Go inside Constant Peg, the once-secret Cold War program that gave American fighter pilots the rare opportunity to train against real Soviet MiG aircraft.In this special bonus episode, get a full-length lecture from former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot John Mann. A veteran of the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and Operation Desert Storm, Mann flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s with the Red Eagles during Constant Peg. He shares an extraordinary firsthand account of the aircraft, people and training program that transformed American air combat preparation.What you'll hear:<ul><li>Lessons from Vietnam: Why the U.S. Air Force reexamined its aircraft, weapons and fighter training</li><li>The origins of Constant Peg: How real Soviet aircraft became part of a highly classified adversary program</li><li>Meeting the MiGs: Mann’s first encounter with MiG-17 and MiG-21 aircraft during training</li><li>Flying the MiG-21: Its impressive turning ability, unforgiving handling and unconventional cockpit systems</li><li>Inside the MiG-23: Tremendous speed, variable-sweep wings and dangerous flight characteristics</li><li>Training against the real threat: How Constant Peg taught American pilots to recognize and counter Soviet aircraft</li><li>The maintenance heroes: How crews kept unfamiliar MiGs flying without factory support, technical manuals or standard replacement parts</li><li>Risk and secrecy: The strict security rules, hazardous test flights and sacrifices behind the Red Eagles program</li><li>Preparing for Desert Storm: How realistic adversary training helped give American aircrews a decisive advantage</li><li>See the aircraft: Learn more about the MiG-23 on display at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum</li></ul>Learn More:<ul><li><a href="https://wingsmuseum.org/visit/locations/air-space-museum/">Visit</a> Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum to see the MiG-23</li><li><a href="https://wingsmuseum.org/donate">Donate</a> to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum</li><li>Subscribe and leave a review to support the show</li></ul>This episode is supported in part by United Airlines.

Go inside Constant Peg, the once-secret Cold War program that gave American fighter pilots the rare opportunity to train against real Soviet MiG aircraft. In this special bonus episode, get a full-length lecture from former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot John Mann. A veteran of the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and Operation Desert Storm, Mann flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s with the Red Eagles during Constant Peg. He shares an extraordinary firsthand account of the aircraft, people and training program that transformed American air combat preparation. What you'll hear:Lessons from Vietnam: Why the U.S. Air Force reexamined its aircraft, weapons and fighter trainingThe origins of Constant Peg: How real Soviet aircraft became part of a highly classified adversary programMeeting the MiGs: Mann’s first encounter with MiG-17 and MiG-21 aircraft during trainingFlying the MiG-21: Its impressive turning ability, unforgiving handling and unconventional cockpit systemsInside the MiG-23: Tremendous speed, variable-sweep wings and dangerous flight characteristicsTraining against the real threat: How Constant Peg taught American pilots to recognize and counter Soviet aircraftThe maintenance heroes: How crews kept unfamiliar MiGs flying without factory support, technical manuals or standard replacement partsRisk and secrecy: The strict security rules, hazardous test flights and sacrifices behind the Red Eagles programPreparing for Desert Storm: How realistic adversary training helped give American aircrews a decisive advantageSee the aircraft: Learn more about the MiG-23 on display at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space MuseumLearn More:Visit Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum to see the MiG-23Donate to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space MuseumSubscribe and leave a review to support the showThis episode is supported in part by United Airlines.

Go inside Constant Peg, the once-secret Cold War program that gave American fighter pilots the rare opportunity to train against real Soviet MiG aircraft.In this special bonus episode, get a full-length lecture from former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot John Mann. A veteran of the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and Operation Desert Storm, Mann flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s with the Red Eagles during Constant Peg. He shares an extraordinary firsthand account of the aircraft, people and training program that transformed American air combat preparation.What you'll hear:<ul><li>Lessons from Vietnam: Why the U.S. Air Force reexamined its aircraft, weapons and fighter training</li><li>The origins of Constant Peg: How real Soviet aircraft became part of a highly classified adversary program</li><li>Meeting the MiGs: Mann’s first encounter with MiG-17 and MiG-21 aircraft during training</li><li>Flying the MiG-21: Its impressive turning ability, unforgiving handling and unconventional cockpit systems</li><li>Inside the MiG-23: Tremendous speed, variable-sweep wings and dangerous flight characteristics</li><li>Training against the real threat: How Constant Peg taught American pilots to recognize and counter Soviet aircraft</li><li>The maintenance heroes: How crews kept unfamiliar MiGs flying without factory support, technical manuals or standard replacement parts</li><li>Risk and secrecy: The strict security rules, hazardous test flights and sacrifices behind the Red Eagles program</li><li>Preparing for Desert Storm: How realistic adversary training helped give American aircrews a decisive advantage</li><li>See the aircraft: Learn more about the MiG-23 on display at Wings Over the Rockies Air &amp; Space Museum</li></ul>Learn More:<ul><li><a href="https://wingsmuseum.org/visit/locations/air-space-museum/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Visit</a> Wings Over the Rockies Air &amp; Space Museum to see the MiG-23</li><li><a href="https://wingsmuseum.org/donate" rel="noopener noreferrer">Donate</a> to Wings Over the Rockies Air &amp; Space Museum</li><li>Subscribe and leave a review to support the show</li></ul>This episode is supported in part by United Airlines.

Declassified: America's MiG Squadron - Bonus Episode

Calling all aviation lovers, space nerds, history buffs, and futurists – Behind the Wings® is now also a podcast! Published every other Monday.

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Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum has a podcast! Based on our hit YouTube and PBS series of the same name, the Behind the Wings podcast will cover everything from aviation history to the future of space exploration with thought leaders and experts in the industry. This one's going to be cool!

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Wings Over the Rockies Air &amp; Space Museum has a podcast! Based on our hit YouTube and PBS series of the same name, the Behind the Wings podcast will cover everything from aviation history to the future of space exploration with thought leaders and experts in the industry. This one's going to be cool!

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