EE Lightning P1B | 10 Percent True | EP84 – Part 2The restoration of the English Electric Lightning P1B reaches a major milestone as the fuselage emerges from storage for the first time in nearly 30 years. Blackie gives an extraordinary tour through the aircraft’s bizarre and brilliant engineering – from handmade panels and unique fuel systems to the realities of maintaining and restoring Britain’s legendary Mach 2 interceptor. Along the way, he reveals the challenges of preparing the aircraft for Goodwood, the hunt for rare original parts, and why the Lightning remains one of the most fascinating fighters ever built.

This is the first episode of a new series we’re calling The Bullshit Detectorist. I’m joined by Starbaby Pietrucha, and the idea is simple—take some of the stuff you hear all the time about military aviation and see if it actually stands up. Stealth’s dead, drones have changed everything, low-frequency radar can see anything… we get into all of it.0:00 Aurora1:00 welcome back Starbaby - series outline/premise3:55 super low freq/passive radars are the death of stealth11:15 other dimensions of lo-observable?15:11 collapsing the kill chain?16:40 HARM were used to maybe make the Iraqis duck a bit…… (Dan Hampton quote) 🤡 21:35 “it’s not the plane, but the person in the box”26:02 “there’s no 100% defence against low cost cruise missiles (Shahed/Geran etc)” - previews further discussion on mass as a principle of war33:23 Starbaby and the Somme teaser34:06 “SR-71 shouldn’t have been retired”37:10 why did the U-2 survive?39:25 Aurora?43:36 “Crewed, oxygen breathing AEW aircraft are overrated and unnecessary…..” (incl underfunding/mismanagement of suck programs follow on)49:28 “the appearance of an aircraft is the most important (in US combat aircraft selection)”Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 53:32 “high speed low level penetration of an enemy IAD is redundant because of stealth”56:38 low level mitigation? 59:25 “Ghost Bat” or “MQ-28”1:01:18 SDB stormbreaker mean 1000 and 2000lbs bombs are unreasonable risks of collateral damage 1:07:30 intercepting bombs is much harder than cruise missiles 1:08:46 Stormbreaker 2 and associated marketing1:12:15 wrapping up

Get the full episode here: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/listIn Episode 3, Benji Prefontaine takes you into the most demanding phase of his combat experience—flying the Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard over Afghanistan in a crowded, chaotic coalition battlespace.With limited sensors, minimal weapons, and no datalink, every mission becomes a test of situational awareness and judgment. He describes near-misses in mid-air, fuel emergencies, comms failures, and the constant risk of fratricide—all while supporting troops in contact on the ground.The central theme is stark: the biggest danger isn’t always the enemy—it’s the environment, the complexity, and your own decisions. Benji explains why the urge to drop a weapon can be the most dangerous instinct a pilot has—and why sometimes the right call is to hold fire.This episode is a raw, honest look at the reality of close air support—and the responsibility carried by the person in the cockpit.⸻0:00 intro teaser - CAS story2:40 Welcome back (Again!) Benji3:30 recap of Super E capabilities as deployment to Afghanistan looms6:28 Spinning up and deploying 9:02 commencing ops in a relatively quiet 200611:04 2007 tougher (expanded ops, integration of new Rafale capabilities)14:30 “joint” Navy buddy mission with Rafale on 27/03/07 (including 5:59:59 flameout)19:01 admin can kill you - fuel problems and deconfliction 22:48 2008 Carrier stood down for refit/repair so Super E is ground based at Kandahar 26:55 reviewing the learning points emerging from the initial engagement (including Damocles limitations and intro story)34:36 integration into ATO? 37:25 personal growth?42:24 USB exchange pilot contributions?44:48 full access? (and the perils of Super E cockpit for the well built gentleman)48:07 kneeboard capabilities 52:11 comms - satcom54:11 going back to F1, missing it, an adjustment?58:58 back to Kandahar in the F11:02:44 revisiting the psychological aspect in terms of Afghanistan (and Libya)1:06:41 Dollars!1:11:40 Libya - state of play/the vagaries of real world deployment and getting in on the action 1:23:50 the benefits of a tight knit community (moving a squadron whilst fighting a war and training new people) 1:29:58 the toll on family?1:32:42 threat levels in Libya1:37:22 XCAS and Intel?1:40:28 SCUD launcher mission1:44:00 tanker scarcity1:45:10 ATL21:46:12 QRA/policing/Chad (again)1:53:10 intercepts and “etiquette”1:55:30 flying with MiG-29SMTs2:00:17 drinking vodka with MiG-31 squadron cmdr 2:01:43 Foxhound intel?/diplomacy/history2:05:49 rounding out Air Force career and next chapter2:11:40 Merci Benji

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10PCT EP86 P2 Benji Prefontaine

In Episode 2, Benji Prefontaine moves from early operations into real combat experience—flying the Dassault Mirage F1 in Africa before transitioning to carrier aviation in the Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard.He describes the shock of adapting from Air Force flying to life on the carrier—where precision, discipline, and consistency are everything. Landing on the boat becomes a defining challenge, exposing the difference between being a good pilot and being an operational one.The episode also explores the limitations of the Super Étendard—an aging, analog jet forced into modern combat—and how that shapes tactics, workload, and risk. Benji highlights the realities of coalition warfare, early Afghanistan deployments, and the steep learning curve of operating in a far more complex and demanding environment.This is where the story shifts from “becoming a pilot” to learning how to survive and operate effectively in combat.0:00 Teaser – Pyjamas, Wine, Corkscrews and Cigarettes 1:45 Welcome Back Benji (Steve’s Lost It!) + Episode Outline 3:20 First Operational Squadron – Tough Start to Mixed Force Ops 9:20 Post-9/11 Politics and Operational Reality 12:38 Red Flag – Flying with Mirage 2000D 15:36 Did Red Flag Validate the EW Suite? 18:41 How Red Flag Prepared Him for Combat 22:26 Inferiority Complex in Coalition Ops? 28:02 Social Life on Squadron 31:24 Old School vs New School – What Works? 35:38 Deployments to Chad 40:42 Threat Environment and Risk 44:48 Ferry Flight to Red Flag – Single-Engine Stress 47:43 Bird Strikes and Wildlife Hazards 52:09 Survival Kit – What’s On Board? 55:10 CSAR – Expectations vs Reality 57:46 What Is a Pilot Worth? 59:05 Combat Psychology 1:04:18 Managing Pilots Doing “Cool Stuff” (Photos/Video) 1:09:54 Romania Deployment – Encounters with MiGs 1:18:09 QRA – Intercepts and Real-World Stories 1:24:45 French Air Force “Urban Legends” 1:27:27 Encounters with USAF Incursions? 1:30:08 End of First Tour – Seeking Exchange Opportunities 1:32:50 Carrier Tour Expectations – Charles de Gaulle 1:35:15 No Night Landings? 1:36:30 Targeting Pod (PDLCT) 1:37:52 FCLP – Carrier Landing Practice 1:42:12 The Hardest Part of Carrier Ops 1:45:15 Nuclear Strike Mission Explained 1:51:53 Super Étendard Capabilities (Including Exocet) 2:01:17 From Detection to Attack 2:05:00 Situation Display, Autopilot, Datalink 2:07:55 Tuning Exocet Targeting and Performance 2:09:12 How Do You Attack a Carrier Group? 2:13:00 Part 3 Preview – Combat and Command

The rescue of the crew of DUDE 44, an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran, is one of the most complex and dangerous combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations in modern warfare. Retired USAF Colonel and Special Operations pilot Buck Walker breaks down how it happened – from the shootdown to the high-risk mission that brought the crew home. This is how CSAR really works.

Get the full episode here: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list

10PCT EP86 P1 – Benji Prefontaine

Chapters

0:00 Intro Teaser – M1.3 Corner Speed, Avoiding the Merge, Low Level

3:00 Welcome, Benji

4:15 Subscriber Question (T-Stoff) – Super Étendard Carrier Ops

10:35 The Hardest Flying of His Career?

13:44 Route to the Air Force

16:15 Initial Flying & Training Curriculum

19:04 Early Impressions & Developing Mission Focus

23:48 Choosing a Platform & Mission

27:10 Explaining Career Choices

29:15 The Mirage 2000N Mission

31:32 Revisiting the Training Accident & Its Repercussions

36:14 Ready for That Conversation?

38:44 The Reward for That Risk

40:22 Alpha Jet

46:36 Air-to-Air Phase – How Formative?

49:18 Armée de l’Air Culture

56:00 Parents’ Opinions

57:37 Mirage F1CT – Introduction, Impressions & Capabilities

1:06:05 Electronic Warfare Suite

1:07:40 MATRA 530 – Fox 1 Capability

1:13:53 Were Export F1 Variants Better?

1:17:00 Diving Deeper into EW Capabilities

1:20:42 M1.3 Corner Speed – Avoiding the Merge at Low Level

1:23:34 “Cheating” in the F1?

1:26:10 DACT Opportunities

1:27:57 Taking on the Mirage 2000

1:30:48 Recce & Air-to-Ground Role

1:36:45 ELINT System Autonomy & Mission Planning

1:40:26 Datalink

1:41:50 Flying Qualities (and Vices) of the F1

1:46:04 Bird Strikes

1:48:20 Experience on the F1CT & Close Calls

1:50:58 Air-to-Air Refuelling – Tankers, Techniques & Night Ops

2:02:15 Geeking Out & Previewing the Next Episode

Cinco Hamilton | 10 Percent True | EP85Former USAF fighter pilot, F-35 test leader, and AI program director Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton joins the show to explain what artificial intelligence actually means for combat aviation. Drawing on his career flying the F-15C, standing up the MC-12 ISR platform, leading F-35 developmental test, and directing the Department of the Air Force–MIT AI Accelerator, Hamilton breaks down the difference between autonomy and AI, how machine learning is being tested in drones like the XQ-58 Valkyrie, and the ethical limits that should never be crossed. The conversation explores whether AI could ever control lethal weapons, how militaries test AI safely through millions of simulations, what AI could do inside aircraft like the F-35, and whether pilots risk becoming deskilled as automation increases. It’s a rare inside look at the future of autonomous combat systems from someone who helped build them0:00 Intro teaser – Drawing a Line 2:23 Welcome Cinco and Episode Outline 5:05 Quick Timeline Introduction 12:50 From Eagle to MC-12? 16:46 Outlining AI in Military Aviation and Defence 22:25 Thought Exercise Presentation 30:14 How Do You Ensure the AI Drone Doesn’t Hit the Bus? Should There Be Concern? 36:37 The Practicalities of Putting AI in the Driving Seat 40:22 How Nuanced Does AI Have to Be to Be “Good Enough”? 45:00 From Theory to Implementation 50:42 Can It Be That Simple? 53:22 Adversarial Developments and Excluding AI from Nuclear Decision-Making 1:01:00 AI Applications in the F-35 and Whether Loyal Wingman Is Possible Without AI 1:06:45 Deskilling of Operators 1:14:22 Audience Question (Nucks) 1:17:00 Audience Question (Matthew) 1:20:55 Audience Question (Biggles-Tintin) 1:23:20 Unlocking the Last 20% – Why Write It? 1:26:50 Balancing Risk in Test Flying and the Role of Faith 1:33:50 How to Get the Book 1:35:10 Thanks to Cinco (Plus the Callsign Story Bonus!)

10 Percent True Channel Update March 2026

Pinbag Shaw | 10 Percent True | EP83 Part 3In the final instalment of my conversation with Thomas “Pinbag” Shaw, we close out his Phantom career.From Cold War nuclear strike planning in Europe to flying large-force exercises at Nellis and combat-ready deployments in the Pacific, Pinbag walks us through the evolution of the F-4E and the realities of fighter operations in the late Cold War.We talk about weapons school culture, the arrival of systems like Pave Tack and ARN-101, Sparrow missile performance, Soviet encounters in the Pacific, and what it was really like operating the Phantom at the edge of the Cold War.And he finishes with one of the most striking stories in this entire interview series.0:00 Intro Story – Cultural Differences

3:23 Welcome Back, Pinbag

4:24 Follow-on Assignment from Korea – Hahn (Germany)

9:59 TISEO “Qualification”

11:26 AGM-65 – In-Theatre Limitations

12:46 European Theatre – Differences from PACAF & Culture

16:10 B-61 & B-57, SIOP, Hard Crewing

19:52 Certification – Related Stories

27:15 Victor Alert Targeting & “The French View” on West Germany

28:38 Local Traditions & Low Flying

31:00 TISEO in Operation

33:50 To Nellis (Not Moody?!)

38:03 The Place to Be – Red Flag, RDJTF, F-15 Integration & “The Box”

45:58 Radar – Follow-Up

47:30 The Eagles

49:40 Personal Development Journey

54:45 Back to PACAF – Clark (F-4 Fleet, Weapons, Equipment & 3rd TFS History)

1:06:00 PAVE TACK

1:08:10 WESEP / Combat Sage – ORU-1 Radar Upgrade & AIM-7 Developments

1:17:00 Weapons School Experience – Culture Shift, Academics vs Flying, Staying Out of “The Box”

1:28:10 The Aggressor Problem

1:31:00 Fisher vs Glosson – Culture of the Time

1:34:10 Focus on North Korea & Shadowing the Russian Navy

1:38:15 Changes After KAL 007 Shootdown

1:41:58 Post-Weapons School – Taegu as Weapons Officer (PAVE TACK & Range Betting)

1:51:06 ROK Maintenance & Marshall Enforcement – Intro Story

1:55:55 Evolution of the Rear Cockpit

2:09:00 Battle Damage & Oddities

2:11:05 Thank You, Pinbag

Get the full episode:

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Pinbag Shaw | 10 Percent True | EP83 Part 2

In Part Two of our conversation, Thomas “Pinbag” Shaw takes us operational.

From Korea to Germany, this is life in a Cold War Phantom squadron — where Victor Alert was real, nuclear strike planning was routine, and NATO air defence timelines were measured in minutes.

In this episode we discuss:

• What sitting nuclear Victor Alert actually meant

• How QRA posture worked in Europe and the Pacific

• Intercept geometry against Warsaw Pact aircraft

• NATO strike planning and readiness discipline

• The psychology of Cold War aircrew culture

• Transitioning from Phantom to the Strike Eagle era

This is Tactical Air Command at its most serious — a force built around the assumption that the next launch might not be an exercise.

If you enjoy long-form, technical conversations with the people who flew the jets, subscribe and join the conversation.

0:00 Intro teaser – North Korean MiG-21 intercept

3:52 Welcome back, Pinbag

4:28 The Nellis influence

9:28 Leaving MacDill – SERE school

20:28 Korea and PACAF disposition

27:15 36th Fighter Squadron

33:35 Introduction to Korea

38:00 Areas of responsibility, command structure, and settling in

44:20 Training, digesting the vault, and other in-theatre assets and threats

49:10 Equipment – F-4E variants

53:25 Radar presentation, trade-offs, and features (TISEO, Combat Tree, Pave Spike)

1:04:44 Turnover of airframes

1:06:02 Operation Paul Bunyan – the axe-handle murders and redeployment of assets (including GBU-15 / AGM-65) for possible engagement with a tree

1:11:35 One year later – the Army’s turn and the lost Chinook

1:15:38 North Korean Air Force and South Korean MiGs (and Beagle)

1:26:12 AN-2s and skunk boats

1:27:30 How a prospective war would have unfolded

1:32:05 North Koreans in Vietnam; Soviets and North Koreans flying with the Egyptians

1:34:24 GCI and bullseye intercepts

1:36:50 Integration, improvement, and the prospective order of battle

1:40:40 Evolution in war planning and the birth of Large Force Employment

1:46:30 Lakenheath leadership influence and differences from PACAF

1:54:40 Battles over the Taiwan Strait and ROKAF checkouts – similarities and rumours

1:57:30 Alert story – possible SA-2 site

2:01:12 Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Program (including intro teaser story) and alert scramble