Episode 206 · Fighter Pilot Podcast
FPP206 - Delivering the Future: Aviation Acquisition
9 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Episode notes
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…
Fighter Pilot Podcast
by Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot · English · Leisure & Travel
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
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