Fighter Pilot Podcast

Advancements in weapons technology and lethality have spawned countermeasures for as long as humans have been warring: with the broadsword came plate armor. For arrows it was shields. And with the advent of radar, infrared tracking, and active missiles—came chaff, flares, and jammers.

On this episode, Utah Air National Guard Major Sean “Bauer” Demeter joins us to discuss the various countermeasures military aircraft employ to defend against surface- and air-to-air threats. Bauer also touches on ANG career paths and fighter squadron deployments to South Korea.

During the listener question segment, we discuss tactical performance tracking methods, whether there was a cover up with Duke and Willy D’s Vietnam shootdown, why U.S. fifth-generation fighters are only single-seat, and more.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Matt Rierden.

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Ever wonder why so many astronauts are (and were) former fighter pilots? Could it be that flight training is good preparation for astronaut training and thus acts as a natural selection process? Maybe. Or it could be that flying fighter jets attracts a certain type of person who enjoys challenges, works well under pressure, handles disorienting situations, manages risk, and—most importantly—performs well as part of a team.

The space program seeks these same people.

Climb aboard this episode as NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain Scott “Maker” Tingle describes how his previous career as an F/A-18 pilot and test pilot prepared him for the rigors of the astronaut application process and subsequent training program. Marvel at his account of blasting into space on a Russian-made Soyuz rocket, then spending nearly six months on the International Space Station before returning safely to earth in June 2018—experiences that certainly change anyone’s outlook on life and our world.

Bumper music, Space Oddity cover, by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Jim Hendershot.

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Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to fly a high-performance military jet fighter but now anyone can enjoy the incredibly realistic air combat simulation platforms available on the market today. From the astonishingly accurate aircraft recreation to the flawless graphics and imagery, air combat simulation is the next best thing for military aircraft aficionados—without the long deployments!

On this episode, Mr. Matt Wagner (R.I.P.) of Eagle Dynamics joins us to discuss one of the most popular and realistic platforms available today: Digital Combat Simulator. We cover how DCS came to be and what’s coming in the future. We also observe our host Jell-O try the Lot 20 F/A-18C simulation for the very first time while describing just how close it compares to the real thing (hint: it’s pretty darn close and his two years out of the cockpit really show!).

During the abbreviated listener question segment we address why some squadrons refer to themselves as “World Famous” and how fighters deal with contrails in tactical situations. …and speaking of gaming, if you want something a little more casual, check out Sky Knights created by one of our Swedish listeners.

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The Battle of Midway was a decisive U.S. naval victory that turned the tide of World War 2. As a result, the name ‘Midway’ has been assigned to everything from a high school in Texas to an airport in Chicago. It is also the name of the longest serving American aircraft carrier of the 20th century.

Today, the USS Midway continues to serve as a museum on the San Diego, Calif. waterfront. Hosting thousands of visitors daily, the ship proudly features dozens of static aircraft displays and offers a glimpse of what daily life was like for its crew.

On this episode, USS Midway Museum president and CEO, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral John “Mac” McLaughlin explains not only the ship’s namesake battle and storied half-century of service, but the deeper meaning of service and sacrifice in our modern, ever-changing society.

During the listener question segment, we discuss whether squadrons undergo specific tactical training based on where they expect to deploy, if shutting down an engine is a viable tactic to save fuel in flight, and whether weight and balance is a constant concern for fighters, among other topics.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Jim Hendershot.

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There may be a no more lethal or effective fighting unit than the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Comprised of combat Marines on land, in the air, and from the sea, the MAGTF is equally capable massing its formidable firepower to overwhelm and defeat an adversary as applying its vast resources and logistics network to assist in disaster relief and humanitarian roles.

On this episode, retired U.S. Marine Corps Major and former F/A-18 pilot Darin “Wang” Chung joins us to describe the various MAGTF components including the Air Combat Element comprised of nearly every aircraft in the Marine Corps inventory such as the AH-1, AV-8B, C-130, CH-53, F/A-18, F-35B, MV-22, and UH-1.

'Everybody Have Fun Tonight,' performed by Wang Chung, Geffen Records. Bumper announcements by Jim Hendershot.

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Doctors attend medical school. Attorneys go to law school. …Plumbers acquire the skills of their craft at a plumbing trade school. So where do fighter pilots get their start? Duh. At flight school, of course.

The U.S. Air Force and Navy maintain discrete flight schools. While they share some aircraft (i.e. the Beechcraft / Raytheon T-6 Texan II) and occasionally exchange students and instructors, the two flight schools otherwise differ in their focus and execution.

On this episode, Major Mike “BS” Walsh—the podcast’s first US Marine Corps guest explains the U.S. Navy flight school from beginning (immediately following commissioning) to end (FRS completion). We discuss the syllabus, aircraft flown, training locations, what it takes to succeed, and what preparation, if any (arguably), students should undertake before attending.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Jim Hendershot.

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Troop transport, MEDEVAC, CSAR, ASW, VERTREP, special operations, ground attack… these are but a few of the many missions rotary-wing aircraft perform for militaries the world over, day in and day out.

But how do helicopters even fly? How difficult is it to fly them? Why do most have two pilots? In the event of total power loss can they glide to an emergency landing like some airplanes? How and why can some helicopters perform aerobatics but not others?

On this episode, U.S. Navy Commander and H-60 Seahawk pilot Ron “Chadwick” Martin schools the host and explains all things helicopters. And, yes, there are confirmed cases of helicopters shooting down fixed-wing aircraft.

During the listener question segment we discuss military flight operations while transiting allied territory, carrier hopping for airwings and squadrons, and more on drones.

Bumper music and audio clips borrowed from Apocalypse Now (1979, Francis Ford Coppola) and Full Metal Jacket (1987, Stanley Kubrick) / announcements by Jim Hendershot.

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