Landing a high-performance jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier is the most difficult and challenging task any pilot will ever face, and is what distinguishes naval aviators from all other military aircrew. In what effectively amounts to a “controlled crash” onto the flight deck, a 44,000-pound aircraft traveling 140 mph engages a 1.5-inch steel cable and is brought to a halt in less than 200 feet. The feat requires the combined efforts of hundreds of sailors above and below decks, and the assist...
May 01, 2018•55 min•Ep. 13
This week we continue where we left off the previous episode with U.S. Navy Captain Eric "Pappy" Anduze: discussing what the various flight deck jersey colors mean and then how a catapult launch works–including the hardware that makes it possible and what happens in the event of an emergency. If you missed part 1, definitely go back and listen to episode 11 before listening to part 2. Next week we will talk about daytime landings on these massive floating cities. Stay tuned! Episode photography ...
Apr 21, 2018•49 min•Ep. 12
The nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier is the largest, most lethal warship to ever sail the high seas and the U.S. has 11 of them, each equipped with a myriad of advanced combat aircraft. Together they can cover two-thirds of the earth’s surface and strike most of the remaining third, all in the name of enforcing freedom of navigation on the world’s seas and implementing America’s resolve anywhere needed. On this first installment of a two-part series exploring aircraft carriers and air o...
Apr 11, 2018•59 min•Ep. 11
We've been at it pretty steadily since launching on January 1st and the kids have been on spring break this past week--so we're taking a little pause from our normal programming routine. However, we didn't want to go completely dark so here are highlights from the two Facebook Live sessions that took place earlier this month. If you already caught those then there's nothing new here, although they are lightly edited for content and relevance. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-f...
Apr 01, 2018•59 min
When observing military aircraft in flight–be it at an airshow or during the flyover of a sporting event–most of us, most of the time, think nothing of the immense costs and effort required to get those aircraft flying. From routine servicing and upkeep to the repair or replacement of major aircraft components, the required resources can often reach dozens of man-hours and tens of thousands of dollars per flight hour , especially as technologically-advanced military aircraft age. On this episode...
Mar 21, 2018•55 min•Ep. 10
On May 10, 1972, U.S. Navy lieutenants Randy “Duke” Cunningham and Bill “Willy D” Driscoll launched from the aircraft carrier Constellation in an F-4 Phantom II, callsign Showtime 100 , on a “routine” flak suppression mission over North Vietnam. The strike force was met by dozens of enemy fighters and in the ensuing melee Duke and Willy D downed their third, fourth, and fifth enemy MiGs, becoming the Navy’s only aces of the conflict. But the eventful mission was far from over as Showtime 100 nev...
Mar 11, 2018•56 min•Ep. 9
Ever notice that a B -52 Stratofortress is a b omber, an F -14 Tomcat is a f ighter, and a T -45 Goshawk is a t rainer? 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 t...
Mar 01, 2018•53 min•Ep. 8
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 epi...
Feb 21, 2018•58 min•Ep. 7
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. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
Feb 11, 2018•59 min•Ep. 6
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 ab...
Feb 01, 2018•52 min•Ep. 5
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 wit...
Jan 21, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 4
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 i...
Jan 11, 2018•53 min•Ep. 3
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, ...
Jan 01, 2018•31 min•Ep. 2
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. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations...
Jan 01, 2018•5 min
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 je...
Jan 01, 2018•42 min•Ep. 1
