Podcast · Leisure & Travel

Fighter Pilot Podcast

by Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot · English · Leisure & Travel

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 59 min
Latest: 28 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

28 Sep 2026 · 59 min

FPP226 - A Lifetime in Combat Aviation

Today, CAPT Jack Ashmore talks through a remarkable combat career spanning Korea and Vietnam, flying the AD Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk, F-4 Phantom, and A-7 Corsair II. He shares dozens of firsthand stories from the 1968 Tet Offensive, the evolution of naval aviation, carrier operations, and the experience of adapting from piston-powered aircraft to supersonic jets. His perspective on combat aviation is really something special. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

21 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 23 min

FPP225 - In the Skies Over Iraq

Rear Admiral Doug "Woody" Beal came on the show having spent 35 years in Navy strike fighters, 13 on active duty and 22 in the reserves. Flying Intruders and Hornets from Whidbey to China Lake to the skies over Iraq. He has experienced everything from a medical disqualification at USAFA to combat ops over Somalia and Iraq as well as the tense 2019 standoff with Iran as Vice Commander of NAVCENT/5th Fleet. Plus, fresh takeaways on EMALS and AAG from a recent Gerald R. Ford strike group debrief. Support the show at: Fighter Pilot Podcast — Creating air combat-related content. | Patreon Learn…
14 Sep 2026 · 49 min

FPP224 - The Software Problem

Have you ever thought about how you update your F-22? Probably not, but someone has to. Rob Slaughter, former Air Force officer and co-founder of Defense Unicorns, joins the Fighter Pilot Podcast to discuss fixing how the Department of War builds, delivers, and updates software. From the Pentagon to disconnected battlefields. We talk innovation, air-gapped systems, and what it takes to bring modern software to the fight. Support the show at: Fighter Pilot Podcast — Creating air combat-related content. | Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

FPP223 - The Human Factor

If only we treated the human being in the cockpit with the same care and lifecycle management we give the aircraft... In this episode, I sit down with Commander Kevin Bernstein, MD, to explore a new approach to human performance across Naval Aviation. Drawing on his experience in sports medicine and Naval Special Warfare, Kevin explains how physical performance, psychology, recovery, and readiness can be brought together to help aviators perform better, stay healthy, and remain operational for longer. We discuss the Human Performance program being developed across the Navy, what it looks…
31 Aug 2026 · 50 min

FPP222 - Afghanistan: America's Longest War

On October 7, 2001, a US Air Force B-2 Spirit crossed into Afghan airspace as part of the opening campaign of Operation Enduring Freedom. Nearly twenty years later, a C-17 Globemaster carrying the final American soldiers lifted off from Kabul as the Taliban returned to power. Between those two very different aircraft lies the story of America's longest war. What began with a remarkably successful military campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaeda evolved into a two-decade multinational effort encompassing counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, nation-building, and the creation of Afghan…
17 Aug 2026 · 50 min

FPP221 - The Israeli Ace with 12 MiG Kills

Brigadier General (Ret.) Israel Baharav is one of Israel's most accomplished fighter pilots, credited with twelve MiG-21 kills during his distinguished career in the Israeli Air Force. Over three decades of military service, he flew on the front lines, commanded a fighter squadron, served as Head of Air Force Intelligence, and led strategic planning efforts for the Israel Defense Forces, helping establish the framework for strategic cooperation between Israel and the United States. Following his military career, General Baharav transitioned into the world of technology and entrepreneurship,…
3 Aug 2026 · 47 min

FPP220 - Launching Satellites from F-104s

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters Space, to discuss the company's mission to transform access to space using high-performance aircraft. We explore the STARLAUNCH air-launch system, how Starfighters operates the world's only commercial fleet of Mach 2+ F-104 Starfighters, and the advantages of launching rockets from the edge of the atmosphere. Tim also shares insights from his decades of experience in the space industry, including his work shaping Florida's commercial space sector, developing launch infrastructure, and helping bridge the gap between government…
20 Jul 2026 · 54 min

FPP219 - From Wimbledon to Mach 1.58: Louis Skupien’s Wild Ride into Telling Aviation’s Story

He was a national champion tennis player headed for Wimbledon, then COVID and injury ended that dream overnight. Two years later, Louis Skupien was strapped into a jet suit. Four years after that, he was breaking the sound barrier twice in an F-16D over Edwards Air Force Base, filming a documentary on the 412th Test Wing and the story behind Auto-GCAS — the system that’s saved 13 pilots’ lives. Louis, host of the Talk4 podcast and creator of the Full Throttle documentary series, joins me to talk tennis-to-aviation reinvention, flying with jet-suit inventor Richard Browning, low-level runs…
13 Jul 2026 · 55 min

FPP218 - The Humans Behind Autonomous Air Combat

Former US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot turned Autonodyne CEO Steve Jacobson discusses one of the most important and least understood aspects of future air combat: the human-machine interface. Jake shares stories from flying and testing the Warthog, explains why he turned down Test Pilot School before ultimately finding his way into flight test anyway, and reflects on how those experiences shaped his approach to designing command-and-control software for autonomous aircraft. Support this podcast at — https://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
29 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 36 min

FPP217 - Shot Down, Not Out: Col. Richard "Dog" Brenneman on Service and Survival

US Air Force Colonel Richard "Dog" Brenneman describes his incredible story of courage and determination. Shot down over North Vietnam on his 26th combat mission while flying the F-4 Phantom II, Col. Brenneman spent more than 1,900 days as a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton before returning home and was awarded the Silver Star for his extraordinary resilience. Support this podcast at — https://www.patreon.com/c/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E216 · 15 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

FPP216 - 300 Vietnam Missions in the F-4: Combat and the Making of a Leader

Ron "Toes" Cooper grew up silent, insecure, and certain he'd never amount to much. Then four men believed in him — and everything changed. Toes went on to fly the F-4 Phantom in over 300 combat missions in Vietnam, dodge a MiG-21 missile by a split second, participate in the rescue of a downed pilot who survived 23 days alone in hostile territory, and command a squadron. In this episode, Toes brings us into the cockpit and into the chaos of combat — and then draws a straight line from those experiences to the leadership lessons that every team, every organization, and every person who has…
1 Jun 2026 · 50 min

FPP215 - U-2s on Aircraft Carriers: A Cold War Gamble

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…
18 May 2026 · 1 hr 7 min

FPP214 - Fighting Falcons: VMF-221 and the Soul of Marine Aviation

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more…
4 May 2026 · 1 hr 22 min

FPP213 - Top Gun, Tomcats, and AI Wingmen: "Yank" Cummings on Tomorrow’s War

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
E212 · 20 Apr 2026 · 59 min

FPP212 - Four Stars, One Secretary, Zero Ego - Gen. Goldfein & Sec. Wilson on Servant Leadership

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…
E211 · 6 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 17 min

FPP211 - The Last Harrier: Inside the Final AV-8B Squadron

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…
1 Apr 2026 · 51 min

Artemis II: Back to the Moon! (Rebroadcast)

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20 Mar 2026 · 46 min

What Happens After Talent Runs Out: Unlocking the Last 20%

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…
E210 · 6 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 14 min

FPP210 - 600knots Through Chicago: From F-22 Raptor to Reinvention

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…
E209 · 20 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

FPP209 - When (and Where) 5th Gen Simulation Meets Reality

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E208 · 6 Feb 2026 · 59 min

FPP208 - The Making of an Astronaut: From Fighter Test to the Edge of Space

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…
E207 · 23 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 23 min

FPP207 - Flying with the Algorithm: AI, Trust, and the F-35

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about…
E206 · 9 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 16 min

FPP206 - Delivering the Future: Aviation Acquisition

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…
1 Jan 2026 · 3 min

The Fighter Pilot Podcast

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 Dec 2025 · 53 min

End of Year Recap - 2025

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 Dec 2025 · 8 min

NORAD Santa Tracker (Rebroadcast)

Near the end of each 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 rebroadcast 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 Leader. Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Fighter Pilot Podcast. Support this podcast at —…
18 Dec 2025 · 2 hr

Scaled Composites: Flying the Impossible

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…
8 Dec 2025 · 42 min

Warbirds, the Whale, and a Life Well Lived

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…
24 Nov 2025 · 47 min

Honoring a Giant: The Life and Legacy of LtGen Richard Carey

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…
E205 · 17 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 14 min

FPP205 - "Whiskey" at War | Combat Realities in the CH-53E

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://www.patreon.com/cw/ftrpltpdcst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About Fighter Pilot Podcast

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 you!

Fighter Pilot Podcast is a English leisure & travel podcast from Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot
Language: English
Category: Leisure & Travel
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 59 min
Latest episode: 28 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1330534712
Rights: E. Vincent Aiello, 2018

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