The Fighter Pilot Podcast

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 SponsorsNational 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

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 SponsorsNational 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

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 about him on the Blue Angels Phantoms channel here.Current SponsorsNational 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

'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 Corps.Removing tanks and transitioning from artillery to rocket units are just the beginning--standing up Marine Littoral Regiments as part of naval expeditionary force enables greater mobility, sustainability, and operations in the maritime domain, providing commanders greater options for sea denial operations.Brought to you by Authentic Media with the support of Cubic Defense.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former F-14 pilot-tuned NASA astronaut Reid "Tonto" Wiseman joins Matt "Flounder" Arny to discuss...well, mostly the Tomcat, but also NASA's return to the moon more than a half century later with the Artemis program.Current SponsorsNational 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

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 events occurring in 2024 to celebrate and showcase the centennial of service, honoring past, present, and the future generation of RCAF service members.Click here to learn more about the Royal Canadian Air Force centennial.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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 more about Flounder's services in management consulting and leader development, or to book him as a keynote speaker, click here.Current SponsorsNational University {Title Sponsor} - Visit nu.edu to discover how Nat'l Univ. 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

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 in a 2024 run for the U.S. Senate.Check out Dragon's book, Boom! Leadership that Breaks Barriers, Challenges Convention, and Ignites Innovation here.Current SponsorAirCorps Aviation - If you're looking for an exciting career in the field of aviations, click here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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 greatest #navalaviation book, Becoming the Rhino.Current SponsorAirCorps Aviation - If you're looking for an exciting career in the field of aviations, click here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

On this month's episode of 'On Future War,' 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 these so-called "unsinkable carriers.”Brought to you by Authentic Media with the support of Cubic Defense.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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.Current SponsorsAllVeteran.com - Veterans, discover potential VA Benefits like potential increasing your disability rating by visiting this link.AirCorps Aviation - If you're looking for an exciting career in the field of aviations, click here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Jim "Boone" Jamison describes being a Presidential Command Pilot with HMX-1 during the Reagan and Bush 1 presidencies.Current SponsorsAllVeteran.com - Veterans, discover potential VA Benefits like potential increasing your disability rating by visiting this link.AirCorps Aviation - If you're looking for an exciting career in the field of aviations, click here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

'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 modern, peer-level conflicts.Brought to you by Authentic Media with the support of Cubic Defense.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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 practices and how their company, Check 6, adapts these practices to other consequential industries.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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 2. 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 read the book of stories and prisoner poems compiled by Art's late wife, visit our Patreon page.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Former U.S. Air Force pilot Jeff "Guinnbob" Guinn and navigator Kevin "Rim" Allen describe their participation in Operation Desert Storm flying F-111Es out of Turkey.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

"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

Hal Sundt author of Warplane, How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog describes the origination story of the close air support aircraft the U.S. Air Force never wanted but pilots and ground troops came to love.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

Every year we feature the hard working men and women of NORAD who tirelessly monitor threats all year long and then, on December 24th, add the mission of tracking Santa.Enjoy this 2022 update on the NORAD Santa Tracker program featuring then-U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. James Porterfield, the NORAD and NORTHCOM Senior Enlisted LeaderAnd Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Fighter Pilot Podcast.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations