Behind the Wings

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we explore the critical challenges pilots face while suffering from mental health issues and discuss possible individual and organizational solutions.

Our guests are United Airlines Pilot, Troy Merritt, and Neurologist and Aircrew Brain Health Researcher, Dr. William "Billy" Hoffman. Troy discusses his personal experience of grounding himself due to mental health issues and explains the pilot mental health paradox. Dr. Hoffman draws on his research and medical experience with mental health in aviation to help us understand the efforts being made by researchers and the broader aviation community to bridge the gap for pilots and the industry as a whole. There is a lot to learn in this episode!

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots have two options; disclose their mental health issues to the FAA and become grounded or keep them secret and continue flying while untreated. Many pilots will face this paradox at some point in their flying career.
• Troy suffered from anxiety and depression and chose to ground himself in 2022. He found a doctor who prescribed SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and is already on the application pathway to fly again.
• Special Issuances are given to pilots who are approved to fly, despite their current health problems.
• Troy encourages all who are suffering from mental illness to seek treatment. Even talking to a therapist as a "life coach" is a great first step that doesn't alert the FAA.
• Billy continues to research with pilots and participate in conversations on how to better approach mental health problems in aviation.
• This paradox isn't limited to mental health. Many pilots also keep physical ailments to themselves or seek treatment without alerting the FAA.
• The FAA has set up a mental health rules committee to research and possibly change some regulations.

Resources:

• Pilots say they're afraid to seek mental health care. The FAA says it's listening - NPR 
• The Pilot’s Pandemic Podcast 
• Pilots hide mental health issues so they don’t ‘lose their wings’ - Washington Post 

Explore the evolution of cabin safety and learn how it could save your life.

Today, we are excited to talk with retired Cabin Safety Specialist, and Wings Over the Rockies Volunteer, Denisekaren "DK" Deaderick. DK has been in this field for over 40 years and was the first Black woman to hold the position of FAA Cabin Safety Inspector. In this episode, we learn what exactly cabin safety is, how it has changed alongside advancements in technology, and how new regulations and rules are shaping the industry today. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• DK got her start in aviation as a flight attendant for North Central Airlines.
• Throughout her career, she has written a flight attendant manual, had multiple programs approved by the FAA, and even has her own rule enforced by the FAA that allows passengers to bring portable oxygen concentrators onboard.
• Cabin safety personnel support the operation of the aircraft by monitoring cabin hazards and risks.
• DK encourages all passengers to read every safety card as each airplane model has different emergency procedures.
• Despite the technical errors that Boeing aircraft have been facing, DK believes that they are working hard to fix the problems. In general, commercial airplanes are still the safest form of travel.
• Commercial space travel is right around the corner, and with it, a whole new set of cabin safety rules and regulations. DK hopes there is a future for flight attendants onboard space flights.
• Cabin safety jobs will always be relevant and necessary, and DK encourages listeners to pursue a career in this field.

Resources:

• DK’s Website 
• FAA Cabin Safety Website 
• IATA Cabin Safety Website 

Today, in celebration of National Volunteer Month, we are excited to speak with Wings Over the Rockies volunteer, Phil Mentesana.
 
Phil shares personal stories about his time as an Electronic Warfare Officer on the B-52, flying the F-4 in Vietnam, and his time as a captain for United Airlines. He has many firsts in his career including being a part of the first B-52 missions to engage in combat during Operation Arc Light in Vietnam, leading Operation Linebacker I in the F-4, and so much more. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Phil wanted to be a pilot but elected to go to Navigation training first, earning a spot as an Electronic Warfare Officer onboard the B-52 Stratofortress.
• While stationed on the B-52, he was a part of the first B-52 combat missions in Vietnam, flying in Operation Arc Light. On the first mission, two B-52s collided in the middle of a storm when trying to refuel.
• Phil finally got his chance to fly when he was reaching the age limit for pilot training. After training, his fighter pick was the F-4 Phantom.
• Phil went back to combat in Vietnam, this time flying the F-4. While there, he led the F-4 squadrons in Operation Linebacker I and had 14 SAMs shot at him in less than 15 minutes.
• After he retired from the Air Force, he went on to pilot for United Airlines. He flew every plane model they had at the time.
• Phil came to volunteer at Wings Over the Rockies to give back to the aviation career that treated him so well.

Resources:

• Operation Linebacker 
• Operation Arc Light 

A first-of-its-kind virtual reality spacewalk experience. 

Space Explorers: THE INFINITE is a captivating immersive journey inspired by NASA missions aboard the International Space Station. Join us as we hear from creator Félix Lajeunesse who tells us how THE INFINITE project got started, how they filmed and created this experience, working with astronauts, and the unique challenges they faced making virtual reality content on the International Space Station. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• THE INFINITE experience gives audiences breathtaking 360-degree views of Earth, displays scenes from life aboard the ISS, and allows guests to perform their very own spacewalk, all through virtual reality technology.
• This project is the first virtual reality experience filmed in space onboard the ISS.
• THE INFINITE faced many challenges while filming, needing to consider camera temperatures, radiation, and so much more.
• In this experience, you can interact with astronauts who helped film such as spacewalking, experimenting, and even having dinner.
• The Overview Effect is a common experience among astronauts when traveling to space. The term, first coined by author Frank White, describes a cognitive shift commonly experienced when someone sees the Earth from space for the first time. People often describe feeling a sense of one-ness, that the Earth is precious, and sheer awe in the Earth’s beauty, all of which can be experienced in THE INFINITE.
• Félix Lajeunesse aims to continue filming with NASA to document and create more experiences on the Moon and beyond.
• You can visit Space Explorers: THE INFINITE in Denver until May 5th, 2024!

Resources:

• Félix Lajeunesse: What it’s like to film VR on the ISS 
• ‘The Infinite’ Virtual Reality Exhibit Offers a Taste of Life in Outer Space 
• THE INFINITE Experience Denver 

In celebration of Women's History Month, dive into the story of the first female Air Force pilots and their roles during World War II.

Today's episode tells us about the lives and history of The Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. The WASP helped the United States domestic war effort by ferrying aircraft, towing targets for live anti-aircraft gun practice, simulating strafing missions, transporting cargo, and so much more. Plus, hear a special story about the first two women to fly the B-29 Superfortress. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Pilot Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran and test-pilot Nancy Harkness Love wanted to help the war effort in the United States and worked with the military to start the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). Eventually, both programs were merged to form the WASP.
• Even with strict requirements to enter the WASP, more than 25,000 women applied, 1,830 were accepted, and 1,074 graduated.
• The WASP trained in Sweetwater, TX at Avenger Field where they stayed on base in the barracks and trained most days.
• Two WASP, Dorthea Johnson and Dora Dougherty, were chosen by General Hap Arnold to fly the newly arrived B-29 Superfortress in a demonstration for future male pilots. The male pilots didn't want to fly this airplane due to engine concerns, and the WASP was meant to show that "if a woman can do it, so can a man." They flew the B-29 successfully several times.
• In 1944, the WASP were shut down to make room for men returning from war who needed the jobs.
• Years later, in the 1970s, the Women Airforce Service Pilots were finally given military and veteran status, officially cementing their history.

Resources:

• Women Fly the B-29: PBS 
• Women Airforce Service Pilots Wiki 
• Deanie Parish WASP Speech
• The WASP of World War 2: Radio Diaries
• V. Scott Gough Collection: Library of Congress 
• Margaret Ray Ringenberg Collection: Library of Congress
• Nell S. Bright Collection: Library of Congress

Fly to all fifty states in this in-depth conversation about a record-breaking flight and airplane.

Today, we are excited to speak with world-record-holding pilot, Michael Combs. Michael tells us about his death-defying moment, his record-breaking flight to all fifty states, and why you should never give up on your dreams. We will also hear about his light sport aircraft, Hope One, which is living out retirement in Wings Museum. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• In 2003, Michael had a life-threatening health problem that caused him to temporarily die and lose most of his memory.
• Michael knew he wanted to be a pilot since he was a kid, and while healing in the hospital, that goal kept him going.
• The Flight for the Human Spirit was a project meant to inspire people by showing that the impossible is possible and that you are never too old to start chasing your dreams.
• Michael's goal was to fly his Remos GX light sport aircraft, Hope One, to all fifty states, something that had never been done before. He completed his goal in Hawaii when he got to fly in an air show with the Blue Angels, the Red Bull stunt plane, and Jacquie B Airshows.
• After his flight, Michael was still making headlines by breaking even more records with Hope One.
• Hope One is now retired and living in Wings Over the Rockies' hangar. The cockpit is left in the same condition as when Michael flew it for the last time.

Resources:

• The Story Behind the Flight for the Human Spirit 
• Hope One Arrives In Denver 

The first Black astronaut candidate talks about his experiences with the astronaut program in this in-depth conversation about his pioneering space journey.

Welcome to Season 4 of Behind the Wings, which means 10 new episodes coming your way! It’s February, and in celebration of Black History Month, we are excited to speak with the first Black astronaut candidate, Ed Dwight Jr. In 1961, just 3 years after NASA started, our guest was making waves as a test pilot in aviation and training to be one of the first astronauts. Ed talks about his incredible journey, his time in the Air Force and the space program, and how, in an instant, the dream of space flight was taken away. 

Ed’s resume reads: Air Force Test Pilot, America’s First Black Astronaut Candidate, IBM Computer Systems Engineer, Aviation Consultant, Restaurateur, Real Estate Developer, Construction Entrepreneur, and Sculpture Artist. There's a lot to learn in this episode!

Key Takeaways:

• Ed first got into flying as a kid when pilots at the nearby airport in Kansas paid him to help clean their aircraft.
• Dwight signed up for the Air Force after seeing a newspaper featuring a Black fighter pilot on the cover.
• To earn Black voter's trust, Kennedy promised to get a Black candidate into the astronaut program.
• After quickly rising through the ranks in the Air Force, Dwight was the only Black pilot to meet the strict requirements to become an astronaut.
• Ed trained with 16 others in the astronaut program headed by Chuck Yeager.
• After Kennedy's assassination, it was clear that Ed was being ousted from his astronaut training. He resigned from the Air Force shortly after.
• His time in the Air Force didn't discourage him. He went on to become a very successful sculpture artist, creating memorials and art representing the accomplishments and history of Black people in America.

Resources:

• Ed Dwight’s Website 
• Ed Dwight’s Wiki 
• The Almost Moon Man – New York Times 
• I Was Poised to be the First Black Astronaut. I Never Made it to Space. | 'Almost Famous' by Op-Docs – New York Times 
• Ed Dwight Jr. Was Set to Become America’s First Black Astronaut - YouTube 

The Behind the Wings Podcast is back this February with Season 4 and 10 new episodes! Hear from Ed Dwight Jr, the first Black astronaut candidate, world record holder Michael Combs, and dive into topics like The Mental Health Pilot Parodox and the history of The Women Airfare Service Pilots (WASP).

New episodes come out every other Monday, starting February 19th. Subscribe wherever you listen, because we've got a lot to explore!

You can find the Behind the Wings podcast wherever you listen. For past episodes and show notes visit: WingsMuseum.org/podcast.

An American MiG-23 pilot reveals long-held secrets in this in-depth conversation about a declassified program, Constant Peg.

On today's show, we’ll meet John Mann who flew in the first-of-its-kind adversary training program, Constant Peg, and take a deep dive into some of the most popular questions we got from you, our listeners. Established in 1977, this top-secret program aimed to train American pilots against the very same MiGs they may one day see in combat. Mann was an instructor who flew the MiG-21 and 23, and co-host John Barry flew in the program as a trainee. This one is going to be cool!

If you missed Part One, check that out on Wings Over the Rockies YouTube channel: America's Secret MiG-23s | Behind the Wings - YouTube.

Episode 30 marks the end of Season 3 of the Behind the Wings Podcast. We'll be taking a short break and will be back in the new year for Season 4.

Key Takeaways:

• John Mann served 24 years in the US Air Force where he had the opportunity to fly many aircraft, including the F-4, F-15, MiG-21, and MiG-23.
• Mann first flew as a trainee at Constant Peg and later flew the MiGs as a trainer.
• The MiG-23 was a very fast, beefy airplane, but it didn't turn well.
• Pilots would attend to overcome "Buck Fever", learn how the MiGs flew, and practice dog fighting.
• The maintainers at Constant Peg were the backbone of the program, facing specific challenges sourcing parts, with no maintenance book, and often receiving aircraft that were in a compromised condition.
• John Mann's advice: There are lots of opportunities in aviation. Go pursue your dreams!

Resources:

• Red Eagles: America’s Secret MiGs by Steve Davies
• CONSTANT PEG: Secret MiGs in the Desert > National Museum of the United States Air Force™ > Display (af.mil)
• Red Eagle Brief
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MLD "Flogger" | Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (wingsmuseum.org)
• Dark Eagles: a history of top secret U.S. aircraft programs
• AF Declassifies Elite Aggressor Program (archive.org)

This episode will dive into the history of some of the world’s first astronomers, exploring how their knowledge has been passed down for more than 60,000 years. We are going to the southern hemisphere to learn about Australia’s Indigenous astronomy and the impact it has on our world today.

Our guest today is Peter Swanton! Peter is a Gamilaraay man from Mackay, Queensland, an astrophysics graduate, and cultural astronomer. He is actively involved in Indigenous astronomy, outreach, and research, and has a passion for the challenging yet critical subject of dark sky preservation. Peter will highlight the scientific importance of Indigenous star knowledge and the challenges and opportunities in preserving that history.

Join us as we hear the stories of Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, why constellations and star clusters are so impactful, and how issues like light pollution threaten the very field of astronomy itself. There is a lot to learn in this episode!

Key Takeaways:

• The Indigenous Peoples of Australia didn’t have a written language, they were only able to pass along information via spoken word, song, dance, and stories. There are an estimated 273 different language groups across Australia. 
• While not all stars can be viewed from both hemispheres, all the zodiac constellations are viewable from either. Although, they will be upside down depending on which hemisphere you are familiar with.
• The Emu in the Sky is a popular example of how astronomy was used practically by the Indigenous Peoples. Depending on what direction the Emu was facing, it helped give insight towards Emu life patterns. 
• Creation stories are stories that are passed down that talk about the physical existence as well as store important information. A popular story about Australia’s constellation the Southern Cross tells the story of the first person to die on Earth. 
• A songline is one of many paths across the land (or sometimes the sky). Embedded within traditional song cycles, dance rituals, stories, and artistic expressions, these pathways enable individuals to traverse vast distances while reciting the songs that describe landmarks, water sources, natural features, and sometimes stars and constellations. These routes serve as crucial connections between Native group ancestral lands, carrying intricate geographical, mythological, and cultural information giving directions on how to travel across Australia to visit other Indigenous groups. 
• Light pollution is quickly starting to impact our dark skies. Due to light from cities and satellites, it is harder than ever before to see the stars and galaxies with the naked eye. Light pollution is not only affecting dark sky preservation, but is also adversely affecting our vision, bird migration patterns, and newborn sea turtles.
• Peter's message to younger generations is to pursue what makes you happy.

Resources:

• Aboriginal Astronomy
• Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters | National Museum of Australia (nma.gov.au)
• Songlines: The art of navigating the Indigenous world - Australian National Maritime Museum (sea.museum)
• Australia's First Astronomers