“The Threat” describes the nature of America’s aerial adversaries and how we simulate them. Host stories and experiences explain the concept and need for DACT and OPFOR while also discussing the changes over time in potential enemy aircraft, the surface-to-air threat, and our own Aggressor/Adversary aircraft including the declining ability of traditional Aggressor aircraft to model modern threats.

Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.

Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.

Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

This episode explores the world of post-graduate fighter training through the lens of the Air Force Weapons School. Listeners will hear about the evolution of BFM and air superiority as technology changed from guns to first generation missiles through today’s high off-boresight weapons. This episode also introduces the limitations of physical ranges due to high speeds and long ranges of modern aircraft, sensors, and weapons.

Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.

Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.

Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

The Benefield Anechoic Chamber located at Edwards AFB, CA, is the world's largest anechoic test facility capable of supporting and handling virtually all DoD aircraft. The facility and its hard working staff test avionics systems in a secure, controlled, and repeatable electromagnetically controlled free-space environment using state-of-the-art simulation technology that closely duplicates real world combat missions.

On this bonus episode, guest host Ken Katz welcomes Amarachi Egbuziem-Ciolkosz and Mario Dorado of the 772nd Test Squadron to discuss the critical testing that occurs at this world class facility.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

“Honing the Craft” will give the listener a basic understanding of the tactics and terminology of air combat terminology such as BFM, CAS, One-Circle vs Two-Circle Fight and others, while also introducing the importance and roles of formations, wingmen, and flight leads. Hosts’ stories will illustrate these while also demonstrating the evolution of technology that have increased (or sometimes hurt) capability and situational awareness.

Fight’s On! is an eight-episode series about combat aviation training focusing on how the U.S. takes newly minted (warrant) officers and molds them into combat aviators able to fight and win in today’s high-tech battlespace.

Told through the stories and experiences of U.S. military aviators in their own voices, Fight’s On! takes the listener on the journey of combat aviators from Initial flight training through advanced tactical training and multi-unit exercises, ultimately describing the current and near future systems and programs that will ensure American air dominance into the future.

Fight's On! is a production of Authentic Media in association with BVR Productions.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

The third Fight's On! episode explores Air Force flight school from selection through primary and advanced training to winging, culminating in assignment to a pilot's first combat unit as told through the eyes of an F-16 combat veteran.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

The first Fight's On! episode, "Wings of Gold," chronicles the path of naval aviators from college graduate through winging and beyond.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

September 18, 2022 marks the 75th birthday of the U.S. Air Force and to celebrate, the FPP team created this special episode featuring many of our past USAF guests sharing their thoughts on this momentous milestone.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Pitch, roll, and yaw are familiar concepts to most pilots and aviation enthusiasts accustomed to flight in the earth's atmosphere, but how do astronauts control a 250,000-lb, mach 25-traveling spacecraft when trying to dock to an equally speeding and even larger space station in low earth orbit?

On this episode, retired U.S. Marine Colonel fighter pilot and NASA astronaut Doug "Chunky" Hurley joins us to describe flying orbital vehicles from the space shuttle (two flights) to the SpaceX Dragon (first flight), including some of the actual stick & throttle mechanics of manually flying each vehicle. Chunky and guest host Flounder also take a peek at what the future of space flight may offer.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Rapid response. Difficult conditions. A deadly adversary. Aerial employment in close proximity to friendly ground forces. Clearance needed to drop... Sound like a close air support mission in support of Marines in combat? Nope, this is aerial firefighting!

On this episode, 30+-year aerial firefighting pilot, Mr. Jim Barnes, joins us to discuss the heroic people—in the cockpits, on the front lines and on the flight lines—who contribute to the dangerous business of protecting people and property from wildland and forrest fires. Think aerial firefighting is as simple as flying over a fire and dropping water? You're about to learn there is a whole lot more to it.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Jet aircraft are well known for their role in air warfare, appearances on the silver screen, and wowing audiences at airshows worldwide, but did you know a small group of brave, mostly former military, pilots meet in the desert north of Reno, Nevada each September to race them?

On this episode, retired Nevada ANG Major Rick Vandam and retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Peter "Tool" Stavrides discuss the who / what / when / where / why / and—particularly—how former military jet aircraft compete in the Reno Air Races jet class, the fastest competitive motorsport on (...ok, just slightly above) earth.

Listener questions addressed on this episode include how ordnance, fuel tanks, and other stores attach to fighter aircraft, the AN/APX-111 antenna blades on the front of some F-16's and F/A-18's, and why pilots' heads bump forward slightly at the end of an aircraft catapult stroke.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations