Behind the Wings

This episode will dive into the story of Tracy "JackieO" LaTourrette, Colorado’s first lady fighter pilot. LaTourrette graduated from the United States Air Force Academy before women were even authorized to fly combat aircraft. After working in the back of an AWACS airfract, she moved to a window seat, becoming one of the first female fighter pilots in the Air Force and flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon, earning numerous accolades for her skill and leadership.

LaTourrette flew direct Presidential protection missions and in a classified location for Operation Iraqi Freedom. "JackieO" is known for breaking barriers, from the sound barrier to beyond. This one’s going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Tracy LaTourrette retired after 22 years while serving as the Deputy Director of Operations at the Colorado National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters. 
• Tracy flew F-16s. She has over 3,300 combined flying hours as a pilot and AWACS Air Weapons director. Her call sign is "JackieO".
• Post 9-11 “JackieO” flew direct Presidential protection missions and flew in a classified location for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Tracy is a highly sought-after international speaker and executive consultant for Fortune 100 companies, associations and more. Her interactive workshops and executive consulting are second to none. 
• Tracy is a married mother of three and grew up in Evergreen, CO. Her husband is also an F-16 pilot.
• Tracy will be the host of a Behind the Wings PBS episode all about the F-35. 

Resources:

• Tracy's Website
• Women’s History Month: Academy grad chooses barriers ‘important enough to break’ (USAFA)

Gain insight into the newest branch of the U.S. military- the Space Force.

In this episode, we explore the creation and operations of the Space Force, the newest branch of the United States military. From its roots as a small office within the Air Force to its current status as a fully-fledged branch, we delve into the challenges and successes of the Space Force as it works to defend and protect American interests in space.

Our guest, Colonel Marcus Jackson, is the Commander of Space Base Delta 2, headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. As commander, he leads an 857-member team providing Base Operating Support to more than 757 military, Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel serving at 14 operating locations world-wide, executing critical United States Space Force Missile Warning and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions. In addition, SBD2 hosts 6 wings (or equivalents) and 92 tenant organizations as well as supporting over 14,000 base personnel and a 98,000-retiree population.

This is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Established as a new branch of the United States Armed Forces: The US Space Force is a newly established branch of the US Armed Forces that was created in December 2019. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force and is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping military personnel to conduct space operations.
• Focuses on space operations: The primary focus of the US Space Force is on space operations, including satellite communications, missile warning, and other activities that take place in space. The Space Force also aims to protect US space assets from potential threats, including those from other countries.
• Supports the civilian space industry: The US Space Force also supports the civilian space industry by providing satellite launch and other services. It also collaborates with other agencies such as NASA to advance space exploration and research.
• Emphasizes technology and innovation: The Space Force places a strong emphasis on technology and innovation to improve its capabilities and stay ahead of potential threats. This includes investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space-based sensors.
• Relies on partnerships and collaboration: The US Space Force works closely with other branches of the US military as well as with international partners to achieve its goals. It also collaborates with the private sector and academia to develop new technologies and capabilities.

Resources:

• www.spaceforce.mil 
• https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11495 
• https://www.axios.com/2021/12/05/us-space-force-china-threat 
• https://www.axios.com/2020/12/18/astronaut-mike-hopkins-space-force 
• https://www.axios.com/2021/02/03/biden-keeps-space-force

Explore the topic of pilot pathways – how people navigate the path to becoming a pilot.

Our guests are Erika Armstrong and Val Blome. We will dive into Erika’s personal journey as outlined in her memoir “A Chick in the Cockpit”, where she shares her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the aviation industry, including the challenges and joys of flying, the grueling training process, and the personal sacrifices necessary to succeed. Val Blome will also share her personal journey to becoming a pilot and provide insights into the larger trends she sees people encounter on their journey to becoming a pilot.

This is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Erika Armstrong, author of "A Chick in the Cockpit: My Life Up in the Air" shares her experiences in the cockpit, and her pursuit of a career in aviation, ultimately as a commercial pilot for a major airline.
• A good first step to get involved in a local, or online aviation community.
• You can get a job in the aviation industry as flight support to learn more about what it's like to be a pilot and make connections.
• Like any challenge, there will be hard days, but don't give up!
• Getting a pilot's license is expensive but consider it an investment. Commercial pilot salaries are relatively high.
• To save money you can take online ground school and do independent study.

Resources:

• A Chick in the Cockpit - Aviation, Pilot, Aviation Consultant 
• Valerie Blome | LinkedIn 
• Pilot Pathway - Wings Over The Rockies (wingsmuseum.org) 
• Free Young Eagles Flights | EAA

Meet the unlikely cast of characters who came together to reunite Col. James Randall with a piece of his past.

We will get into many topics today all connecting back to one long-lost helmet belonging to an F-105 pilot who went down during the Vietnam War. The helmet belonged to Retired Col. James Randall. Col. Randall was a proud member of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were some of the first Black aviators in the US military and helped to desegregate the US armed forces in 1948. They proved themselves as elite aviators with an impressive combat record and war accomplishments.

Col. Randall served 36 years in the U.S. Air Force, both on active duty and in the Reserves. Randall joined the Army Air Corps in 1945, flew 75 combat missions in the Korean War, and 44 in the Vietnam war. Col. Randall was a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart. His career as a fighter pilot, and his story is nothing short of remarkable.

Our guests include Essie Randall, Roberta Rollins, Gary "Paco" Gregg, and Chuck Stout. There is a lot going on this episode, so stick with us because this one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Col. Randall joined the Army Air Corps in 1945 and after completing basic training, Randall was assigned to Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama
• The Tuskegee Airmen were some of the first Black aviators in the US military and helped desegregate the US armed forces in 1948.
• The Tuskegee Airmen proved themselves as elite aviators with an impressive combat record and war accomplishments.
• In 1963, on September 14th, the Randalls, along with 13 other African American families assigned to Shaw, took a stand against school segregation in their district. They filed a federal suit nine years after the landmark Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education. These brave families came to be known as the 'Shaw 14.'
• Col. Randall was commissioned as an officer in 1950, was a flight instructor, and flew 75 combat missions in the Korean War, flying F-51s, and then in Vietnam he flew an additional 44 missions, before being shot down in an F-105 over North Vietnam, where he was able to eject, and was rescued by a helicopter.
• Col. Randall's helmet was lost when he ejected, and he didn't see the helmet again for nearly 50 years.
• Dominique Eluere found Col. Randall's helmet at a flea market in Cambodia.
• Gary "Paco" Gregg, working with Dominique, helped reconnect the helmet to Col. Randall in 2013.
• After receiving the helmet at a Tuskegee Conference, Col. Randall said the most important thing to come out of this story was the friendship.

Resources:

• Tale of Colorado Springs Vietnam war vet's lost helmet spans globe, decades | News | gazette.com 
• Helmet returned to Air Force pilot shot down in Vietnam | FOX 2 (fox2now.com) 
• Veteran reunited with his helmet nearly 50 years later (kktv.com)
• James Randall > Veterans in Blue > Veterans_Library (af.mil)
• Legacy of the “Shaw 14” and the civil rights movement > U.S. Army Central > News | U.S. Army Central

There’s space for everybody.” But we know little about how differently-abled people will respond to low-gravity environments and the unique challenges that can arise in human space flight.

Mission: Astro Access - a crew of disabled scientists, aerospace professionals and artists based in America - is planning its second mission to explore how different people navigate space travel. What challenges arise, and surprisingly, what advantages might different abilities have?

Our guests today are Eric Ingram and Lindsay Yazzolino. Eric, a wheelchair user, and Lindsay who is blind are two of the crew members who set out to find answers to these questions on board Mission: Astro Access's parabolic flights where they experienced zero gravity, and gravity-simulating the moon and Mars.

On the mission, the ambassadors will explore questions like: How would you navigate if the lights went out on your spacecraft? How would you communicate if it's too loud to hear?

The experiments on Astro Access will benefit all future explorers, as the learnings are passed onto players in the space industry, making spacecraft and space stations safer, easier to navigate and adaptable to the diversity of humans who will one day visit, live and work in space.

Key Takeaways:

• Mission Astro Access is a project dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in space exploration by paving the way for disabled astronauts in science, technology, engineering and math. In turn, they are making space accessible for everyone.
• Astro Access completed its second mission in November of 2022, where they launched disabled scientists, veterans, students, athletes and artists on parabolic flights. They conducted experiments in weightlessness, lunar gravity, martian gravity and zero gravity. 
• Eric Ingram is the founder and CEO of SCOUT Inc. a smart satellite components company. He uses a wheelchair and flew on Astro Access 1 and 2.
• Lindsay Yazzolino is a totally blind nonvisual designer who currently works as a user experience designer at CVs Health. Linday flew on Astro Access 2.
• NASA is sending astronauts back to the moon and commercial space flight is growing. We are well past the age where only military fighter pilots are becoming astronauts. It is only a matter of time until space flight is a part of human civilization says Eric.
• Lindsey's experiment on Mission 2 involved designing and testing tactile decals for the inside of the aircraft. The main decal is a tactile V to help people orient themselves non-visually. Other decals included tactile symbols for oxygen masks and other emergency equipment.
• Eric describes microgravity as alien. You don't have the buoyancy of water holding you up. You don't have air rushing by your face as if you were jumping out of a plane.
• Lindsay recalls martian gravity as feeling as if the plane was moving around her.
• All Astro Access experiments lead to solutions that are applicable for and can benefit all human space flight. If lights go out on a spacecraft, you will need a way to navigate. If you get injured or grow old in space, you will need ways to adapt to that new physical reality.
• The conversation of accessibility in space is well underway due to Astro Access' initiatives and the support of several commercial space flight companies. 

Resources:

• Astro Access on Radio Lab! The Right Stuff (radiolab.org)  
• NASA on Astro Access: NSF Live: AstroAccess - Advancing Disability Inclusion in Space Exploration - YouTube 
• Astro Access on BBC: Access All: Disability news and talk: 'It was magical' - the first disabled crew to fly in zero-gravity on Apple Podcasts 
• Astro Access Website Ambassadors2 - AstroAccess 
• The Verge: The mission to break barriers to space travel for people with disabilities
• NYT on Astro Access https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/science/astronauts-disabilities-astroaccess.html 

In this episode of Behind the Wings, we are talking about the James Webb Space Telescope! A next generation deep-space telescope that NASA launched in December 2021. It’s the most powerful telescope ever built, with the ability to see further and clearer into space than any previous telescope. It’s advanced design, sensors, and technology will allow it to time travel to some of the first galaxies that formed, learn about exoplanets that could be capable of supporting life.

We are joined by Lee Feinberg, the Optical Telescope Element Manager for the James Webb Space Telescope. Lee shares with us the fascinating story of how he became involved with the project and the challenges he and his team faced in developing the telescope. He discusses the cutting-edge technology being used in the construction of the James Webb Space Telescope and the groundbreaking science it will enable us to explore. Tune in to learn more about this exciting project and the impact it will have on our understanding of the universe.

There is a LOT to explore with this one, and the scientific research is only really just getting started. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• One of the main design challenges for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was creating a large, lightweight mirror that could withstand the extreme temperatures of space.
• Another significant challenge was developing a sunshield to block out heat from the sun and allow the telescope to operate at the extremely low temperatures necessary for its infrared observations.
• The JWST's primary mirror is made up of 18 hexagonal mirror segments that work together to provide a large field of view.
• The sunshield is made of five layers of a special material called Kapton, which is able to withstand extreme temperatures and protect the telescope's instruments.
• The JWST's deployment used a robotic arm to unfold the sunshield and the primary mirror. The deployment went so smoothly that JWST has extra fuel that could expand its lifespan.
• The telescope's instruments include a camera, a spectrograph, and a coronagraph, all of which are designed to study the infrared light from distant objects.
• The JWST has been designed to study a wide range of astronomical phenomena, including the formation of stars and planets, the evolution of galaxies, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
• The JWST's discoveries include the first direct images of exoplanets, the study of the formation of the first galaxies, and the search for biosignatures on exoplanets.
• The JWST's advanced capabilities will provide new insights into the origins of life and the evolution of the universe.
• The JWST launched on Dec 25, 2021 and is be operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.

Resources:

• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope website (https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/) is a comprehensive resource for information on the telescope, including its mission, science goals, and current status. 
• The European Space Agency's James Webb Space Telescope webpage (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/James_Webb_Space_Telescope) provides information on the telescope's history, development, and scientific capabilities. 
• The Space Telescope Science Institute's James Webb Space Telescope page (https://www.stsci.edu/jwst) contains resources for scientists interested in using the telescope, including information on proposal submission and data access. 
• The James Webb Space Telescope's official Twitter account 
• The James Webb Space Telescope's Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope) provides a summary of the telescope's history, development, and capabilities. It also includes links to additional resources and references. 

Today, we are going deeper with a company called MissionGo who is using drones to do a variety of things from infrastructure inspections to medical and commercial cargo. Our guests are MissionGo President Chris Corgnati and Director of Flight Operations Ryan Henderson.

Last time on episode 4 we discussed drone soccer, and the regulatory challenges that this quickly growing industry faces as it takes on autonomous flight, air taxi services and more, so if you want a great introduction on drones go check that out.

Infrastructure inspections are certainly important, and I know a lot of companies are out there doing that and it is where many of them are able to make money today, but I’m really excited about the medical applications. In April 2019, MissionGo did the first-ever drone delivery of an organ transplant, and since then they have delivered everything from pizza, to blood, and life-saving medication.

We should probably say the pizza and organs are separate delivery packages right, but in all seriousness, this is such a cool and important use case that I think we’re going to see more and more.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Joe Scalea, a MissionGo cofounder and renowned transplant surgeon, conceived the idea to use drones for organ and medical transplant resulting in the first successful organ transplant in 2019, and the founding of MissionGo.
• Why Drones? Drones are best for dull, dangerous, or dirty work. They also reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution when compared to larger, combustion engine aircraft.
• MGV-100 is MissionGo's flagship single rotor drone. The design lends itself to stability and reliability, which are critical for the sensitive medical loads that MissionGo transports.
• The battery architecture provides redundancy in the case if one of the motors or batteries fails in-flight.
• It is usually safer and more efficient to fly the drones autonomously, rather than manually.
• Infrastructure surveying is currently how companies, including MissionGo, are able to generate the majority of their revenue while they work on other delivery programs that have yet to reach their full-scale potential.
• MissionGo completed the First successful organ delivery for transplant by an uncrewed aerial vehicle or UAV in 2019. The delivery took just 10 minutes, covering about 2.6 miles from one hospital to another. Time is of the essence in these critical medical operations, making it a great use case for drone delivery.
• MissionGo, MediGo and The Navajo Nation completed a series of flights in January 2022 using the MGV100 drone where they were able to deliver critical cargo like life-saving prescription medication, meal kits, and emergency supplies, even livestock medication to look at how drones could improve healthcare access in rural America.
• When transporting biohazardous cargo like blood or organs technologies like tamperproof packaging and identity verification can help make these deliveries safe and successful.
• We are just at the beginning at fully realizing and executing on the diverse applications of drone technology. There is already tremendous impact and results from the industry, and the future is bright.

Resources:

• MGV100 - MissionGO 
• Watch first-ever drone delivery of organ for transplant | CNN 
• Microsoft PowerPoint - 15 Drone Package Delivery-Newest Member of the Supply Chain - Adam Greco (faa.gov) 
• The Race For Last Mile Drones | Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (auvsi.org) 

Strap in folks, we are going to Space with a very special guest who blazed her own trail, defying the grip of Earth’s gravity, and breaking a glass ceiling into the cosmos. Our Guest today is Retired NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins.

Col. Collins has lived an amazing life, and though she has retired from the NASA astronaut program, her mission to share her story and inspire the next generation of explorers is far from over. Many of us can only dream of a career like hers - from her achievements as the first woman to command an American space mission and the first to pilot the space shuttle to her early years as one of the Air Force’s first female pilots.

Eileen is one of those pioneers who forever changed the trajectory of space exploration - this one's going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Eileen Collins was born in 1956 in Elmira, New York.
• She received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978.
• Collins joined the Air Force in 1979 and became a pilot.
• She was selected for the astronaut program in 1990.
• Collins made her first trip to space in 1995 as a member of the STS-63 crew.
• In 1999, Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle when she led the STS-93 mission.
• She commanded two more space shuttle missions: STS-114 in 2005 and STS-121 in 2006.
• Collins retired from NASA and the Air Force in 2006.
• After her retirement, she worked as a consultant and public speaker.
• Collins has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to space exploration, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Resources:

• The official NASA website has a page dedicated to Eileen Collins that provides biographical information, photos, and details about her missions: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/eileen-m-collins/biography
• The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has an interview with Collins on their website, where she discusses her career and experiences in space: https://astronautscholarship.org/eileen-collin
• The National Air and Space Museum has a page about Collins on their website, which includes information about her career and achievements: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/eileen-collin
• The Encyclopedia Britannica has an entry about Collins that provides an overview of her life and career: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eileen-Collins
• The Women in Aviation International organization has a profile of Collins on their website, which includes information about her achievements and contributions to the field of aviation: https://www.wai.org/pioneers/eileen-collins

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a non-profit organization that serves as the civilian auxiliary of the USAF. Its membership includes everyone from younger cadets to their more senior members, totaling more than 56,000 volunteers across the US. The CAP started just 6 days before Pearl Harbor, and they served a unique, and relatively active role, patrolling the Atlantic coast during WWII. Today their mission includes youth mentorship, and aerial assistance with missions like search and rescue, fire monitoring and more.

 In this episode we will dive into the unique history, and the work they are doing today. This one’s going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• The Civil Air Patrol was started by congress on Dec 1, 1941, just 6 days before Pearl Harbor
• CAP has about 2,000 members in Colorado, and about 60,000 members nationally
• Its early missions during WWII focused on surveillance, and defense off the Atlantic coast of the US where German U-boats were threatening merchant ships
• As an auxiliary organization to the US Air Force, CAP is tasked with Air Force-assigned missions from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
• Primary roles today include search and rescue, aerospace education, and its cadet youth mentorship program
• The CAP supports a variety of medical missions including COVID-19 response, collecting blood donations, and delivering critical medical supplies
• Cadets, aged 12-21, learn both leadership and aerospace skills
• CAP completes more than 100 search and rescue saves each year in collaboration with agencies including the US Forest Service
• CAP has identified cyber security as a topic important to the future

Support Behind the Wings by making a financial contribution to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum’s Annual Fund! (wingsmuseum.org)

Resources:

• About CAP | Civil Air Patrol 
• History of the Civil Air Patrol - Wikipedia
• Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force > Air Force > Fact Sheet Display (af.mil)

Ready or not, strap in, because we have got 10 great episodes coming up for Season 2. It’s time to go... Behind the Wings!

We’ve got a lot to explore – stories about how history shapes aviation today, trailblazers in space, and up-close looks at iconic aircraft of the past, present and future. There’s a lot of cool stories coming up in Season 2, so stick around.

You can find the Behind the Wings podcast wherever you listen. Episodes come out every two weeks – starting Monday Dec 5th with an awesome conversation about the fascinating history and unique mission today of the Civil Air Patrol. For past episodes and show notes visit: WingsMuseum.org/podcast

We’ll see you next time on Behind the Wings.