episode 6 guest, now retired U.S. Navy Commander Sue "Cyclone" Jay returns to help explain how flight surgeons compare and contrast with aeros...
Jan 15, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 130
We took a well-deserved break over the holiday season, so our first episode of 2022 is this replay of a ' Happy Hour ' discussion from our Patreon page . It's a harrowing story with one of only two pilots to ever engage an aircraft carrier barricade in an F/A-18 Hornet--and he did it in the dark of night! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations...
Jan 05, 2022•52 min
Show hosts Jell-O and Boat take a look back at this tumultuous year and clear out the mailbag before offering a sneak peek at the year to come. (Contains some mild language in one part.) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
Dec 31, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Bomber Month concludes with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. World War II was brewing but the United States had yet to officially join the war. Using the power of the Lend Lease Act , the call went out to aircraft manufacturers to create a new heavy bomber that could be sent to Europe and go faster, climb higher, and carry more payload than the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress. What was created was the unheralded, yet highest produced aircraft in U.S. history. On this episode, Mr. Jim Harley joins...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 129
In 2020 we released a bonus episode describing the Canadian and American forces of NORAD , or the North American Aerospace Defense Command, who continuously monitor the airspace of our two countries--and indeed most of the world--to ensure threats to our nations are identified and managed. But not everything that enters our airspace is a "threat." Every year, NORAD ensures the safe and unhindered passage of jolly ol' St. Nick and his precious cargo of Christmas cheer to all the North American ch...
Dec 23, 2021•20 min
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 . Support ...
Dec 14, 2021•45 min•Ep. 128
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 dec...
Dec 04, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 127
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 cap...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 126
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 ...
Nov 14, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 125
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. Aircra...
Nov 04, 2021•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 124
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 ...
Oct 24, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 123
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...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 122
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 ...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 121
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. Fol...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 120
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 du...
Sep 10, 2021•29 min
The Marines—God bless 'em—have a reputation for making do with whatever equipment, weapons, and tasking that comes their way and, to their credit, usually do a damn fine job accomplishing the mission with whatever they have. This goes for Vietnam-era assault helicopters originally operated by the U.S. Army . On this episode, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Major Travis "Jayhoon" Denny joins us to explain why the Bell AH-1 Cobra makes such an effective platform for the core Marine mission: supporting t...
Sep 04, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 119
Hornet, Eagle, Viper, Tomcat, Tiger, Raptor, Warthog, Moose... we've covered many colorfully-named aircraft here on the show and this week is no different with a discussion on the carrier-based nucular strike aircraft that served mainly in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and aerial tanker roles from the mid-50's well into the 2000's. That's right, get ready for the 'Whale.' On this episode, retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Rick Morgan joins us to discuss the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior, for...
Jul 24, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 118
Not every aircraft can be (or should be) an attention-grabbing 9G fighter or Mach 3 spy plane. Scores of unheralded support planes play vital military roles including the movement of critical supply. Without timely and sufficient beans, bullets, and bandages provided by cargo planes like the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III , no military campaign gets far. On this episode, U.S. Air Force Major Courtney "Voodoo" Vidt joins us to discuss the "Moose" as the C-17 is affectionately known. A weapons school...
Jul 14, 2021•56 min•Ep. 117
Before COVID it was common for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers returning from deployment to stop and pick up a thousand or more "tigers." These civilian family and friends enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience of life aboard a carrier at sea, including an airshow unlike anything available back home. In 2003, show host Vincent's two brothers, Kai and Rocky, joined him for a week-long Tiger Cruise aboard USS Nimitz as they returned from an 8-month deployment which included combat operations ...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min
This being our 4th year in podcasting, episodes air on the 4's of each month, but this month the 4th falls on a major U.S. holiday so we're taking a little break. Cohost Boat welcomes Jell-O back to the show following his family setback and the two clear out the phone log. For those of you who celebrate it, happy Independence Day! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations...
Jul 04, 2021•28 min
Some aircraft are, simply put, icons of their era: the Wright Flyer, the SR-71 “Blackbird”, and the F-22 “Raptor”, to name a few. All hold a special place in history and in the hearts and minds of the men and women who flew them or have dreamt about doing so. On this episode, the last surviving triple ace of World War II, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Clarence “Bud” Anderson (R.I.P.), joins us to tell his story about his experience in one of the most famous icons of World War II: the P-51 “Must...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 116
FPP cohost Boat provides an update on a family tragedy involving founder Jell-O. For more information visit FPP Facebook Page . Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
Jun 19, 2021•3 min
The letter S seems to have an outsized presence in the name NASA . Space. True, the space program dominates NASA's media and Hollywood presence but there is a whole lot more to that less well known proceeding A. Aeronautics. From the X-1 which first broke the "sound barrier" to the X-59 Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator, NASA, and its predecessor NACA, plays an important role in flight research flying a dizzying array of military aircraft and one-of-a-kind prototypes. On this episode, retired U.S. Ai...
Jun 14, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 115
Accomplished author Rowland White stopped by the show to discuss his fifth book, Harrier 809, Britain's Legendary Jump Jet and the Untold Story of the Falklands War . Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
Jun 09, 2021•16 min
Imagine how different the world would be had the 13 American Colonies not declared their independence from Great Britain, or if Adolf Hitler had not been born, or if the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 never happened. Clearly these were world changing events, but what about a three-day naval battle between the U.S. and Japan in early June 1942? Might that have altered the rest of the war against the Axis, and indeed the Cold War that followed? On this episode, retired U.S. Navy Captain Kevin 'Hozer...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 114
Weasels are small, active predators with long, slender bodies and short legs. As a verb, 'weasel' means to achieve something by cunning or deceit. Replace "legs" with "wings" and both definitions aptly describe the mission of fighter jets seeking out and destroying surface-to-air threats, and the mindset of the pilots tasked to fly them. On this episode, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, New York Times-best selling author, and speaker Dan "Two Dogs" Hampton joins us to explain the Wild ...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 113
One of the perks of living in a modern society is the plethora of institutions that contribute to its citizens' well being. One such organization is an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force that searches for and finds lost citizens, provides comfort in times of disaster, works to keep the homeland safe, and educates and inspires tens of thousands of young people to a life of service. On this episode, Major Roy "Tater" Knight, 1st Lt Jerry "Cookie" Camp, and two young cadets of the California Wing of t...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 112
Here on the FPP, most aircraft series episodes featuring U.S.-designed warplanes have two-part titles comprised of the aircraft's designation and name, like the recent F-106 Delta Dart or forthcoming P-51 Mustang. So what's up with episode 111? On this episode, we explore why the General Dynamics F-111 never received an official name in addition to all our usual aircraft series questions, and we do so with our first Australian guests to grace the show: Air Marshal Gavin "Leo" Davies and Air Vice...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 111
Fighter Pilot Podcast founder and host Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello was recently a guest on the Memories of a Moonbird podcast, hosted by Daniel Scherl. For those who remark that we learn plenty about FPP guests but don't know very much about Jell-O, here's your chance! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations...
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 17 min
What do you do when it's not Bomber Month but you have an amazing, single-piloted, four-engine World War II bomber to discuss? You call on your Warbird expert, 'Boat'! On this episode, Mr. Leon Evans joins cohost Trevor Boswell to explain the oft overshadowed Avro Lancaster. Designed in England and produced in both England and Canada, this unique World War II bomber primarily flew night missions with two-thirds of its fleet being lost to hostile action. Decades later, only two of these iconic wa...
Apr 24, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 110
