Fighter Pilot Podcast

'On Future War' is a 12-part series exploring the evolving landscape of military strategy and defense technologies with a focus on the Indo-Pacific. On this episode, Mike "Pako" Benitez and Andrew "Scar" Van Timmeren return to examine the concepts, abilities, and future of Remotely Piloted Aircraft in modern warfare. The discussion reviews the history of technology, from early trials in the 1910s...

C.J. "Heater" Heatley is THE man. F-4 Phantom pilot. TOPGUN instructor. Adversary pilot (flying actual MiGs). F-14 pilot. Aviation photojournalist. Author of 'The Cutting Edge'. Inspiration for the smash film, 'Top Gun.' There's nothing Heater has not done. Support this podcast at — https://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finally did it. The Fighter Pilot Podcast is going pilotless...er, well, remotely piloted (but is such an operator really a "pilot?") On this episode, Dan "Killjoy" Martin, former U.S. Air Force RPA expert, explains his experiences flying the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. Check out Killjoy's book, Predator : The Remote-Control Air War over Iraq and Afghanistan here. Support this podcast at — h...

Retired U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, Tamara "T-Lo" Graham explains the nuances of planning and flying CSAR missions in the U.S. Navy. Hosted by Matt "Flounder" Arny. Learn more about the Navy & Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Flight Academy here. Support this podcast at — https://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 b...

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 As...

'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 compar...

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 ke...

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,...

Gil "Duster" Rud has led a charmed life, from meager roots on a North Dakota farm to joining Naval Aviation and eventually commanding the Navy's demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. Duster explains leading the Blues in general and during the difficult transition from flying the A-4 Skyhawk to the F/A-18 Hornet. Pick up a copy of Duster's book, From the Prairie to the Pacific and learn more abo...

'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, Dr. Lance "Boil" Lewis, and Scott "Roger" Chafian. explore the background and rationale behind the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030, which fundamentally changes the doctrine and operating concepts of the U.S. Marine Cor...

Former F-14 pilot-tuned-astronaut Reid "Tonto" Wiseman describes flying the Tomcat and NASA's return to the moon after more than a half century. Postscript: since this episode aired, Tonto circled the moon as mission commander of Artemis II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since April 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force has defended Canadians and all freedom-loving people not just in the skies over North America but indeed, all over the world. On this episode, Lieutenant General Eric Kenny, Commander of the RCAF, explains the military element's century of service from World War 2 through current global struggles. LGen Kenny also explains the many activities and event...

Most people can readily explain what a pilot is and does, but what about a Radar Intercept Officer, Bombardier / Navigator, or Tactical Coordinator? On this episode, FPP friend and occasional cohost Matt "Flounder" Arny, former RIO-turned WSO, explains the world of Naval Flight Officers--what they are, how they're trained, what they do, and how far up the promotion ladder they can go. To learn mor...

Retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General John "Dragon" Teichert knows leadership. As an F-15E Strike Eagle and F-22 Raptor pilot early on, Dragon went on to multiple command tours before concluding his 27-year-career as the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. Along the way, he championed inspirational, innovative, integrity-filled leadership that culminated...

Scott Dworkin won't take "no" for an answer. As a fighter pilot-hopeful, Scott encountered roadblocks that forced him to pivot to aviation photography and eventually aviation photojournalism, where he went on to fly in most U.S Air Force and many U.S. Navy aircraft, without ever wearing the uniform. Today, Scott is the genius behind Mach 91 Aerial Photography and the author of this generation's gr...

'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 month's episode Scott "Roger" Chafian, Mike "Pako" Benitez, and Matt "Flounder" Arny explore the strategic and controversial world of China's man-made island bases including the historical locations, construction strategies, and strategic intent of...

Former U.S. Air Force F-15E WSO Mike "Pako" Benitez describes how future fighter pilots will train alongside (and go to war with) unmanned 'collaborative combat aircraft', sometimes also known as 'loyal wingmen.' Subscribe to Pako's newsletter, 'The Merge' here. Check out 'The Merge' on YouTube here. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations Learn more abo...

Guest host Ken 'Primetime' Katz returns with his first foray into warbirds, exploring the venerable Douglas C-47 Skytrain (plus its many derivatives) and the role it played in the pivotal D-Day invasions of World War II with guests Eric Zipkin and Moreno 'Mo' Aguiari. Visit the DC-3 Society here. Watch Into Flight Once More on Amazon Prime here. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-...

Retired US Marine Corps Colonel Jim "Boone" Jamison describes being an HMX-1 Presidential Command Pilot during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidencies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'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 inaugural episode, Mike "Pako" Benitez and Scott "Roger" Chafian set the stage by delving into the challenges posed by technologies (including cruise- and hypersonic missiles) to power projection and the sustainability of forward deployed bases in...

Planning, briefing, executing per standard operating procedures (SOPs) while using checklists, and then debriefing--these are some of the best practices military aviators routinely employ to ensure safe, effective operations whether in combat or in training.  This week, former U.S. Navy and Air National Guard pilot Yarko "J.J." Sos and Navy RIO-turned-WSO Keith "Kombat" Kimmel explain these best p...

Art Palmer is a child of the dust bowl and self-admitted "hobo" who joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and piloted B-24 Liberators during World War II. Art's plane was shot down on his 50th mission and he spent the remainder of the war as a German prisoner. Now, at 104-year-young, Art shares his recollections with guest host Matt "Flounder" Arny, proving why his truly was the Greatest Generation. To r...

Imagine flying along at night, in combat, so low that you look up to see car headlights. And that's just the beginning. On this episode, former US Air Force pilot Jeff "Guinnbob" Guinn and navigator Kevin "Rim" Allen describe their harrowing participation in Operation Desert Storm flying F-111Es out of Turkey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Do you have to be good at math to be a fighter pilot?" On this episode, the host Vincent Aiello shares a September 2020 blog addressing this question, providing examples of the common math concepts fighter pilots must be able to master. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices