Inside America’s Dysfunctional Trillion-Dollar Fighter-Jet Program (NY Times). The U.S. Air Force Just Admitted the F-35 Stealth Fighter Has Failed (Forbes). The F-35 May Be Unsalvageable (The Hill). Are these headlines fair criticisms of the Joint Strike Fighter or simply yellow journalism? How are we supposed to know what, and who, to believe these days? On this episode, retired Royal Canadian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former test pilot Billie Flynn leverages his 5,000+ flight hours in the F-16 Viper, F/A-18 Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, and every model of the F-35 Lightning II to offer a nuanced opinion of whether this controversial $1.6T weapon system is worth it, and how “bad” the development setbacks really are given this hyperconnected world in which we live. Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.

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FPP121 - What's Up With The F-35?

The Fighter Pilot Podcast explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, and most importantly—the people. Episodes typically feature guests who help explain various military aviation-themed topics, such as how ejection seats work or what it&#39;s like to fly on and off nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. If you love the roar of a high-speed flyby or are enamored by the poise and confidence of the brave men and women who fly, fix, and fight these aircraft, then this show is for you! 
 For advertising, partnerships or other business opportunities, please contact: FPP@seenandherd.co 
 Current Sponsors National University {Title Sponsor} - Visit nu.edu/veteran to discover how NU supports service members, veterans, and their families through flexible online programs in high-demand fields. AirCorps Aviation - Click here to explore exciting aerospace career opportunities in northern Minnesota.

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Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mike "Nasty" Manazir shares important leadership (and followership!) lessons from a lifetime in service, including piloting an F-14 Tomcat and commanding a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. And it's not always smooth sailing--resilience and dogged determination on a "north star" in the face of adversity is a big part of success. Pick up a copy of Nasty's leadership book, 'Lead to Win' here. 
 Current Sponsors National University {Title Sponsor} - Visit nu.edu/veteran to discover how NU supports service members, veterans, and their families through flexible online programs in high-demand fields. AirCorps Aviation - Click here to explore exciting aerospace career opportunities in northern Minnesota.

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

'Nasty' Leadership Habits

John "Shylock" Koch was an A-6 Intruder bombardier / navigator (BN) who flew more than 200 combat missions during the Vietnam War, most with the same pilot. As you will learn during this emotional interview, Shylock's life-changing experiences and heartbreaking loss remain as poignant during the sharing of these incredible stories 50+ years later as the day they happened. Visit the A-6 Intruder Association here. 
 Current Sponsors National University {Title Sponsor} - Visit nu.edu/veteran to discover how NU supports service members, veterans, and their families through flexible online programs in high-demand fields. AirCorps Aviation - Click here to explore exciting aerospace career opportunities in northern Minnesota.

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

FPP192 - Horrors of the Vietnam Air War 50+ Years Later

'On Future War' is a 12-part series exploring the evolving landscape of military strategy and defense technologies with a focus on the Pacific. On this episode, Mike "Pako" Benitez and Andrew "Scar" Van Timmeren discuss the differences between fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets, focusing on the F-22 and F-35, with insights on the learning curve and intuitive nature of the Lightning II compared to the complexity of the Raptor. Pako and Scar further discuss situational awareness and task management in modern fighters, with a look ahead to the future of air superiority with a discussion on sixth-generation fighters. Brought to you by Authentic Media with the support of Cubic Defense.

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OFW-4: 5th Generation Fighters

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Greg "Rug Dance" Wooldridge knows a thing or two about the Blue Angels because he led them a time or two...actually THREE times, to be exact. That was in the '90s. Back then Rug Dance was involved in the documentary 'Around the World at the Speed of Sound' and today he is one of the creative geniuses behind the 2024 Blue Angels iMax feature. Book Rug Dance as your next keynote speaker here. 
 
 Current Sponsors National University {Title Sponsor} - Visit nu.edu/veteran to discover how NU supports service members, veterans, and their families through flexible online programs in high-demand fields. AirCorps Aviation - Click here to explore exciting aerospace career opportunities in northern Minnesota. 


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

FPP191 - Leading (and Filming!) the Blue Angels

Former Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilot Paul "Tremors" Tremelling makes his debut as a Fighter Pilot Podcast guest host interviewing his friend John "JP" Parker. As a career Royal Air Force pilot, JP flew numerous aircraft including the Jet Provost, BAE Systems Hawk, Blackburn Buccaneer, Panavia Tornado, and even the British Aerospace Sea Harrier during a stint with the Royal Navy. Find Tremors' book, Harrier: How to be a Fighter Pilot here and check out JP's drone project, The Jackal, here. Enjoy the banter between these two longtime friends on this British-themed episode! 
 Current Sponsors National University {Title Sponsor} - Visit nu.edu/veteran to discover how NU supports service members, veterans, and their families through flexible online programs in high-demand fields. AirCorps Aviation - Click here to explore exciting aerospace career opportunities in northern Minnesota. 


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

FPP121 - What's Up With The F-35?

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