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Retired Pilot Col. John “Warman” Stewart discusses his Vietnam combat sorties and how the Super Sabre saved his life. In this episode, we explore the history of the North American F-100, John’s Air Force career, his first supersonic flight, and what it was like operating one of the most important fighters of the Cold War. We also get an in-depth walkaround to understand how the Super Sabre's design features enabled its mission. From breaking the sound barrier to supporting troops on the ground, this one is going to be cool! What You'll Hear The F-100 Super Sabre was the U.S. Air Force’s first supersonic fighter, marking a major leap in speed, capability, and risk during the early Cold War.Flying the F-100 required constant attention, as early supersonic airplanes left little margin for error and demanded precise energy management.John’s Air Force career placed him at the forefront of the jet-age transition, pushing the envelope for both pilots and their aircraft.Combat operations over Vietnam highlighted the F-100’s role in close air support, where speed and firepower directly supported ground troops.The Super Sabre’s legacy is one of innovation and hard-earned lessons, shaping fighters and tactics that followed for decades.Support Wings Over the Rockies' non-profit mission to educate and inspire future aerospace leaders: https://wingsmuseum.org/support/donate/

Human Factors Engineer Cynthia Hudy shares what it takes to design a spacecraft around the people who fly it. We explore Cynthia’s role designing the systems inside Orion, from displays and controls to life support, radiation protection, and the everyday realities of living in deep space. We also discuss how astronaut feedback and human-in-the-loop testing are shaping Artemis II, the first crewed Orion mission to carry humans beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17. From engineering for diverse crews to preparing humans for deep-space autonomy, this one is going to be cool! What You'll Hear Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 This 10-day flight around the Moon is the critical proving mission before astronauts return to the lunar surface.Orion is designed like a “tiny house” in deep space Every system inside the capsule is engineered so four astronauts can live, work, sleep, eat, exercise, and respond to emergencies in an extremely confined space.Human factors engineering shapes nearly every design decision Orion is built around human physical and mental limits, treating the crew as an essential part of the spacecraft system—not an afterthought.The interior of Orion is where Artemis II differs most from earlier missions Life support, a functioning bathroom, exercise equipment, food and water systems, and crew-controlled displays are all coming online for the first time.Astronaut testing directly changed how Orion works “Human-in-the-loop” trials led to real design changes, from how doors open in microgravity to how astronauts sleep, move, and access critical systems.Artemis II is the proving ground for future Moon landings and Mars missions What Orion demonstrates about comfort, safety, autonomy, and crew well-being will shape Artemis III and long-duration human exploration.Support Wings Over the Rockies' non-profit mission to educate and inspire about aerospace: https://wingsmuseum.org/support/donate/

NFL Alum and Pilot Jimmy Graham shares stories about stunt flying and how it helped him relax when off the field. In this episode, we discuss how Jimmy earned his pilot certificates during his football career, airshow aerobatics, and his restored 1957 Army Beaver and Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey. We also explore Jimmy's role as Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, and his commitment to inspiring future aviators. From the discipline of professional football to the focus required in the cockpit, this one is going to be cool! Resources: Jimmy Graham BioEAA BioYoung EaglesBell UH-1H Iroquois Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Fact Sheet (Wikipedia)Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:04) - Meet Jimmy Graham (01:29) - Football vs Flying (04:18) - Early Aviation Inspiration (05:52) - College Years (07:25) - Unexpected Path to the NFL (08:55) - Draft Day (09:44) - First Huddle (10:29) - Career Highlights (11:04) - Motivation Shift (12:11) - Flight School (14:00) - Ten Licenses (15:12) - Flight Training & Checkrides (17:01) - Lifelong Education (19:20) - Decision-Making (20:30) - First Aerobatic Flight (21:16) - Young Eagles (23:08) - Aviation as Therapy (25:44) - Jimmy's Aircraft (28:36) - Growing Young Eagles (32:31) - What’s Next (35:33) - Advice (37:33) - Outro

Retired Fighter Pilot Lt. Col. Tammy Barlette shares how flying the A-10 prepared her for operating UAVs like the MQ-1. In this episode, she discusses the Warthog's capabilities, combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, controlling the Predator and Reaper drones, returning to jets after a spinal injury, and how she now shares lessons from the flight deck as a mental performance trainer. As air superiority continues to shift from cockpits to control rooms, we get an inside look at why the pilot's role is more complex than ever before. This one is going to be cool! Resources: Athena’s Voice (Tammy's Speaking Website) Crosscheck Mental Performance (Tammy's Training Website) A-10 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force) MQ-1 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force) MQ-9 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force) Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:21) - Balancing Perfectionism (02:26) - Aviation Beginnings (03:44) - Tammy's Pilot Journey (05:15) - Flying the T-37 (06:53) - Selecting the Warthog (08:22) - From ROTC to the Cockpit (09:26) - Flying the Thunderbolt II (10:13) - Favorite Stories (12:17) - A-10 Capabilities (13:28) - Close Air Support Training (14:18) - Transitioning to UAVs (15:59) - Flying the Predator (17:58) - MQ-1 Capabilities (19:09) - Separating Missions and Personal Life (20:15) - Combat in Iraq and Afghanistan (22:24) - Weapons School and the MQ-9 (26:03) - Changing Policies (26:59) - From Jets to Drones to Jets Again (27:54) - Flying Mistakes (29:52) - Aircraft Performances (30:36) - The Future of Uncrewed Aircraft (31:22) - Mental Performance Training (35:50) - Tammy's Advice (36:45) - Outro

Retired Test Pilot Rogers E. Smith recalls flying the final SR-71 Blackbird flight and how a fuel leak grounded the aircraft forever. In this episode, we discuss his Canadian and American military careers, flying experimental aircraft for NASA, and piloting a MiG-25 at 80,000 feet in Russia. From first to fourth-generation fighters, Rogers has flown nearly every U.S. jet and then some, all without ever attending a formal test pilot school. This one is going to be cool! Resources: Rogers' Website Rogers Smith's Bio (Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame) Rogers' SR-71 Career Synopsis (NASA) SR-71 Fact Sheet (National Museum of the US Air Force) Bell X-22 (Wikipedia) X-29 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Aircraft (NASA) Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:20) - Aviation Beginnings (02:47) - Flying the F-86 (04:32) - From First to Fourth Generation Fighters (05:06) - How Jet Capabilities Evolved (08:58) - Becoming a Test Pilot (09:56) - Favorite Airplane (11:04) - The Bell X-22 (12:34) - The Grumman X-29 (15:16) - Joining NASA (18:37) - Flying at 85,000 Feet (22:16) - The Cockpit View (23:40) - SR-71 Research and Testing (27:44) - The Last Blackbird Flight (29:40) - The Russian‑American Flight Exchange (36:52) - Flying the MiG-25 (37:34) - Rogers' Advice (40:32) - Outro

Retired AV-8B Pilots Capt. Frank “Pugs” Smith and Lt. Col. Luke “Warren” Jacobs take us behind the iconic Jump Jet and its 40-year legacy. We are back with our regularly scheduled podcast! In this episode, they discuss carrier operations, vertical takeoff and landing, the challenges of maintaining the aircraft, and how the fighter performed its missions. The Harrier remains one of aviation’s boldest experiments, paving the way for newer V/STOL platforms like the F-35B. This one is going to be cool! Resources: The Harrier Jump Jet (Key Aero)Operation Desert Storm (Air Force Historical Support Division)The AV-8B Harrier II (Wikipedia)Retiring Wings Over the Rockies' Harrier (YouTube)Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:36) - Harrier Overview (02:35) - Aviation Beginnings (04:27) - The Jump Jet's 40-Year Journey (05:28) - Like Flying a Dragon (06:25) - The TAV-8 Trainer (07:01) - Flying the Harrier (08:18) - The A-4 Vs. The AV-8B (09:19) - Carrier Operations (10:36) - The V/STOL (14:47) - Vertical Take Off Challenges (17:10) - Dogfight Maneuvers (18:15) - How Loud Was the Jump Jet? (20:04) - Life Below Deck (21:05) - Operation Desert Storm (23:25) - Afghanistan Combat Missions (25:53) - How Harrier Capabilities Evolved (26:54) - Flying in Mixed Packages (28:09) - The AV-8B's Legacy (30:00) - Frank and Luke's Advice (32:35) - Outro

How OSIRIS-REx's journey to Asteroid Bennu could reveal clues to the origins of life on Earth. Welcome to the finale of our 4-part bonus podcast miniseries on the making of Behind the Wings PBS Season 7! In this episode, Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy LaTourrette share stories from filming around the U.S. to learn more about OSIRIS-REx's journey to Asteroid Bennu. Join us as we discuss how meteorites helped launch the O-REx idea, designing the spacecraft, touring the asteroid testing wall, and solving problems millions of miles from Earth. This one is going to be cool! Check out the full-length video on PBS or our YouTube channel on November 27. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! As we conclude our miniseries, our regular podcast returns on November 24 with a conversation about the Harrier aircraft. Tune in to hear inside stories on flying the Jump Jet and its hovering ability! Full Season Premiere Schedule: PBS:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Wings’ YouTube Channel:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (00:27) - OSIRIS-REx Overview (01:28) - A 20-Year Mission (03:23) - The Antarctic Asteroid Team (04:53) - Why Bennu? (05:52) - The TAG System (07:50) - The Backup Plan (09:20) - Landing Site (09:53) - Collecting the First Samples (10:50) - Bringing Material Back to Earth (13:14) - Bennu Tea (13:52) - The Next Generation's Research (14:12) - OSIRIS-REx's Future (14:55) - Outro

How the F-16 became a combat legend around the world, and what it takes to build them. Welcome to Part 3 of our 4-part bonus podcast miniseries on the making of Behind the Wings PBS Season 7! In this episode, Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy LaTourrette share stories from filming around the U.S. to learn more about the history behind the Fighting Falcon. Join us as we discuss the dangerous first flight, touring the only manufacturing plant, technical upgrades, and test-flying the Viper fresh off the production line. This one is going to be cool! Check out the full-length video on PBS or our YouTube channel. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Full Season Premiere Schedule: PBS:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Wings’ YouTube Channel:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (00:35) - Tracy's F-16 Background (02:28) - Why We Chose the Viper (03:37) - Aircraft Maintenance and Improvements (04:47) - The Last Manufacturing Plant (06:48) - Touring the Production Line (08:51) - Test Flying Fighting Falcons (09:47) - The Aircraft Design (13:22) - The Dangerous First Flight (14:17) - F-16 Legacy (16:32) - Outro

How the world's largest spacecraft taught us to live and work in space. Welcome to Part 2 of our 4-part bonus podcast miniseries on the making of Behind the Wings PBS Season 7! In this episode, Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy LaTourrette share stories from filming around the U.S. to learn more about building the International Space Station. Join us as we discuss astronaut training in the enormous Neutral Buoyancy Lab pool, assembling the ISS in orbit, life on board, and how mission control helps solve disasters in real time. This one is going to be cool! Check out the full-length video on PBS or our YouTube channel. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Full Season Premiere Schedule: PBS:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Wings’ YouTube Channel:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (00:32) - The Idea Behind Space Stations (01:11) - Forming International Partnerships (01:45) - Assembling the ISS (04:51) - Living Onboard the Station (05:59) - Mission Control (07:15) - The Neutral Buoyancy Lab (10:36) - The Vehicle Mockup Assembly Building (12:00) - Looking Towards the Future (12:44) - Retiring the ISS (13:57) - Outro

What does it take to fly into a hurricane, and why is it important? Welcome to Part 1 of our bonus podcast miniseries on The Making of Behind the Wings PBS Season 7. In this episode, Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy LaTourrette discuss stories they heard while filming The Hurricane Hunters. Join us as we explore the dare that started it all, the modified aircraft and its technology, and how the team saves millions of lives every year. This one is going to be cool! Check out the full-length episode on PBS or our YouTube channel on November 6. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Full Season Premiere Schedule: PBS:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Wings’ YouTube Channel:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (00:56) - Why Pick This Topic? (02:01) - The Hurricane Hunters' Origin Story (03:11) - A Personal Story (04:20) - The Flight Crew (06:27) - Why Fly Into a Hurricane? (07:57) - How the Information Is Used (08:53) - The Aircraft (09:54) - The Pilot's Perspective (10:25) - The Equipment (11:14) - The Flight Brief (12:25) - Why Propellers Are Better than Engines (13:20) - The Missions (14:16) - The Future (15:10) - Advice (16:16) - Outro

University of Arizona Professor and OSIRIS-REx Principal Investigator Dr. Dante Lauretta explains how asteroids could reveal the origins of life on Earth. In this episode, we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the asteroid sample collection on October 20 and explore the spacecraft’s design, the daring Touch-And-Go maneuver, challenges the team overcame, and what we’ve learned so far from the materials returned from Asteroid Bennu. Our knowledge of space is rapidly evolving, and we still have so much more to learn. This special release features the full-length conversation with Dante from our upcoming Season 7 of Behind the Wings on PBS. To dive deeper into the OSIRIS-REx mission, watch the video premiere on November 27 on our YouTube page. This one is going to be cool! The regular podcast will take a short mid-season break and return on November 24. In the meantime, check out our upcoming weekly mini-series: The Making of Behind the Wings PBS Season 7! Resources: Dante's Bio (University of Arizona) Asteroid Bennu (NASA) Asteroid Apophis (NASA) OSIRIS-REx Mission (NASA) OSIRIS-APEX (NASA)Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (02:43) - Aerospace Beginnings (06:07) - Antarctic Collection Mission (09:36) - Why Go to an Asteroid? (11:57) - Designing OSIRIS-REx (14:16) - Earning NASA Funding (17:33) - Michael Drake's Passing (21:53) - The Challenge of Microgravity (24:35) - Testing the Spacecraft (26:51) - Launch Day (30:26) - Why was Asteroid Bennu Chosen? (31:47) - First Images (33:33) - Unexpected Obstacles when Landing (36:35) - The Touch-And-Go System (45:51) - Returning O-REx to Earth (52:06) - Removing the Samples (53:46) - Space Rock Testing (55:17) - What Have We Learned so Far? (57:48) - Are We Alone in the Universe? (59:51) - Future Missions (01:01:48) - Dante's Advice (01:03:06) - Outro

We're excited to announce our special four-part podcast miniseries featuring stories from the making of our newest Behind the Wings PBS season! Director Cray Novick and Host Tracy "Jackie'O" LaTourrette discuss our upcoming episodes: "The Hurricane Hunters," "Building the International Space Station," "50 Years of the F-16," and "Unlocking Asteroid Secrets." Join us to hear inside tales you won't find anywhere else. This is going to be cool! Miniseries episodes come out every Thursday starting October 23. Also, check out the new season on PBS or at our YouTube channel beginning November 6. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Our regular podcast episodes will take a mid-season break after Episode 63 and return on November 24. Full Season Premiere Schedule: PBS:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 13, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT Wings’ YouTube Channel:Episode 1 – The Hurricane Hunters: November 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 2 – Building the International Space Station: November 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. MTEpisode 3 – 50 Years of the F-16: November 20, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MTEpisode 4 – Unlocking Asteroid Secrets: November 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m. MT

Theoretical Physicist Andrew Strominger explains what exactly black holes are and how they could tell us about the beginning of the cosmos. In this episode, Andrew discusses the questions behind black holes, the strange physics at their event horizon, what they reveal about the nature of space and time, and how he, Stephen Hawking, and Malcolm Perry helped develop the theory that "soft hairs" may store information on black holes' surface. From leading minds like Einstein, Hawking, and Strominger, our understanding of these celestial bodies is constantly evolving, and we still have so much to learn. This one is going to be cool! Resources: Andrew's Bio (Harvard)The Event Horizon TelescopeHawking team updates soft hair theory to help solve black hole information paradox (Phys.org)What are black holes? (NASA)Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity (Space.com)Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:59) - Andrew's Favorite Theories (04:11) - Aerospace Beginnings (05:53) - From Commune to Harvard (08:24) - What Is a Black Hole? (12:29) - The Different Types (14:17) - How They Form (15:52) - How Far Are They from Earth? (16:06) - Why Should We Study Black Holes? (17:38) - Why Doubt Is a Valuable Tool (19:37) - The Information Paradox (22:22) - Working Alongside Stephen Hawking (24:12) - Soft Hairs (26:29) - The Holographic Principle (30:31) - Can Black Holes Be Used for Travel? (31:19) - "Interstellar" Time Dilation (34:14) - Why Isn't a Black Hole Considered a Vacuum? (35:02) - The Future of Physics (36:15) - Andrew's Advice (37:04) - Outro

Pilot Mike Silva recalls a high-speed chase that ended when his news helicopter stopped a fleeing criminal’s stolen car, allowing police to save a hostage's life. Welcome to Season 7 of the Behind the Wings podcast! In this episode, Mike discusses Huey missions in Vietnam, piloting Copter4 at Denver CBS, returning to combat as the oldest Black Hawk aviator in Iraq, and saving lives during intense missions. From the Fire Base Mary Ann battle to flying alongside dangerous tornadoes, he has done it all in a career spanning more than 50 years. This one is going to be cool! Resources: Wings Museum's Huey The UH-1 Huey (Wikipedia) The UH-60 Black Hawk (Lockheed Martin) The Battle of Fire Base Mary Ann (Wikipedia)1988 Denver Police Chase (YouTube) Chapters:(00:00) - Intro (01:36) - Which Aircraft Taught You the Most About Flying? (02:19) - Mike's Favorite Aircraft (03:17) - Aviation Beginnings (04:05) - Joining the Army (05:37) - Flight Training (07:24) - Going to Vietnam (08:03) - Lessons Learned From Vietnam (08:50) - Flying the UH-1 (09:43) - Huey Roles (10:26) - Fire Base Mary Ann Battle (14:39) - Returning Home (15:28) - Working for CBS (17:02) - Landing on a Bank Robber's Car (23:14) - Journey to Iraq (25:18) - Encountering Snipers (26:10) - Vietnam vs. Iraq (27:05) - Awards and Honors (27:54) - Mike's Advice (29:15) - Outro

The Behind the Wings podcast is back with Season 7 and 10 new episodes! From the mysteries of black holes to the hovering capabilities of the Harrier Jump Jet, and the final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird, we've got some incredible stories and guests lined up! New episodes come out every other Monday, starting next week with Pilot Mike Silva, famously known for landing his news helicopter on a fleeing bank robber's car. Subscribe wherever you listen, because this season is going to be cool. See you next week for Season 7 of Behind the Wings. In the meantime, check out our past episodes!