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PODCAST

Fighter Pilot Podcast

Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot

The Fighter Pilot Podcast explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, the emerging technologies, and most importantly—the people. Most episodes feature a guest who helps explain military aviation topics such from Vietnam shoot down stories to how AI is changing air combat. If you love the roar of a high-speed flyby or are enamored by the poise and confidence of the brave men and women who fly, fix, and fight these amazing aircraft, then this show is for

leisure aviation

All Episodes

56:25

FPP208 - The Making of an Astronaut: From Fighter...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2026/02/06

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 —

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79:59

FPP207 - Flying with the Algorithm: AI, Trust, and...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2026/01/23

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

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73:10

FPP206 - Delivering the Future: Aviation Acquisition

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2026/01/09

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

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50:13

End of Year Recap - 2025

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/12/28

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

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115:06

Scaled Composites: Flying the Impossible

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/12/18

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

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39:54

Warbirds, the Whale, and a Life Well Lived

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/12/08

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

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44:31

Honoring a Giant: The Life and Legacy of LtGen...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/11/24

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

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71:07

FPP205 - "Whiskey" at War | Combat Realities in the...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/11/17

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 —

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41:23

Veterans Day Guest Mashup (Rebroadcast)

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/11/11

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

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68:03

Snakes in the Sand: Marine Cobra Pilot Recalls Desert...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/11/10

To mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th birthday on November 10, 2025, we are repurposing a 2023 Patreon Happy Hour featuring Doug Griffith who flew AH-1 Cobras during Operation Desert Storm.Doug shares great stories and a master class on what it means to be a Marine Aviator.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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80:15

FPP204 - The Adventures of a Vietnam War Crusader Pilot

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/11/03

November 10, 2025 marks the U.S. Marines' 250th birthday and to celebrate, we are dedicating the entire month to the Corps, beginning with this discussion featuring Jim "Bullet" Markel.Bullet, who flew the Vought F-8 Crusader, describes flight training, meeting the love of his life, and flying combat operations over Vietnam—including a harrowing mission for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.Support this podcast at —

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52:37

The Air Boss, 2025

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/10/27

The U.S. Navy has one of the largest air forces in the world comprised of a wide variety of aircraft from helicopters to strike fighters to patrol planes. While squadrons, air wings, and type wings have a well-established chain of command, ultimately they all fall under the purview of a single person. Known formally as the Commander, Naval Air Forces, the position is known better as simply, the Air Boss.On this episode, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and air boss Dan “Undra” Cheever, joins us to discuss the

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10:06

Feel the Need...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/10/20

This week, we pause our monthlong celebration of the U.S. Navy's 250th birthday to check in with FPP friend, Dave "Chip" Berke.Fighter pilot extraordinaire, battle-proven forward air controller, and esteemed leadership coach, Chip codifies his many hard-won lessons learned into a powerful and concise new book, The Need to Lead."Every problem is a leadership problem," Chip asserts—find out why and, more importantly, how to effectively address these problems in this fascinating

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62:36

Submarines for Dummies... er, Aviators

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/10/13

Torpedoes vs missiles, tomahawks vs smart bombs, fluid mechanics, missions ranging from direct combat to attack to surveillance... turns out, submarines and military aviation have much in common!On this episode marking the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary, former submarine commander Tony Grayson explains submarines for dummies, invoking aviation concepts and comparisons.If your knowledge of subs is based on Crimson Tide, The Hunt for the Red October, or even Down Periscope, you might be pleasantly

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45:07

From Vietnam to F/A-18s with "Bear"

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/10/06

October 2025 marks 250 years of the U.S. Navy and we begin our monthlong celebration with retired Rear Admiral Jeremy "Bear" Taylor, who considers himself the luckiest man alive.Commissioned in 1957, Bear would accumulate more than 6,000 flight hours in fighters and trainers and over 1,000 carrier landings during his 35+ years of service. He was assigned to 13 different aircraft carriers and flew 50 additional types and models of aircraft, including 10 helicopters.During the Vietnam War,

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97:02

The CH-47 Chinook with "Jellers"

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/09/28

Some aircraft have specialized roles most applicable to certain types of warfare—and thus only appear in certain conflicts around the globe.And then there are the workhorses that show up everywhere.On this episode, former Royal Air Force navigator-turned-pilot Elliott "Jellers" Jardine explains how the Boeing CH-47 Chinook is one of those aircraft. From Vietnam to the Falkland Islands to Sierra Leone and the more recent desert operations, the Chinook is always in demand. And always

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55:15

"Fangs" Talks Flight Test

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/09/18

Colonel James "Fangs" Valpiani knows a thing or two about flight test because he's seen a thing or two: first an Air Force Academy graduate, then a combat-tested F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, a graduate of the French Test Pilot School, and most recently Commodore of the USAF TPS.On this episode, Fangs shares his expertise on the various schools he has attended or led and the aircraft they test, including the X-62 VISTA.Support this podcast at —

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116:06

FPP203 - The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/09/08

Per their website, the "Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents." Awesome, but what does that mean for the men and women comprising the team? How do they join, and what is a typical week like during show season?On this episode, former USAF Thunderbird solo pilot Michelle "MACE" Curran explains her rocky road to the Air Force, the seat of an F-16 fighter jet, and a coveted slot on the

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16:20

Bottling the Fighter Pilot Spirit with Winglore...

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/09/01

Is it possible to capture the camaraderie of a fighter squadron ready room after hours in a spirits brand?Introducing Winglore. Founded by fighter pilots, for fighter pilots, Winglore captures the spirit of a squadron bar after a day in the skies—where stories get taller, roasts get louder, and the whiskey is always worth a toast.Founder Ernesto "Carlos" Howard joins the FPP to explain how Winglore came to be and how anyone over 21 (not just fighter pilots) can enjoy Winglore's signature

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28:07

After the Merge

Fighter Pilot Podcast ·

2025/08/26

A 2008 mid-air collision between an F/A-18 Hornet and F-5F Tiger II near Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada left one pilot dead, two aircraft destroyed, and dozens of squadron mates, family, and friends changed forever.This bonus episode of The Merge reunites the two surviving F-5 aircrew, exploring how the mishap has affected their lives in the years since.Brought to you by BVR Productions.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

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