Listen Now

Buy a tee! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/magnum-classic-teeSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Intro00:01:50 Starbaby’s background story00:08:30 why didn’t you want the front seat and Pilot vs WSOs00:15:00 Specialised undergraduate Nav training & fighter training 00:20:20 student pilot “tries to kill” Starbaby00:22:30 EWO school 00:26:00 Starbaby vs Nazgûl!!!00:29:00 Spang, German food rules and whizz wheels 00:34:00 the war hero split00:37:30 loosing focus 🤪00:38:30 tactics development 00:40:50 Steve vs camera00:41:30 Zaragoza - a terrible pilot, dive toss, a Ramen noodle fire and green beans00:56:40 the difficulty of not being an alcoholic - changes in fighter culture?00:1:01:10 first combat deployment in Saudi00:1:18:05 Steve’s daughter attempts infiltration (yes you can hear her!)01:18:30 SAM tactics analysis post Gulf War01:23:00 Air Force chooses Stealth over EW and the ongoing repercussions 01:33:00 Radar tape debrief01:48:15 HARM vs aerial targets again01:54:25 trench coat & heelsSupport the show

Buy a tee! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/magnum-classic-teeSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Buy a Tee Shirt, God Damn it!00:00:50 Introduction00:01:25 Spike’s journey to…….00:06:55 The F-4G00:12:55 deploying to Bahrain for the Gulf War00:25:04 “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 Patriot00:46:05 Combat sortie 1 (incl. nosey Iranian SA-2)00:50:45 combat sortie 2 (nighttime visit to H2) and the loss of no.3 jet00:54:20 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 zone01:15:40 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 tactics01:41:15 …..except for Weasels 01:41:50 the Mig game plan 01:44:24 a Starbaby story?Support the show

Buy a tee! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/magnum-classic-teeSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Buy a Tee Shirt, God Damn it!00:00:50 Introduction00:03:05 Thoughts on the effectiveness of the Spang mixed F-4G/Viper teams00:05:45 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 pilots and crew mSupport the show

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrueStarbaby joins me for a regular session in which we discuss Ukraine, topical aviation stories and questions asked by the audience on the Discord channel. Join us on Discord, here: https://discord.gg/hJtn699wSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Get Rolf's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Mach-2-Flying-F-104-Starfighter/dp/3347130324Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 IntroductionSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:01:23 Gabby’s disclaimer!00:02:15 a brief history of Gabby’s F-4 postings, variants and missions 00:06:10 Variants in more detail00:16:25 an easy plane to land……00:17:25 19.2 to 25 AoA with leading edge slats00:19:55 Cockpit ergonomics, the 556 mod and genesis of HOTAS00:22:00 TISEO00:25:02 Adverse Yaw00:27:20 motors00:28:45 “Pave” targeting and gun pods00:37:27 air to air gouge00:42:20 target identification and prosecution 00:47:20 Bentwaters and the Nuclear mission00:58:50 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 role01:11:14 Energy Management01:14:30 GIB01:16:20 the Clark mission and knowing the enemy…..North Korea01:21:45 Weapons School01:30:30 departures, stories and Jeremiah Weed01:36:00 AMA questions 02:01:15 Joe Bob being devious02:03:10 the dive toss troubleSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction and growing up in West Germany00:06:55 the effects of partition00:10:19 the shadow of WW2 and joining NATO00:14:00 plug for Rolf’s book (link in description)00:14:30 East/West connections/issues00:15:58 Navy, Cessnas, F-104s…..00:19:00 Importance of determination 00:21:05 Training begins 00:26:44 the pace of learning, attrition and culture00:35:15 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 selection00:50:40 feeling like a fighter pilot? 00:52:00 F-104G as a weapons system00:55:50 strike training/bad scores00:59:55 intuitive flying vs by the numbersSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:00:20 decoys continued00:04:25 Checkride to a DFC (Podgorica airfield strike)00:16:30 Reviewing more tapes00:26:40 shack “Nice shot Starbaby”00:27:25 The check ride tape00:34:40 Let’s talk bridges00:37:10 Bridge strike debrief00:45:11 Shack and BDA00:49:55 “Can you find the target in 12 seconds”, a training story00:52:10 current Strike Eagle toys not available to SB at the time00:55:42 no shit there I was…….01:00:00 in closingSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:01:48 Corrections & AIM-9 shot00:10:40 Hazardous, Gross, Upside Down, Rotating, Prismatic Buffoonery00:11:50 Greg House Pi00:13:20 Most screwed up thing in OAF00:28:40 Casualties of war00:37:07 Grdelica Bridge video, first attack.00:46:49 Grdelica Bridge video, second attack.00:49:55 Reactions within the squadron00:52:11 Subsequent changes to AGM-130 employment, strike planning?00:54:27 Goings on at the CAOC, deliberate selection of a civilian target00:58:52 Story time: The Toothpick Challenge1:08:22 Steve has at least three good storiesSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:00:01 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 attack00:33:10 Combat video - attacking C&C bunker (1st drop of Allied Force)00:40:40 Combat video - Kraljevo Ammunition plant attack with Mk82s00:45:20 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!)Support the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:02:10 Arriving at LN, getting Mission Ready and Nuclear Strike Certification 00:13:18 The SB View on the Nuclear Mission00:15:48 The prevalence of Need to Know00:16:25 Finding out about expected deployment00:20:00 Starbaby Productions video from unclassified vault footage and discussion00:31:20 Finnish exchange and visits00:39:00 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 Swiss01:01:20 Lakenheath and March to War01:01:30 Back to Lakenheath, Starbaby’s March to War, Integrating with NATO, Squadron Spin-up01:17:10 Dealing with the Stealth Guys, Comments and Observations on Planning, First Night Strikes01:22:50 Hostilities Kick Off in Kosovo, Things Go Wrong01:34:30 Looking Back, Bomb Choice, Munitions Failure01:38:20 72 Hrs and No Targets, Night Missions, Crew Co-ordination, Things that Just HappenSupport the show

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:00:21 Callsigns and names00:03:22 Assignment to F-16s at Nellis AFB in 198100:03:59 Tactics development of the F-16A – influenced by the F-400:04:30 Brief description of low-level tactics of the F-400:05:02 INS and INS updates in the F-16A, speed management and TOT information00:06:12 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-400:07:02 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-16A00:10:27 Air to Air radar in the F-16A and the F-400:12:40 Thoughts on going from a dual seat to a single seat fighter00:15:18 F-4 Air to Air radar in the visual arena00:16:01 F-16A Air to Air radar in the visual arena00:17:25 What was the intended role of the F-16A in the early 1980s?00:19:53 Gabby’s thoughts on the early F-16A radar00:22:57 Air to Air and Air to Ground radar modes in the F-1600:25:14 F-16A Maneuverability00:27:10 The F-16 reclined seat, pulling g and neck injuries00:28:17 Methods of dealing with high-g forces in the F-16A00:28:59 Electrical Issues and flight control problems00:30:52 Story of an F-16 pilot’s flight control issue and subsequent ejection00:31:50 Story of a fatal F-16 accident due to flight control issues00:32:20 Changes to F-16 EPU and flight control computer logic and the performance changes00:32:52 Changes to the F-16 leading edge flap program due to structural damage00:33:38 AoA Limits of the F-16A00:34:35 G-LOC propensity of the F-16, and how it was recognized and addressed in the USAF00:38:34 Gabby describes the physiological effects of G-forces00:40:55 Auto-GCAS 00:41:17 How tactics evolved in the USAF as the F-16’s advanced avionics were understood00:42:17 Gabby describes how BFM/ACM in the F-16 differs from fighting in the F-400:43:25 Walkthrough of engaging in 3 v 1 ACM00:45:15 Development of multi-fighter tactics for the F-1600:46:15 Walkthrough of fighting Eagles with radar-missile capability00:47:27 Discussion of the Exploding Cantaloupe maneuver00:48:32 Steve questions how USAF safety culture affected training00:51:06 Gabby describes an early F-16 mishap00:53:58 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 fighters00:57:35 How aggressors of the time had to evolve to provide quality training to F-16 aviators00:59:15 Gabby’s transition from the F-16A into the MiG-21 Fishbed as a Red Eagle and Aggressor, contrasting the MiG-21 and F-1601:02:02 Gabby’s experience flying against Constant Peg as an F-16 pilot01:04:03 How to defeat the MiG-21 in BFM01:05:52 Steve references Gabby’s time as the Red Eagles’ MiG-23 high-time pilot01:06:19 The process of Gabby transitioning from small, maneuverable fighters (F-16, MiG-21) into the MiG-2301:09:52 Which Soviet missiles the Red Eagles simulated01:10:27 Instructing at Luke AFB after the Red Eagles1:12:30 Transitioning from Mig23 to F-16C was it a culture shock?1:13:45 Viper radar mode 3/wartime1:15:42 Russians in Winnebegos stalking the Nellis ranges1:17:29 AMRAAM for the Viper1:19:10 What did AMRAAM mean in terms of how you operate the Viper?1:21:30 HOTAS geek out1:23:05 Viper RHAW and "New guy audio" and workarounds1:27:10 Scary Stories?1:28:00 Spinning the Mig-23 Twice!1:31:30 Recovering from "half" a compressor stall in the Mig-231:33:05 Flogger birdstrike1:33:50 Flogger mishaps1:40:30 Origins of "Gabby" and MiG-21 checkout1:46:40 Final question - F-4 shutdown checklistSupport the show

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrueBold Cheetah link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3326679/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. Join us on Discord, here: https://discord.gg/Naw7FM4PSupport the show

This content is not monetised or behind a paywall. You can support me in keeping it that way here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Wild Weasel Story, Part 4. Flash Barker and the F-16CJ in Operation Allied Force. Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction.00:01:38 Flash's background00:02:42 F-16 Block 30's role in Korea00:03:15 Block 30 and "Dumb HARM"00:04:20 The F-16CJ00:05:20 Developing Force Protection Tactics00:09:06 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" - Priorities00:16:39 Datalink in the F-16CJ00:17:37 Allied Force00:19:48 Building the battle plan00:21:32 How much notice before deploying to Allied Force?00:22:09 The Serbian air defense threat00:23:48 Threat briefs given to 20th FW from Spangdahlem Viper Squadrons00:25:30 Levels of coordination between SEAD assets in theatre00:28:17 Implications of not having secure comms in combat00:30:25 The balance between SEAD and DEAD00:33:37 The psychology of kill or supress the SAM00:35:02 Memorable SEAD mission during Allied Force00:39:13 SEAD missions - successes, failures and lessons learned00:41:16 Typical F-16CJ mission - Preplanned vs dynamic00:42:50 HARM shots - Kills vs suppression00:44:10 Serbian air defense tactics - SAMS forcing aircraft into AAA WEZ00:45:20 Goldfein shot down by SA-300:47:51 Flash's closest call during Allied Force00:49:22 The pilot's trust in the technology to keep them safe00:50:15 The YGBSM motto and arriving in combat00:52:29 Air to air encounters00:57:03 Dog's MiG-29 kill01:00:45 Lessons learned after Allied Force01:02:42 Feelings on the Air Force divesting EW capability01:04:52 Towed decoys and how do they fit in to self protection01:05:55 Were weasel pilots briefed on cyber warfare01:06:56 The rationale of moving pilots between different blocks01:09:23 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-16CJ01:13:15 Flying the Block 30 in the AL ANG01:14:29 Flash's favourite Viper variant and favourite mission01:15:00 F-16C Block 30 Centre Display Unit and advanced targeting pods01:15:54 Deploying Afghanistan in 2014 with the Block 30 upgrades and close air support01:17:26 After 20 years and 4,000hrs is flying and fighting the Viper rote?01:19:00 Flash's thoughts on the Viper training pipelineSupport the show

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrueStarbaby joins me for a regular session in which we discuss Ukraine, topical aviation stories and questions asked by the audience on the Discord channel. Support the show

Support the show

Cold War F-4M FGR.2 Phantom Pilot, Part 2: Tug WilsonPart 1: https://youtu.be/CWJd8AVS-DkTip Jar: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=GDJU6CM3GWZTNConfessions of a Phantom Pilot: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-Phantom-Pilot-Tug-Wilson-ebook/dp/B09L1S7D15/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N6UTX8814WDP&keywords=tug+wilson&qid=1662647417&sprefix=tug+wilson%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:01:40 Roles and relationships between pilots and navigators00:07:14 Thoughts on single-seat vs dual crew in modern fighters00:09:48 Flying and fun in Cyprus00:16:51 Thoughts on RAF Phantoms not being involved in the Gulf War00:20:08 Challenging nighttime scramble in Cyprus00:27:32 RAF-Israeli relations in the Med00:29:25 Flying and fighting against US Navy F-14s00:37:13 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 picture00:51:56 Risk aversion, feel vs metric based training00:54:38 WVR experiences with various aircraft types, F-104 at the merge00:58:49 High Fast Flyer intercepts, MiG-25 and MiG-311:00:06 Falklands QRA, Argentine threats in 19901:06:17 Rites of passage in the Falklands, The Goose, low flying at Lafonia1:10:23 Leadership philosophy and oversight around "outrageous" flying1:16:03 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 mates1:30:15 Reflections on Death and Mortality in Aviation life1:38:39 Tug's Personal  Circumstances and Life Outside the Squadron 1:41:25 Tug's Goodbye to the Phantom 1:45:22 A tale to finishSupport the show

Cold War F-4M FGR.2 Phantom Pilot, Part 1: Tug WilsonTip Jar: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=GDJU6CM3GWZTNConfessions of a Phantom Pilot: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-Phantom-Pilot-Tug-Wilson-ebook/dp/B09L1S7D15/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N6UTX8814WDP&keywords=tug+wilson&qid=1662647417&sprefix=tug+wilson%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQhSupport the show

Wild Weasel Story, Part 3: Pietrucha Tip Jar: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=GDJU6CM3GWZTNDiscussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQhSupport the show

F-14 Tomcat Sunset - "Puck" HoweTip Jar: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GDJU6CM3GWZTNDiscussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh10PCT #3900:00:00 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 TechnologySupport the show