Behind the Wings

How testing and simulations advance AI pilot agents from the lab to the field.

Welcome to part 1 of our 4-part bonus podcast miniseries on the making of Behind the Wings PBS Season 6! 

In this episode, Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy LaTourrette discuss behind-the-scenes stories while filming around the U.S. to learn more about AI in military aviation. Join us as we discuss the history of AI, the AI arms race, flying simulators, and being at the crossroads of ethics and speed. This one is going to be cool!

Check out the new season on PBS or our YouTube channel beginning November 7. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on!

Full Season Premiere Schedule:

PBS
Episode 1 - AI in Military Aviation: November 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m. MT
Episode 2 - Collaborative Combat Aircraft: November 7, 2024, 8:00 p.m. MT
Episode 3 - The Super Guppy: November 14, 2024, 7:30 p.m. MT
Episode 4 - Hypersonic Flight Testing: November 14, 2024, 8:00 p.m. MT
 

Wings' YouTube Channel

Episode 1 - AI in Military Aviation: November 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m. MT
Episode 2 - Collaborative Combat Aircraft: November 14, 2024, 7:30 p.m. MT
Episode 3 - The Super Guppy: November 21, 2024, 7:30 p.m. MT
Episode 4 - Hypersonic Flight Testing: November 28, 2024, 7:30 p.m. MT

We are excited to announce our special four-part miniseries featuring stories from the making of our newest Behind the Wings PBS season! Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy LaTourrette discuss AI in Military Aviation, Collaborative Combat Aircraft, The Super Guppy, and Hypersonic Flight Testing. Join us to hear inside tales you won't find anywhere else. This is going to be cool!

New episodes come out every Thursday, starting October 31. Also, check out the new season on PBS or at our YouTube channel beginning November 7. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on!

Our regular podcast episodes will take a mid-season break while these air and return on November 25.

EA-6B Pilot Matthew Maher and Electronic Countermeasures Officer Ethan Williams dive deep into the world of electronic warfare with a spotlight on the legendary EA-6B Prowler.

In this episode, our guests take us back into the cockpit, explore the complex jamming systems that helped protect air and ground crews, landing on a pitching aircraft carrier, and multi-aircraft missions. We also answer several audience questions about the Prowler. After all, we do this all for you! This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Our guests were inspired to join the Navy at a young age. Matthew grew up watching airshows and Space Shuttle launches and Ethan came from an Air Force family but decided to attend the Naval Academy.
• Landing on an aircraft carrier is tough, especially in the Prowler. Matthew discusses the challenges of both day and night traps.
• The Prowler was one of the loudest airplanes on the deck, requiring dual ear protection.
• Maintainers worked day and night on the Prowlers, even replacing entire engines so the EA-6B could fly missions the next day.
• Ethan discusses the process it took to detonate IEDs in the Middle East remotely and how the Prowler's role changed over time.
• Matthew and Ethan tell us about the differences between the Prowler and the Growler and why the Growler is ultimately a better aircraft.
• Matthew has flown more than 22 aircraft during his career, and even flew the exact Prowler displayed in our museum!

Resources:

• Behind the Wings EA-6B Video with Ethan Williams
• National Naval Aviation Museum
• Prowler Wiki
• Growler Wiki

STScI Education and Outreach Scientist Dr. Chris Britt discusses time traveling to the origins of the universe with The James Webb Space Telescope.

In this episode, Chris tells us about processing JWST's data into breathtaking images, groundbreaking discoveries, how stars are formed, black holes, and the telescope's future. This one is going to be cool!

This episode will follow up on our previous conversation about building the JWST, so if you missed that, check out episode 14!

Key Takeaways:

• Chris was first inspired to go into aerospace after seeing photos from the Hubble Space Telescope. Now, years later, he is a part of the team operating the Hubble!
• The Space Telescope Science Institute helps operate the Hubble, James Webb, and eventually the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
• STScI uses colors and filters in order to identify specific parts of JWST's photos like elements, matter, heat, and more.
• JWST will be able to see back 13.5 billion years, possibly unlocking the secrets of the universe's origins.
• Webb is researching our galaxy and planets as well as black holes, exoplanets, stars, etc.
• JWST will not be able to confirm if there is life on other planets, but it will tell us if a planet has the materials to support life.
• Webb will continue to work with the Hubble and someday the Roman Space Telescope, photographing the universe for years to come.

Resources:

• Space Telescope Science Institute Website 
• James Webb Space Telescope Website 
• Webb Telescope Latest News (NASA) 

Science communicator and influencer The Space Gal, a.k.a. Emily Calandrelli, discusses using art as a tool to encourage STEAM literacy.

In this episode, Emily tells us about her aerospace journey, exploding foam and making science fun as a host of educational programs, the opportunity to go to space, and how she uses children’s books and social media to inspire and educate future aerospace generations. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Emily's space journey began when she attended college to become an engineer. She pursued engineering out of necessity but quickly learned she actually loved it.
• After college, Emily got the opportunity to host Fox's Xploration Outer Space. This job jumpstarted her science communication career.
• Emily has appeared on many science TV shows, including Bill Nye Saves the World. She also had her own Netflix show, Emily's Wonder Lab.
• During the pandemic, Emily took to social media to continue her mission of promoting STEAM literacy and inspiring future aerospace generations.
• In 2010, Emily got the opportunity to fly onboard the "Vomit Comet." This parabolic flight flies along the line of a parabola up to a maximum of 31 times in a row. This creates weightlessness on board for up to 22 seconds each time, as if in space.
• Emily is excited to be a future Blue Origin passenger to space. She will be one of the first 100 women to reach sub-orbit.
• Emily has written several books, with the most popular one appearing on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Stay Curious and Keep Exploring: Next Level has 50 science experiments for little scientists of all ages. 

Resources:

• The Space Gal Website 
• Emily Calandrelli Wiki 
• Emily's Ted Talk 

Former NASA astronaut Tom Jones discusses installing the first laboratory module on the International Space Station. 

Welcome to Season 5 of the Behind the Wings podcast! In this episode, hear stories about flying the B-52, working as a NASA mission specialist on four Space Shuttle missions, life in space, and what it's like to go on a spacewalk. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Tom's love of aerospace started when he took a field trip to see two Titan space rockets. Since that moment, he knew he wanted to be an astronaut.
• Tom enrolled in the Air Force Academy and attended pilot training. There he was assigned as a pilot and commander for the B-52 Stratofortress.
• After earning his PhD and applying for the NASA astronaut program three times, he was finally accepted in 1990.
• As a mission specialist, Tom flew on four Space Shuttle missions, STS-59, 68, 80, and 98. He helped with several experiments and controlled the robotic arm.
• On STS-98, Tom embarked on three EVAs, or spacewalks, to install the Destiny module onto the ISS. This was the first ISS laboratory, enabling the USA to conduct in-depth experiments.
• Tom's newest book, Space Shuttle Stories, catalogs every Space Shuttle mission with stories from astronauts who flew on said missions.
• Tom tells listeners that life doesn't always make it easy to achieve your goals, but there are several paths to making it possible.

Resources:

• Tom Jones' Wiki Page 
• Tom Jones' NASA Bio 
• Destiny Module 
• Tom Jones' Website 

Season 5 of the Behind the Wings Podcast is back this September with 10 new episodes! Hear from astronaut Tom Jones, adventures from flying and operating the EA-6B Prowler, and from TV host and author Emily Calandrelli a.k.a. The Space Gal. We've got some incredible stories and guests coming up!

New episodes come out every other Monday, starting September 9. Subscribe wherever you listen, because we've got a lot to explore! Trust us, you don't want to miss it.

In the meantime, check out our past episodes! 

Learn more at WingsMuseum.org/podcast

Former F-18 and Blue Angels pilot, Scott Kartvedt, takes us behind the scenes of flying in Top Gun: Maverick.

In this episode hear behind-the-scenes stories of how some of the most realistic flying scenes are made. Scott tells us about his time in the Navy, flying as a Blue Angel and on the Patriots Jet team, and "dogfighting" with a helicopter while filming. This one is going to be cool!

Episode 40 marks the end of Season 4 of the Behind the Wings Podcast. We'll be taking a short break and will be back later this year for Season 5.

Key Takeaways:

• Scott's love of aviation started when he saw Blue Angels flying over his family's campsite. The original Top Gun also fueled his ambition to join the Navy.
• Scott started school as an accountant but later followed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot.
• In the Navy, Scott flew the F-18 as a fighter pilot and for the Blue Angels.
• All flying scenes in Maverick were performed and filmed in real time.
• Scott and his wingman Randy Howell flew as stunt pilots in L-39 jets for the final scene in Maverick. They were later edited over to match the fighters in the movie.
• While filming, Scott would often fly straight at the helicopter and pull away at the last second.
• Scott leaves us with encouraging advice to ask the question. If you don't ask, the answer is always no.

Resources:

• Scott Kartvedt's Website 

In 1996, astronaut Tom Henricks became the first Space Shuttle pilot/commander to log 1,000 hours in space.

Tom tells us about his time as an F-4 pilot and F-16 test pilot, astronaut training, flying four Space Shuttle missions including two as a commander, and the challenges of flying at Mach 25. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Tom's love of aviation started when he bought an airplane ride near his family's farm.
• Tom graduated number one in his weapons and test pilot school. 
• After applying four times, Tom was selected to be a NASA astronaut in 1985.
• Tom flew to space four times on missions STS-44, 55, 70, and 78. They ran experiments, deployed satellites, and did some early testing that later would help build the International Space Station.
• The Space Shuttle reenters the atmosphere at Mach 25, making it very complicated to land successfully. Tom landed the Shuttle on his last two missions.
• At the time, STS-78 was the longest space mission to date at 405 hours. Later that same year, STS-80 broke its record by 19 hours.
• Tom is excited about the future of Artemis and hopes someday he may even step on the Moon.

Resources:

• Tom Henricks NASA Bio 
• Tom Henricks Wiki Page 

From aggressor training to the F-15, the United States military addressed several shortcomings after the Vietnam War.

Today, we are excited to speak with a retired F-4 and F-15 fighter pilot, Colonel Dick Anderegg. In this episode, Dick tells us about his time in Vietnam, the mistakes the US air military made during the war, the lessons learned along the way, and the changes that sprung from them. There is a lot to learn in this episode!

Key Takeaways:

• Dick joined the Air Force to train to be a commercial airline pilot. He quickly caught the fighter bug and chose to fly the F-4 Phantom instead.
• Dick's book Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Decade After Vietnam talks about the major changes the United States military made after the Vietnam War.
• During the Vietnam War, the United States changed the F-4 training program in an effort to acquire more pilots.
• Dick tells about his first interaction with laser-guided bombs and how it changed air warfare.
• The Vietnam era is often attributed with inadequate pilot training. Trainings would leave out several exercises due to aircraft loss concerns. Veterans from the Vietnam War later changed some of the training shortfalls by creating exercises like the Red Flag program.
• The F-15 was a vast improvement from the F-4. Dick wrote in his book that "As soon as an F-4 pilot sat in the cockpit, he noticed its efficient design." 
• Regardless of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, Dick thinks there is a future for human fighter pilots.

Resources:

• Dick Anderegg Air Force Bio 
• Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Decade After Vietnam