So There I Was

This week we welcome F-14 Driver “Jake” who relates how he got to fly the Tomcat, losing a mutual friend, what the real Top Gun school is about, what it feels like to be alone at night in 60º water and 6 foot seas in a one man survival raft, and watching a rescue helicopter stop, look, and fly away. Jake relays more of Fig’s adventures and why he was considered the ultimate &#821...

This is another very inspirational episode – a story of personal triumph in the face tragedy. OB Joins us to tell of his days as a line support guy at an FBO in his home town – fueling and towing light civils. He goes on to tell of his time as a Harrier pilot and how it was cut way too short. But this isn’t a story of woe and defeat. OB’s perseverance and tenacity and force...

Sheriff joins Fig and Repete to tell how his interest in aviation was initially sparked. Then he relays how it evolved from some wild adventures in light civil aircraft to his pursuit and success in becoming a Naval Flight Officer flying in military tactical jets. There is one specific story in light civil planes that was described then and now as: ‘We were on a mission from God!’ Sher...

Fig and Repete recount their time in VMA-223 with Colonel Mitch Triplett. Col. Triplett passed away this week and the show is dedicated to him. The consummate Marine, Aviator, Leader; “Trip” will be missed by all and remembered fondly. Some funny ATC interactions are recounted and then we lead into the prior-teased tale of the “Fig-Dog”. Not for the feint of heart, this rea...

This week’s show is dedicated to the memory of Retired Navy Captain James “Sinzy” Sinz. A former Commanding Officer of both Repete and this week’s guest, Pester, Sinzy was an exceptional leader who cared deeply about setting the example, providing guidance when needed, and helping his Sailors and Marines whenever he could. Capt Sinz’s obituary can be found here . Capt...

Spaz joins Fig & Repete to tell of his time with the VMA-331 Bumble Bees before the squadron was “flamed-out” (Decommissioned); some of his time in 223; and what happened to cause him to return a Harrier to the tax-payers in many thousands of pieces. Spaz has some great stories to share and is not shy about doing so. Not always a patient man, he describes himself as caffeinated at...

This is the second half of our interview with Chaz – Navy S-3 Pilot and now Retired from the majors. Chaz has had an amazing career and is a raconteur extraordinaire! From hilarious to tragic and everything in between. Enjoy the show and please write us with any comments and questions at Fig@SoThereIWas.us or Repete@SoThereIWas.us.

Chaz joins Fig & Repete to tell of his adventures as the child of a Pennsylvania Railroad engineer; learning to fly and making life decisions based on recruitment posters! Now retired from the majors, Chaz is a font of aviation lore. We spent a little less than two hours together and realized we were only about half-way through, at best. This interview is split into two shows – the first...

Luke Joins hosts Fig & Repete to talk about his journey from the midwest to the Naval Academy. He tells how he became a Marine heavy helicopter pilot and Harrier pilot. He recounts a couple of brushes with disaster and how he avoided jumping out of a Harrier right before leaving active duty. There is a saying in aviation: It’s better to be lucky than good. But when your luck runs out, yo...

Sinbad joins hosts Fig & Repete to recount flying low and fast - terrorizing livestock and breaking glass. But it was a good enough show to get him a 'free pass' from the local highway patrol 35 years later!

Join Fig and Repete as Auto joins them for more fun aviation stories. The real story behind Auto's callsign. There's a saying in aviation about landing gear up: There's those who have and those who will. In there episode there's a story about one who . . . did.

Join hosts Fig & RePete as they welcome Sleeper to expound on his callsign and some of the other antics. More naked stories crop up. You can't make this stuff up!

So there I was… It’s how every great aviation tale begins. Join Fig and Repete – two former Harrier pilots as they kick off the show that will tell funny, harrowing, tragic and incredible stories in aviation. This first episode is more of a ‘get to know us’ show and was done to iron out some kinks in the process of getting underway. It is posted in its entirety, warts...

Lawman describes how no good deed goes unpunished his first time flying a Blue Angel jet!