Unfortunately, this week the aviation world lost a pillar of the community. Richard McSpadden tragically lost his life in a general aviation mishap on Sunday October 1st. I was fortunate to have been able to talk "Spad" and capture a few of those moments in the podcast.  This episode was initially released as #57 back in November of 2022.  Lt Col (Ret) Richard "Spad" McSpadden is the Senior Vice President of AOPA's Air Safety Institute.  Prior to his time at AOPA, "Spad" lead large efforts in the IT industry after serving 20 years in the Air Force.  His Air Force career began with him flying the F-15C and he  would later become the Commander and Flight Leader of the USAF Thunderbirds. 




Richard "Spad" McSpadden

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Dive deep into the high-risk world of a Cold War fighter pilot as Rob "Z-Man" Zettel shares his incredible journey from flying the F-4 Phantom to flying in America's Top Secret Soviet MiG Squadron, the 4477th Red Eagles. Discover the secretive Red Eagles squadron, where elite pilots like Z-Man trained in Soviet jets to prepare American Fighter Pilots for combat. Experience firsthand accounts of dogfights, secret missions, and the sheer adrenaline of flying some of the most controversial jets in aviation history. Whether you're an aviation enthusiast or a history buff, this video offers a rare glimpse into a classified chapter of aerial warfare. ✈️ Join our free weekly newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geo-politics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 
 

#96 Rob "Z-Man" Zettel | America's TOP SECRET Cold War MiG Fighter Pilots

"Peachez" is a former F/A-18 turned F-16 fighter pilot. "Peachez" shares his journey of overcoming several hurdles to becoming a fighter pilot in the Navy and eventually an F-16 pilot in the Air National Guard. "Peachez" is a Top Gun Graduate and former instructor at the US Navy's West Coast Weapons school. Guns Garin Memorial Foundation - Support Military Families in Times of Hardship - gunsgarin.com/rain 
 

#95 Micah "Peachez" Porter | Top Gun Graduate |  F/A-18 Fighter Pilot to F-16 Air National Guard

Episode 94  @AfterburnPodcast  with host John "Rain" Waters and guest, retired U.S. Navy Captain Gene Moran. Capt (Ret) Moran, is a renowned national security expert and founder of Capitol Integration. His initiatives have been implemented by Congress, The President and the Executive branch. He is a multi-best-selling author and university professor, holds a PhD in Public Policy, and previously served as a Captain in the United States Navy, where he commanded both a cruiser and a destroyer. 

#94 Capt (Ret) Gene Moran | How Warfare is Changing | Houthi's and Red Sea | Hypersonic Weapons and Conflict in the Pacific

"Shuter" is a career fighter pilot in the Air National Guard who has also successfully navigated the world of business.  We sat down at the annual Guns Garin Memorial Golf Tournament to hear a little about his path and accomplishments.  Guns Garin Memorial Foundation - Support Military Families in Times of Hardship - gunsgarin.com/rain 
 

#93 Jake "Shuter" Scott | F-16 Air National Guard Fighter Pilot

Bro Chat 16.0 - From the Boeing debacle, flying fighters, emergencies, and more. 
 

Richard "Spad" McSpadden

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