Fighter Pilot Podcast

Эпизоды

• FPP215 - U-2s on Aircraft Carriers: A Cold War Gamble 01.06.2026 46мин

  During the Cold War, the Lockheed U-2 gave the United States the ability to peer deep inside denied territory from altitudes once thought unreachable. But after the Francis Gary Powers shootdown and increasing political pressure on foreign host nations, the CIA faced a growing problem: how do you operate one of the world’s most delicate reconnaissance aircraft when access to overseas bases can disappear overnight?The answer led to one of the strangest and least-known experiments in aviation history—operating CIA U-2s from US Navy aircraft carriers under a top-secret effort known as Project Whale Tail.On this episode, Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello returns to explain how CIA pilots, Navy landing signal officers, and Lockheed Skunk Works engineers transformed the high-flying Article into a carrier-capable spy plane. From dangerous early landing trials aboard USS Ranger to clandestine intelligence missions over the South Pacific, this is the story of an extraordinary Cold War gamble that pushed both naval aviation and aerial reconnaissance into entirely new territory.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP214 - Fighting Falcons: VMF-221 and the Soul of Marine Aviation 18.05.2026 1ч 3мин

  From Buffalos at Midway to Corsairs off the deck of Bunker Hill, the Marines of VMF-221 fought, bled, and adapted their way through the Pacific War — and their story reveals far more about combat, leadership, and airpower than the history books let on.Retired Marine Lt. Col. and historian Pete Owen joins the show to break down what really happened when Marine aviation was tested at its limits, why Midway was a far darker day than most people know, and what those lessons mean for the fight America may face next.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP213 - Top Gun, Tomcats, and AI Wingmen: "Yank" Cummings on Tomorrow’s War 04.05.2026 1ч 19мин

  JJ “Yank” Cummings returns to the Fighter Pilot Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on F-14 Tomcats, carrier aviation, Top Gun: Maverick, and the rapidly approaching age of autonomous air combat. From war stories over Afghanistan to his work with Shield AI, Yank brings a rare blend of cockpit credibility, command experience, and forward-looking insight. This one is about more than airplanes; it’s about trust, technology, leadership, tomorrow’s war, and, somehow… robot cats.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP212 - Four Stars, One Secretary, Zero Ego - Gen. Goldfein & Sec. Wilson on Servant Leadership 20.04.2026 55мин

  What does it take to lead when the mission is hard, the stakes are life-and-death, and nobody is watching?In this extraordinary episode, Tucker Hamilton sits down with two of the most consequential figures in modern Air Force history — General (Ret.) David Goldfein, former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Dr. Heather Wilson, former Secretary of the Air Force and current President of UTEP — Air Force Academy classmates who reunited at the Pentagon 35 years after their cadet days to write Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership.From Goldfein's F-16 shoot-down over Serbia to Wilson's battles on Capitol Hill and in the halls of the Pentagon, they have lived the kind of leadership not taught in classrooms — the kind forged in adversity, shaped by humility, and proven under pressure.In this conversation, they unpack what servant leadership actually looks like when the cost is real, why the most powerful leaders are the ones who put others first, and what the next generation of leaders needs to hear right now.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP211 - The Last Harrier: Inside the Final AV-8B Squadron 06.04.2026 1ч 13мин

  The AV-8B Harrier is one of the most demanding, iconic, and battle-proven aircraft in military aviation history. Now, as the Harrier era draws to a close, one squadron remains to carry the torch: VMA-223, the Great American Bulldogs.In this episode, Cinco sits down with the commanding officer (Traper) and executive officer (Porky) of the last AV-8B Harrier squadron to talk about the jet, the mission, the culture, and what it means to write the final chapter of an extraordinary community. This is a conversation about legacy, leadership, and the kind of airplane that shaped the aviators who flew it.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• Artemis II: Back to the Moon! (Rebroadcast) 01.04.2026 47мин

  With the successful launch of Artemis II and NASA's return to the moon six decades later, we thought this a good time to dust off episode 189 from April 2024 featuring Reid "Tonto" Wiseman, mission commander.Godspeed, astronauts!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• What Happens After Talent Runs Out: Unlocking the Last 20% 20.03.2026 44мин

  At some point, talent is no longer enough. The same is true for preparation, intelligence, and ambition. What remains is the final margin—that last 20% where discipline, resilience, balance, and character decide the outcome.In this episode, Jell-O sits down with Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton to discuss his upcoming book, Unlocking the Last 20%. Through stories from fighter aviation, combat, flight test, leadership, and the rise of AI, Cinco explores what it means to perform under pressure, lead with clarity, and become the kind of person who can carry real responsibility when the stakes are highest.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP210 - 600knots Through Chicago: From F-22 Raptor to Reinvention 06.03.2026 1ч 11мин

  What does it take to command the F-22 Raptor at the edge of the envelope — and then pull the power to idle in a vertical tailslide over 100,000 people? — and then reinvent yourself beyond the cockpit?Josh “Cabo” Gunderson joins Cinco to unpack elite performance, humility under pressure, the dominance of the Raptor at Red Flag, and the deeper question every operator must face: who are you when the afterburners go quiet? From Cuban immigrant roots to leading the F-22 Demonstration Team before millions, Cabo shares hard-earned lessons on discipline, decision-making, mission command, and finding purpose beyond the uniform.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP209 - When (and Where) 5th Gen Simulation Meets Reality 20.02.2026 1ч 6мин

  As software has become the center of gravity for 5th generation fighters, simulation has become increasingly foundational to testing and fielding those aircraft.On this episode, Doug “Rosie” Rosenstock, a U.S. Marine Corps Harrier-turned-test pilot who helped shape the F-35's mission systems and its simulation backbone, explores how the joint simulation environment was—and is—instrumental in the F-35's adoption by frontline forces.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP208 - The Making of an Astronaut: From Fighter Test to the Edge of Space 06.02.2026 56мин

  What does it take to go from strapping into fighters to leaving Earth's atmosphere?This week, Jameel “Chocolate” Janjua — Virgin Galactic astronaut and former U.S. and Canadian fighter test pilot — breaks down the mindset behind elite aviation, how test pilots really think about risk, and what it means to operate at the absolute edge of performance.We follow his path from military flight test to commercial spaceflight, the lessons learned along the way, and why — even as technology accelerates — human judgment remains the final safety net. It’s a rare, inside look at a journey very few people on Earth will ever make.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP207 - Flying with the Algorithm: AI, Trust, and the F-35 23.01.2026 1ч 19мин

  What happens when artificial intelligence starts sharing cockpit responsibilities?On this episode, US Air Force Lt Col Raven “Rost” LeClair—F-35 Lightning II test pilot, squadron commander, and autonomy specialist—breaks down how AI is actually being integrated into 5th-generation fighters. We discuss what “human-machine teaming” looks like from the pilot’s seat, how trust in automation is built (and broken), and why the next leap in airpower depends more on judgment, training, and culture than raw hardware.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP206 - Delivering the Future: Aviation Acquisition 09.01.2026 1ч 13мин

  The future of airpower is not decided in the cockpit—it’s decided by the acquisition process.In this episode, U.S. Air Force Colonel Tim “Ivy” Spaulding joins new FPP host Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton to break down modern aviation acquisition from a fighter pilot’s perspective. They explore why innovation so often struggles to reach the flight line, how risk and incentives become misaligned, and what it really takes to deliver capability at speed.This candid conversation dives into trust, culture, and people—why acquisition works when operators, engineers, and decision-makers are aligned, and why it fails when they’re not.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• The Fighter Pilot Podcast 01.01.2026 1мин

  Welcome to the Fighter Pilot Podcast!This trailer describes who this show is from, who it's for, and what it's all about. Be sure to check out our website and for exclusive content, subscribe to our Patreon Page.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. To connect with us, email: questions@fighterpilotpodcast.com.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• End of Year Recap - 2025 28.12.2025 50мин

  A look back at 2025 and introduction to 2026's new FPP host in this end-of-year wrap up episode.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• NORAD Santa Tracker (Rebroadcast) 24.12.2025 7мин

  A holiday greeting and update on the Santa Tracker program from the 2022 NORAD commanding general and senior enlisted leader. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• Scaled Composites: Flying the Impossible 18.12.2025 1ч 55мин

  Few companies in aviation history can claim an average of one new aircraft flown every year for four decades. Enter Scaled Composites.Founded in 1982 by legendary designer Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites specializes in designing, building, and flight-testing proof-of-concept, prototype, and milestone-achieving aircraft—often pushing the edge of what’s thought possible.On this episode, Scaled Composites President Greg Morris and engineering test pilot Justin Gillen pull back the curtain on this extraordinary organization. They explain how Scaled safely develops and flies so many radically different aircraft, why real-world flight test is far more disciplined than Hollywood would have you believe, and what it takes to turn bold ideas into first flights.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• Warbirds, the Whale, and a Life Well Lived 08.12.2025 39мин

  We’re opening the vault for another Happy Hour—this one from 2021 with retired U.S. Navy Captain Matthew “Tom” Maxwell.Tom flew numerous World War II– and Korean War–era aircraft from carriers around the world before eventually finding his way into his favorite platform: the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior. In the “Whale,” he famously saved a fuel-starved F-8 by breaking the rules and refueling the Crusader over North Vietnam, getting the pilot safely back “feet wet.”He was also aboard USS Oriskany during the devastating October 1966 fire that claimed the lives of 44 sailors. Tom captured these stories and many others in his memoir Grandfather’s Journal: A Grandson’s Journey into His Grandfather’s Life, a short and delightful read naval aviation aficionados will enjoy.Sadly, Tom passed away a year after this Happy Hour originally aired and now rests at Arlington National Cemetery.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• Honoring a Giant: The Life and Legacy of LtGen Richard Carey 24.11.2025 44мин

  We close out our month-long tribute to the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday with a special replay of a 2021 Happy Hour conversation featuring Lieutenant General Richard E. Carey.Across nearly four decades in uniform, General Carey rose from enlisted grunt to three-star general, serving everywhere from the Inchon landings and Chosin Reservoir to the skies over Vietnam. He went on to amass more than 9,000 hours in every fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft the Marine Corps flew. Yet what stands out most is his quiet warmth and the timeless wisdom he shared—like sitting down with a beloved grandfather who’s seen it all.General Carey passed away in early 2025 and now rests in the very cemetery he once helped establish. Rest in peace, General Carey. And Semper Fi, Marines.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• FPP205 - "Whiskey" at War | Combat Realities in the CH-53E 17.11.2025 1ч 11мин

  Our monthlong celebration of the US Marine Corps' 250th birthday continues this week with retired Lieutenant Colonel Isaac "Whiskey" Lee who spent a 20-year career flying CH-53E Super Stallions.Veteran of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Weapons & Tactics instructor...Whiskey chronicles hard-fought lessons learned and personal vulnerabilities in his book, Hangar 4: A Combat Aviator's Memoir. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
• Veterans Day Guest Mashup (Rebroadcast) 11.11.2025 41мин

  This Veterans Day, we are rebroadcasting a walk down memory lane first shared in 2024 featuring guests from past Fighter Pilot Podcast episodes.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations