10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

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00:00:00 Buy a Tee Shirt, God Damn it!
00:00:50 Introduction
00:01:25 Spike’s journey to…….
00:06:55 The F-4G
00:12:55 deploying to Bahrain for the Gulf War
00:25:04 “missions we will talk about“
00:27:20 initial trepidation?
00:31:50 training tactics gone out the window 
00:34:20 the slideshow continues 
00:39:50 the name tag segway 
00:42:15 back to slideshow and SCUD vs Patriot
00:46:05 Combat sortie 1 (incl. nosey Iranian SA-2)
00:50:45 combat sortie 2 (nighttime visit to H2) and the loss of no.3 jet
00:54:20 next mission, incoming SA-2 shot and fog everywhere 
00:59:40 Baghdad strike, SA-2 kill, all business!
01:05:30 post war (slideshow) no fly zone
01:15:40 a banned patch!
01:16:16 The VC-10 Nav called “Bob”
01:19:20 talking tactics, Spikespeak and an amazing Iraqi Mig-29 driver impression. 
01:26:30 callsign(s)
01:28:05 any “spiritual” moments?
01:32:10 was it harrowing? 
01:34:15 go pill side effects 
01:37:18 Iraqi tactics
01:41:15 …..except for Weasels 
01:41:50 the Mig game plan 
01:44:24 a Starbaby story?

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00:00:00 Buy a Tee Shirt, God Damn it!
00:00:50 Introduction
00:03:05 Thoughts on the effectiveness of the Spang mixed F-4G/Viper teams
00:05:45 What do you think of the F-15G concept?
00:09:00 Thoughts on the transition from F-16CJ/CM to F-35A in the SEAD/DEAD role?
00:18:38 Do you know *Redacted*? Also an ex wild Weasel?
00:22:47 If you could have persuaded the top Brass to keep the F-4G into the Balkans and beyond, what upgrades would you say it needed to stay relevant?
00:29:23 You mentioned something close to the F-15E being closer to the WW role...
00:30:20 Are you aware of or do you believe the systems on the F-16CJ have gotten better since the last time you flew with them?
00:31:31 Is Starbaby the GIB who started chewing out *Redacted* in his first deployment to Germany as described in his book?
00:33:22 Is there still a big weasel mission to suppress or destroy AAA?
00:36:50 I have a question about beam rider weapons, like the Ataka, or the Vikhr. Do they require a non-maneuvering platforms?
00:37:58 What are military aviators thoughts on us "sim pilots"?
00:40:47 At what point is this accurate simulation potentially going too far and bordering on giving potential adversaries maybe too much information too easily?
00:42:07 How was the F-4E used alongside the F-4G? How does the Hunter Killer mission patrol work and what were their respective roles?
00:44:48 Was it only F-4E with ARN-101/DMAS? 
00:47:06 I’ve heard stories of G model phantom dudes saying “magnum” on the radio to trick the Iraqis into thinking they launched a HARM. How prevalent was this in weasel units? Do you know if the navy or marines ever did anything similar?
00:48:13 Question stemming from DCS: Is it a realistic thing for the strikers to dedicate one pylon to having a HARM on hand just in case there’s a pop-up threat?
00:50:28 Starbaby is promoted to Supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe and  gets order from politicians to create "no-fly zone" over Ukraine.How would you go about it?
00:54:25 What were your most task saturating cockpit tasks in two situations; 
00:58:44 Best example of teamwork during a weasel mission? Worst? (This one might be better phrased as “Most bungled SEAD operation you were a part of, that had a good plan at the beginning”)
01:01:11 Any good LPA stories? (or what ever the correct term is for AF JOPA)
01:04:03 If we are interested in how EW, GBAD and so on is performing in the real world (as opposed to marketing brochures and air shows) but only have access to OSINT, what if anything would we be looking for? If it is really possible to say anything.
01:06:22 Starbaby do you think the B-2 and F-117 were worth their investments?
01:10:36 So is the very big investment into the F-35 worth it?
01:11:29 "You know you're going to leave that in".
01:12:00 In old HUD footage I noticed magnum callouts are suffixed with "golf" or "tango"...
01:12:21 At the end of the F4G's service life SAMs that are capable of point defense...
01:13:48 Reading again about the famous Strike Package Q...
01:16:47 Starbaby, you briefly mentioned using the APR 40 to find air targets...
01:19:49 Your opinion on the friendly fire incidents during OIF...
01:22:00 What was your most frightening moment in F-4/F-15 in combat operations if there's any?
01:25:10 Curious to know how did it feel when you mastered the APG-70?
01:30:07 Would you rather conduct SEAD in a F-4G, armed only with a fencing foil, or a F-16CJ...
01:30:58 Do you think that the other services, or even other airforce

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00:00:00 Introduction

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:23 Gabby’s disclaimer!
00:02:15 a brief history of Gabby’s F-4 postings, variants and missions 
00:06:10 Variants in more detail
00:16:25 an easy plane to land……
00:17:25 19.2 to 25 AoA with leading edge slats
00:19:55 Cockpit ergonomics, the 556 mod and genesis of HOTAS
00:22:00 TISEO
00:25:02 Adverse Yaw
00:27:20 motors
00:28:45 “Pave” targeting and gun pods
00:37:27 air to air gouge
00:42:20 target identification and prosecution 
00:47:20 Bentwaters and the Nuclear mission
00:58:50 air to air in the UK 
01:04:40 Scholars with bruised egos 
01:05:05 Social scene at RAF Bentwaters 
01:06:50 low level in the UK (brief phone interruption on Gabby’s end)
01:08:00 Clarke AFB and Air to Air role
01:11:14 Energy Management
01:14:30 GIB
01:16:20 the Clark mission and knowing the enemy…..North Korea
01:21:45 Weapons School
01:30:30 departures, stories and Jeremiah Weed
01:36:00 AMA questions 
02:01:15 Joe Bob being devious
02:03:10 the dive toss trouble

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00:00:00 Introduction and growing up in West Germany
00:06:55 the effects of partition
00:10:19 the shadow of WW2 and joining NATO
00:14:00 plug for Rolf’s book (link in description)
00:14:30 East/West connections/issues
00:15:58 Navy, Cessnas, F-104s…..
00:19:00 Importance of determination 
00:21:05 Training begins 
00:26:44 the pace of learning, attrition and culture
00:35:15 104G for Germany 
00:38:04 The Widow-maker, earning its reputation 
00:43:10 afterburner t-handle and APC 
00:45:10 was the T-38 a good lead in for the -104?
00:46:46 introduction to the 104 and selection
00:50:40 feeling like a fighter pilot? 
00:52:00 F-104G as a weapons system
00:55:50 strike training/bad scores
00:59:55 intuitive flying vs by the numbers

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:20 decoys continued
00:04:25 Checkride to a DFC (Podgorica airfield strike)
00:16:30 Reviewing more tapes
00:26:40 shack “Nice shot Starbaby”
00:27:25 The check ride tape
00:34:40 Let’s talk bridges
00:37:10 Bridge strike debrief
00:45:11 Shack and BDA
00:49:55 “Can you find the target in 12 seconds”, a training story
00:52:10 current Strike Eagle toys not available to SB at the time
00:55:42 no shit there I was…….
01:00:00 in closing

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:48 Corrections & AIM-9 shot
00:10:40 Hazardous, Gross, Upside Down, Rotating, Prismatic Buffoonery
00:11:50 Greg House Pi
00:13:20 Most screwed up thing in OAF
00:28:40 Casualties of war
00:37:07 Grdelica Bridge video, first attack.
00:46:49 Grdelica Bridge video, second attack.
00:49:55 Reactions within the squadron
00:52:11 Subsequent changes to AGM-130 employment, strike planning?
00:54:27 Goings on at the CAOC, deliberate selection of a civilian target
00:58:52 Story time: The Toothpick Challenge
1:08:22 Steve has at least three good stories

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:01 life during Allied Force and criticism of initial campaign conduct. 
03:40 Strike Eagle on CAP hampered by ROE 
00:12:50 why the lack of confidence in the front line operators?
00:17:10 Canadian incident. Friendly Fire. 
00:18:20 Italy is the place to wage a war from. 
00:19:20 Combat video - railway tunnel attack
00:33:10 Combat video - attacking C&C bunker (1st drop of Allied Force)
00:40:40 Combat video - Kraljevo Ammunition plant attack with Mk82s
00:45:20 and home in time (or not) for the best Easter Mass!
00:47:00 the importance or otherwise of knowing your allies capabilities. 
00:50:35 examining allegations of French disclosure of flight path/mission planning 
00:53:15 Thoughts on former Yugoslavian Air Force capabilities 
00:56:35 enter the Bone (reasons why you want them in your strike package)
00:58:50 Serbian decoys (tactical bushes!)

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:10 Arriving at LN, getting Mission Ready and Nuclear Strike Certification 
00:13:18 The SB View on the Nuclear Mission
00:15:48 The prevalence of Need to Know
00:16:25 Finding out about expected deployment
00:20:00 Starbaby Productions video from unclassified vault footage and discussion
00:31:20 Finnish exchange and visits
00:39:00 WSO BFM session “yeah, I’m a WSO”
00:43:30 A Finnish Airshow, nosey Swedes and chatting with Russians. 
00:47:50 the RAF “raises the bar” and various other Finnish shenanigans 
00:54:50 the Finnish Airforce and their Hornets vs the Swiss
01:01:20 Lakenheath and March to War
01:01:30 Back to Lakenheath, Starbaby’s March to War, Integrating with NATO, Squadron Spin-up
01:17:10 Dealing with the Stealth Guys, Comments and Observations on Planning, First Night Strikes
01:22:50 Hostilities Kick Off in Kosovo, Things Go Wrong
01:34:30 Looking Back, Bomb Choice, Munitions Failure
01:38:20 72 Hrs and No Targets, Night Missions, Crew Co-ordination, Things that Just Happen

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:21 Callsigns and names
00:03:22 Assignment to F-16s at Nellis AFB in 1981
00:03:59 Tactics development of the F-16A – influenced by the F-4
00:04:30 Brief description of low-level tactics of the F-4
00:05:02 INS and INS updates in the F-16A, speed management and TOT information
00:06:12 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-4
00:07:02 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-16A
00:10:27 Air to Air radar in the F-16A and the F-4
00:12:40 Thoughts on going from a dual seat to a single seat fighter
00:15:18 F-4 Air to Air radar in the visual arena
00:16:01 F-16A Air to Air radar in the visual arena
00:17:25 What was the intended role of the F-16A in the early 1980s?
00:19:53 Gabby’s thoughts on the early F-16A radar
00:22:57 Air to Air and Air to Ground radar modes in the F-16
00:25:14 F-16A Maneuverability
00:27:10 The F-16 reclined seat, pulling g and neck injuries
00:28:17 Methods of dealing with high-g forces in the F-16A
00:28:59 Electrical Issues and flight control problems
00:30:52 Story of an F-16 pilot’s flight control issue and subsequent ejection
00:31:50 Story of a fatal F-16 accident due to flight control issues
00:32:20 Changes to F-16 EPU and flight control computer logic and the performance changes
00:32:52 Changes to the F-16 leading edge flap program due to structural damage
00:33:38 AoA Limits of the F-16A
00:34:35 G-LOC propensity of the F-16, and how it was recognized and addressed in the USAF
00:38:34 Gabby describes the physiological effects of G-forces
00:40:55 Auto-GCAS 
00:41:17 How tactics evolved in the USAF as the F-16’s advanced avionics were understood
00:42:17 Gabby describes how BFM/ACM in the F-16 differs from fighting in the F-4
00:43:25 Walkthrough of engaging in 3 v 1 ACM
00:45:15 Development of multi-fighter tactics for the F-16
00:46:15 Walkthrough of fighting Eagles with radar-missile capability
00:47:27 Discussion of the Exploding Cantaloupe maneuver
00:48:32 Steve questions how USAF safety culture affected training
00:51:06 Gabby describes an early F-16 mishap
00:53:58 Employment of the F-16 for strike/bombing, and how the F-16 fares when configured with a heavy air to ground loadout if bounced by enemy fighters
00:57:35 How aggressors of the time had to evolve to provide quality training to F-16 aviators
00:59:15 Gabby’s transition from the F-16A into the MiG-21 Fishbed as a Red Eagle and Aggressor, contrasting the MiG-21 and F-16
01:02:02 Gabby’s experience flying against Constant Peg as an F-16 pilot
01:04:03 How to defeat the MiG-21 in BFM
01:05:52 Steve references Gabby’s time as the Red Eagles’ MiG-23 high-time pilot
01:06:19 The process of Gabby transitioning from small, maneuverable fighters (F-16, MiG-21) into the MiG-23
01:09:52 Which Soviet missiles the Red Eagles simulated
01:10:27 Instructing at Luke AFB after the Red Eagles
1:12:30 Transitioning from Mig23 to F-16C was it a culture shock?
1:13:45 Viper radar mode 3/wartime
1:15:42 Russians in Winnebegos stalking the Nellis ranges
1:17:29 AMRAAM for the Viper
1:19:10 What did AMRAAM mean in terms of how you operate the Viper?
1:21:30 HOTAS geek out
1:23:05 Viper RHAW and "New guy audio" and workarounds
1:27:10 Scary Stories?
1:28:00 Spinning the Mig-23 Twice!
1:31:30 Recovering from "half" a compressor stall in the Mig-23
1:33:05 Flogger birdstrike
1:33:50 Flogger mishaps
1:40:30 Origins of "Gabby" and MiG-21 checkout
1:46:40 Final question - F-4 shutdown checklist

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Starbaby joins me for a regular session in which we discuss Ukraine, topical aviation stories and questions asked by the audience on the Discord channel. 

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Wild Weasel Story, Part 4. Flash Barker and the F-16CJ in Operation Allied Force. 

Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh

00:00:00 Introduction.
00:01:38 Flash's background
00:02:42 F-16 Block 30's role in Korea
00:03:15 Block 30 and "Dumb HARM"
00:04:20 The F-16CJ
00:05:20 Developing Force Protection Tactics
00:09:06 Were F-4G Pilots EWOs involved in Flash's Wing?
00:10:40 The Harm Targeting System (HTS)
00:13:50 The "Force Protection Role" - Priorities
00:16:39 Datalink in the F-16CJ
00:17:37 Allied Force
00:19:48 Building the battle plan
00:21:32 How much notice before deploying to Allied Force?
00:22:09 The Serbian air defense threat
00:23:48 Threat briefs given to 20th FW from Spangdahlem Viper Squadrons
00:25:30 Levels of coordination between SEAD assets in theatre
00:28:17 Implications of not having secure comms in combat
00:30:25 The balance between SEAD and DEAD
00:33:37 The psychology of kill or supress the SAM
00:35:02 Memorable SEAD mission during Allied Force
00:39:13 SEAD missions - successes, failures and lessons learned
00:41:16 Typical F-16CJ mission - Preplanned vs dynamic
00:42:50 HARM shots - Kills vs suppression
00:44:10 Serbian air defense tactics - SAMS forcing aircraft into AAA WEZ
00:45:20 Goldfein shot down by SA-3
00:47:51 Flash's closest call during Allied Force
00:49:22 The pilot's trust in the technology to keep them safe
00:50:15 The YGBSM motto and arriving in combat
00:52:29 Air to air encounters
00:57:03 Dog's MiG-29 kill
01:00:45 Lessons learned after Allied Force
01:02:42 Feelings on the Air Force divesting EW capability
01:04:52 Towed decoys and how do they fit in to self protection
01:05:55 Were weasel pilots briefed on cyber warfare
01:06:56 The rationale of moving pilots between different blocks
01:09:23 Did you feel like a Wild Weasel when flying Block 40's?
01:11:22 Cultural issues in WW community when transitioning from F-4G to F-16CJ
01:13:15 Flying the Block 30 in the AL ANG
01:14:29 Flash's favourite Viper variant and favourite mission
01:15:00 F-16C Block 30 Centre Display Unit and advanced targeting pods
01:15:54 Deploying Afghanistan in 2014 with the Block 30 upgrades and close air support
01:17:26 After 20 years and 4,000hrs is flying and fighting the Viper rote?
01:19:00 Flash's thoughts on the Viper training pipeline

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Starbaby joins me for a regular session in which we discuss Ukraine, topical aviation stories and questions asked by the audience on the Discord channel. 

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Cold War F-4M FGR.2 Phantom Pilot, Part 2: Tug Wilson

Part 1: https://youtu.be/CWJd8AVS-Dk

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Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:40 Roles and relationships between pilots and navigators
00:07:14 Thoughts on single-seat vs dual crew in modern fighters
00:09:48 Flying and fun in Cyprus
00:16:51 Thoughts on RAF Phantoms not being involved in the Gulf War
00:20:08 Challenging nighttime scramble in Cyprus
00:27:32 RAF-Israeli relations in the Med
00:29:25 Flying and fighting against US Navy F-14s
00:37:13 The psychology of being "shot down" in training / The "Mercedes Split"
00:41:48 Did RAF Squadrons have a "Combat Ladder" (pubic ranking of pilot performance)
00:43:58 What made the great Phantom pilots great?
00:48:32 Chair flying manoeuvres, looking outside and flying the picture
00:51:56 Risk aversion, feel vs metric based training
00:54:38 WVR experiences with various aircraft types, F-104 at the merge
00:58:49 High Fast Flyer intercepts, MiG-25 and MiG-31
1:00:06 Falklands QRA, Argentine threats in 1990
1:06:17 Rites of passage in the Falklands, The Goose, low flying at Lafonia
1:10:23 Leadership philosophy and oversight around "outrageous" flying
1:16:03 The drag chute incident, revenge. Jealousy around postings to Germany? 
1:23:05 Going back to 56 Squadron, Interpersonal relationships and sticking up for your mates
1:30:15 Reflections on Death and Mortality in Aviation life
1:38:39 Tug's Personal  Circumstances and Life Outside the Squadron 
1:41:25 Tug's Goodbye to the Phantom 
1:45:22 A tale to finish

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Cold War F-4M FGR.2 Phantom Pilot, Part 1: Tug Wilson

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Wild Weasel Story, Part 3: Pietrucha 

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F-14 Tomcat Sunset - "Puck" Howe

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10PCT #39

00:00:00 Introduction    
00:01:01 Puck's Bio    
00:02:22 Tomcat Differences    
00:07:39 F-14D In Detail    
00:11:13 APG-71 and the Phoenix    
00:16:41 AMRAAM    
00:18:18 AIM-54 Active Range    
00:22:06 Missile Envelope Validation   
00:26:06 AIM-9X    
00:27:16 BVR vs. WVR    
00:34:25 Which fighter is best?    
00:40:47 Navy Fighter Pilot Culture & Cheating 
00:44:47 "Dollar" Silvers Story    
00:48:26 Air to Ground Capability   
00:52:29 FAC(A)     
01:04:32 Retirement    
01:11:13 Intrinsic vs. Maturity Limitations 
01:22:00 Cost Benefit Analyses     
01:23:10 Capability Rates    
01:27:12 Pulping Jets    
01:36:18 Moving On    
01:41:02 Pilot and WSO/RIO Dynamic   
01:45:48 IRST    
01:48:23 UAPs    
01:52:46 Magic Carpet    
01:59:18 Reliance on Technology

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F-15E Strike Eagle Goes to War: Alred, Rudd, Smyth, Pelletier

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10PCT #38:

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