Podcasts about stratotanker

Major General (Ret.) Rick Evans shares the history and significance of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM), focusing on the evolution from Building 500 to the new Command and Control Facility (C2F). The conversation covers the historical context of SAC, the transition to STRATCOM, the necessity for a new facility, funding challenges, and the operational capabilities of the new C2F, highlighting its importance in national security.Major General, USAF (Ret.) Richard J. Evans III (Rick) serves as the Executive Director for the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), a national security-focused research institute created by the University of Nebraska. Before joining NSRI, he served more than 35 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, retiring at the rank of Major General in October, 2019. He was previously the Director of Reserve Forces and Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He served as the principal advisor to the Commander on reserve component matters related to the command's diverse missions, including strategic deterrence, nuclear operations and command, control and communications, space and cyberspace operations, full-spectrum global strike, integrated missile defense, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations and joint warfare analysis.Maj. Gen. Evans received his commission in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. He has commanded at the detachment, squadron, group and wing levels. His operational flying assignments include instructor weapon systems officer in the RF-4C; and instructor and evaluator navigator in the KC- 135 Stratotanker. His staff assignments include: wing- level operations, plans, tactics and personnel assignments; Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard for the Quadrennial Defense Review 2010; Acting Director for Space and Information Superiority at the National Guard Bureau; and National Reconnaissance Office Liaison Officer to U.S. Strategic Command. He also served as Chair of the Air National Guard's KC-135 and Space, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Cyber Weapon System Councils and was a member of the Air Directorate Field Advisory Council from 2004-2012. Maj. Gen. Evans has commanded expeditionary forces and flown combat missions in the KC-135 supporting operations Uphold Democracy, Decisive Endeavor, Deliberate Guard, Deliberate Forge, Allied Force, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He also served as Director of Mobility Forces for NATO Operation Unified Protector. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and master navigator with over 4,000 flying hours, including 153 combat/combat support hours. He has also completed over 100 operational missions as an Airborne Emergency Actions Officer leading the Battle Staff on the U.S. Strategic Command E-6B Airborne Command Post.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

Capt. James Spearman is a decorated Air Force pilot and aviation entrepreneur with a remarkable story of resilience and leadership. As an active KC-135 pilot in the Air Force, James earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 2024, one of the nation's highest honors. In addition to flying the KC-135, James is an active general aviation pilot and CFI with land and seaplane ratings and experience with range of aircraft, from the KC-135 Stratotanker to a Cessna 140, and he holds type ratings in the Boeing 707, Boeing 720, Beechjet 400, and Mitsubishi MU-300. If it's on a typical airport ramp, chances are that James can fly it! “SocialFlight Live!” is a live broadcast dedicated to supporting General Aviation pilots and enthusiasts during these challenging times. Register at SocialFlightLive.com to join the live broadcast every Tuesday evening at 8pm ET (be sure to join early because attendance is limited for the live broadcasts).Aspen Avionics www.aspenavionics.com Avemco Insurance www.avemco.com/socialflight Avidyne www.avidyne.com Continental Aerospace Technologies www.continental.aero EarthX Batteries www.earthxbatteries.com Hartzell Engine Technologies https://hartzell.aero Hartzell Propeller www.hartzellprop.com Lightspeed Aviation www.lightspeedaviation.com McFarlane Aviation www.mcfarlane-aviation.com Michelin Aircraft https://aircraft.michelin.com/ Phillips 66 Lubricants https://phillips66lubricants.com/industries/aviation/ Tempest Aero www.tempestaero.com Titan Aircraft www.titanaircraft.com Trio Avionics www.trioavionics.com uAvionix www.uavionix.com Wipaire www.wipaire.com

We speak with a KC-135 pilot and licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic who runs a business specializing in aircraft maintenance, avionics upgrades, and aircraft management. In the news, budget cuts at NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Office, a ruling in the so-called “toxic uniform” lawsuit against American Airlines, wildlife hazards, the Swiss Global 7500 aircraft, ATC retirement age, and Air Force restrictions on pregnant pilots. A KC-135R Stratotanker taxis down the flight line in an alert response during a Nuclear Operational Readiness Exercise (NORE) at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, April 6, 2025.(U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Jesse Hanson) Guest James Spearman is an aviation entrepreneur who owns James Spearman Aircraft LLC, an FAA Part 145 Repair Station specializing in aircraft maintenance, avionics upgrades, and aircraft management. He is also an active KC-135 Stratotanker pilot with the Tennessee Air National Guard who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 2024. James holds a CFI, A&P with Inspection Authorization (IA), and Seaplane ratings (ASES, AMEL, ASEL). He has over 1,000 flight hours in a range of aircraft, from the KC-135 Stratotanker to a Cessna 140, and holds type ratings in the Boeing 707, Boeing 720, Beechjet 400, and Mitsubishi MU-300. James graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Maintenance Management. In our conversation, James describes flying the KC-135 Stratotanker in a night-time combat mission and experiencing a loss of electrical power. He and his crew managed to compensate and return safely to base.  We also look at how he started his aircraft maintenance business, the type of work performed, and his commitment to a high-level white-glove service. James' aircraft maintenance company works primarily on Cirrus airplanes, and he is also a Diamond Aircraft authorized service center, an Epic service center, and a Garmin avionics dealer. Seaplane discovery rides and ICON A5 training are offered through Iconic Air & Sea Adventures. James also produces the The James Spearman Show podcast. Eleven Airmen from the 134th Air Refueling Wing receive the Distinguished Flying Cross on December 7, 2024 at a ceremony on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tennessee. The ceremony highlighted the critical role played by the recipients during a coordinated defense effort in response to one of the largest missile and drone attacks in history, when Iran launched a massive assault on Israel involving over 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ben Cash) Aviation News Stand Up for NOAA Research – The Time to Act is Now A Statement from the American Meteorological Society, in partnership with the National Weather Association, says “The administration's 2026 budget passback plan, currently under consideration, eliminates NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Office and its 10 research laboratories and 16 affiliated Cooperative Institutes, and moves the few remaining research efforts to different NOAA departments. If enacted, the passback would close all of NOAA's weather, climate, and ocean Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes.” The organizations are asking concerned citizens to reach out elected representatives and share concerns. Find Your Representative Find Your Senator Judge Throws Out ‘Toxic Uniform' Lawsuit Against American Airlines After Nearly Eight Years Of Litigation The class action lawsuit, first filed in 2017, alleged that uniforms given by American Airlines to pilots, flight attendants, and other employees caused rashes, hives, breathing difficulties, and headaches. After nearly eight years, the federal judge threw out the lawsuit against American Airlines and former uniform manufacturer Twin Hill in a summary judgment,

The founder and managing director of 123Carbon explains carbon insetting, SAF certificates, and SAF registries. In the news, we look at the Safer Skies Act of 2025, KC-135 Stratotanker service life, Airbus future single-aisle technologies and design, and injuries after a mid-air TCAS alarm sounds. Also, the first COMAC 909 delivery outside China, ATC privatization around the world, security theater, and introducing women to aviation. Guest Jeroen van Heiningen is the founder and managing director of 123Carbon. The company works with fuel suppliers and carriers to issue transparent and externally verified environmental attribute certificates, including SAF certificates, used by airlines and cargo operators to reduce their transport-related Scope 3 emissions. Jeroen discusses the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) market, focusing on carbon insetting, the role of SAF registries, and the importance of transparency and standardization in the industry. He explains how carbon insetting differs from carbon offsetting, emphasizing the need for companies to invest in their value chain de-carbonization. The discussion also covers the digital certificate process, the collaboration between 123Carbon and IATA, and future trends in the SAF market. 123Carbon's registry is integrated with other IT systems and allows an airline to upload documents and manage its inventory of digital certificates online. It's a multi-modal agnostic platform that can be branded. With the use of sustainable bio-fuel growing in the land and sea modes of transportation, the accounting needs to be integrated with air. 123Carbon recently introduced Carboninsets.com, a free service for forwarders and cargo owners that connects them with issuers on the registry. Jeroen set-up and led Accenture's Sustainability Services Benelux and wrote the CDP NL 50 report in 2010. He has 15 years of experience with multi-modal carbon insetting programs, covering both Air (KLM corporate biofuels Program) and Marine (the GoodShipping Program). He holds a master's in business administration from Tilburg University. Takeaways: Carbon insetting is a more effective long-term approach than offsetting. Companies are increasingly linked to net-zero targets managed by SBTi. (Science Based Targets initiative) Standardization in the SAF market is crucial for transparency. Digital certificates are essential for tracking SAF transactions. Collaboration between registries helps prevent double counting of SAF. The SAF market is evolving with a focus on multimodal transportation. Demand and supply must be connected to stabilize SAF prices. New services like CarbonInsets.com facilitate connections between issuers and buyers. The aviation industry is leading in SAF adoption compared to other transport modes. Future initiatives will focus on integrating various transportation modalities. Resources: ICAO Global Framework for SAF: Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)  IATA SAF Handbook [PDF] Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). IATA estimates that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. IATA and 123Carbon to Collaborate on Interoperability for SAF Registries. A strategic collaboration to develop interoperability between their respective SAF focusing on three key elements: A unique identifier and alignment of the relevant data points to exchange between registries. A process for the exchange of information to avoid any potential double issuance. A dispute resolution process.  IATA SAF Registry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it will establish the SAF Registry to accelerate the uptake of SAF by authoritatively accounting and reporting emissions reductions from SAF. SAFc Registry. Sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) can help drive demand for sustainable avi...

rWotD Episode 2855: 55th Air Refueling Squadron Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Wednesday, 26 February 2025 is 55th Air Refueling Squadron.The 55th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It formerly operated both the combat crew training school and central flight instructor course for Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.The squadron's first predecessor was the 755th Bombardment Squadron, which was first activated in July 1943. After training with Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it began training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, but was inactivated in October 1945.The 55th Air Refueling Squadron was activated in 1950 as a Boeing KB-29 air refueling unit. It flew these early tankers until inactivating in 1954. The squadron was again activated in 1955 with Boeing KC-97 tankers, primarily supporting the Boeing B-47 Stratojets of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. It was again inactivated in 1963. The squadron was activated in the training role at Altus in 1994, continuing its mission until inactivating in 2009.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:00 UTC on Wednesday, 26 February 2025.For the full current version of the article, see 55th Air Refueling Squadron on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm long-form Ruth.

Tenemos la suerte de poder volver a contar con Juan Carlos Núñez para pasar una interesante tarde Hablando de Aviones centrada en su faceta de piloto de MRTT. Iniciamos con la historia del repostaje aéreo, transportándonos a los tiempos del KC-97, e incluso, anteriores. Recordamos sus inicios volando en el KC-135 "Stratotanker", mientras revisamos las capacidades del KC-10 "Extender", KC-46 "Pegasus", y KC-130 Hercules". Y hemos dedicado el resto del programa a revisar en profundidad las capacidades, ventajas y fortalezas de esa maravilla tecnológica que es el Airbus A330-MRTT. Sin duda, el avión de repostaje más avanzado de nuestros días.

Tenemos la suerte de poder volver a contar con Juan Carlos Núñez para pasar una interesante tarde Hablando de Aviones centrada en su faceta de piloto de MRTT. Iniciamos con la historia del repostaje aéreo, transportándonos a los tiempos del KC-97, e incluso, anteriores. Recordamos sus inicios volando en el KC-135 "Stratotanker", mientras revisamos las capacidades del KC-10 "Extender", KC-46 "Pegasus", y KC-130 Hercules". Y hemos dedicado el resto del programa a revisar en profundidad las capacidades, ventajas y fortalezas de esa maravilla tecnológica que es el Airbus A330-MRTT. Sin duda, el avión de repostaje más avanzado de nuestros días.

Ever wondered what it's like to go from piloting Predator drones in the Air Force to flying cargo under the stars? Jonathan Songer shares an epic journey of resilience, high-stakes decisions, and surprising lessons learned from life in the sky. From unconventional career moves to his unique take on mentorship, this conversation will change how you view the aviation world. Tune in and get ready to see flying from a whole new perspective!     WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE Strategies for navigating challenging work schedules as a pilot Life adjustments to make your dream of flying a reality Unique challenges of flying in non-radar airspace and the adrenaline rush of low-level cargo runs What it's like to fly just above the ground with complex maneuvers in tight airspaces How Jonathan transitioned from Air Force drones to a 737 cockpit     RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED The Citadel JetBlue OBAP Ace Academy Delta Professional SkyWest Airlines Envoy Air     ABOUT JONATHAN SONGER Jonathan is a Boeing 737 First Officer with Kalitta Charters II, a Part 121 Supplemental Airline Carrier. With over 1,600 hours in crewed aircraft and 4,000 hours in remotely piloted aircraft, Jonathan is an expert in flight safety, aviation decision-making, and crew resource management. He previously served as a subject matter expert in unmanned systems and as the Senior Manager for Advanced Air Mobility with MassDOT Aeronautics and MassAutonomy. Jonathan's experience in the defense industry includes working with medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft as an instructor, evaluator/check airman, and lead pilot. He also served in the United States Air Force as an Air Mobility pilot on the KC-135 Stratotanker and as a Squadron Commander and Director of Operations for MQ-1 and MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft. During his tenure in the USAF, he was Chief of Unmanned Intelligence Systems at US Air Forces Central Command. Jonathan holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate and an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. He earned a B.S. in Physics from The Citadel and an M.S. in Military Operations from Air University.     CONNECT WITH JONATHAN LinkedIn: Jonathan Songer     CONNECT WITH US Are you ready to take your preparation to the next level? Don't wait until it's too late. Use the promo code “R4P” and save 10% on all our services. Check us out at www.spitfireelite.com!   If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at podcast@spitfireelite.com, and if you need a professional pilot resume, go to www.spitfireelite.com/podcast/ for FREE templates!   SPONSOR Are you a pilot just coming out of the military and looking for the perfect second home for your family? Look no further! Reach out to Marty and his team by visiting www.tridenthomeloans.com to get the best VA loans available anywhere in the US. If you're a professional pilot looking for a great financial planning partner for your retirement, tax, and investment, go to www.tpope.ceterainvestors.com/contact or call ‭704-717-8900 x120‬ to schedule a consultation appointment with Timothy P. Pope, CFP®. Be ready for takeoff anytime with 3D-stretch, stain-repellent, and wrinkle-free aviation uniforms by Flight Uniforms. Just go to www.flightuniform.com and type the code SPITFIREPOD20 to get a special 20% discount on your first order.  

The B-52 bomber was taking part in Operation Chrome Dome when it collided with a KC-135 Stratotanker and broke apart, resulting in the deaths of 8 airmen and dropping 4 thermonuclear bombs onto the Spanish fishing village of ...

Welccome back to the Lessons from the Cockpit and the sixty-sixth episode of  podcast!  In preparation for attending the Tailhook 2023 symposium, I felt this was a good time to do an episode on the air refueling shortfalls during the Shock and Awe air campaign in March through April 2003. In my book Tanker Pilot, the chapter Six Weeks in Hell speaks to the issues the Air Refueling Control Team overcame to make the 1003 Victor war plan executable. This is a more indepth discussion on refueling shortfalls compared to what was accomplished in Desert Storm based on the Gulf War Airpower Survey written after the Desert Storm air campaign ended. The Lessons from the Cockpit show is supported and fiananced by the book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, found in all four formats on Amazon; hardback, softback (black and white photos!), Kindle and Audible. The Kindle and Audible versions have the thirty-two pictures in an extra file when you download the book. Detailed aircraft profiles of Operation Iraqi Freedom aircraft are available from Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. These profiles are printed on vinyl in four, six, and eight-foot-long graphics you can stick to any flat surface. The KC-10 Extender is called the "Gucci Bird" because of its versatility to refuel Boom or Drogue receivers. The KC-10 is also air refuelable... you can fill it back up. Most of the fighters deploying to the Middle East traveled there behind a KC-10. The KC-135 Stratotanker has been the air refueling workhorse around the world. I was based at Kadena Air Base for five great years, the best flying job I had during my Air Froce career. The F-15C Eagle was deployed to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom, but they had a boring war as no Iraqi Air Force fighters flew offensive or defensive combat air patrols. All F-15Cs were sent home about half way through the war because we needed the gas! F-15E Strike Eagles were tasked with a range of missions from Close Air Support to Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance (SCAR) missions destroying the Iraqi Republican Guard. Thanks for downloading and listening to this episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast. This and additional episodes of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast can be downloaded from my website at markhasara.com. Next week's episode will be with a former Iranian Air Force Colonel who planned and flew one of the longest strike missions during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.

Welcome back to the Lessons from the Cockpit and the sixty-seventh episode of the podcast!  In preparation for attending the Tailhook 2023 symposium, I felt this was a good time to do an episode on the air refueling shortfalls during the Shock and Awe air campaign in March through April 2003. In my book Tanker Pilot, the chapter Six Weeks in Hell speaks to the issues the Air Refueling Control Team overcame to make the 1003 Victor war plan executable. This is a more in-depth discussion on refueling shortfalls compared to what was accomplished in Desert Storm based on the Gulf War Airpower Survey written after the Desert Storm air campaign ended. The Lessons from the Cockpit show is supported and financed by the book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, found in all four formats on Amazon; hardback, softback (black and white photos!), Kindle, and Audible. The Kindle and Audible versions have thirty-two pictures in an extra file when you download the book. Detailed aircraft profiles of Operation Iraqi Freedom aircraft are available from Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. These profiles are printed on vinyl in four, six, and eight-foot-long graphics you can stick to any flat surface. The KC-10 Extender is called the "Gucci Bird" because of its versatility to refuel Boom or Drogue receivers. The KC-10 is also air refuelable... you can fill it back up. Most of the fighters deploying to the Middle East traveled there behind a KC-10. The KC-135 Stratotanker has been the air refueling workhorse around the world. I was based at Kadena Air Base for five great years, the best flying job I had during my Air Force career. The F-15C Eagle was deployed to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom, but they had a boring war as no Iraqi Air Force fighters flew offensive or defensive combat air patrols. All F-15Cs were sent home about halfway through the war because we needed the gas! F-15E Strike Eagles were tasked with a range of missions from Close Air Support to Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance (SCAR) missions destroying the Iraqi Republican Guard. Thanks for downloading and listening to this episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast. This and additional episodes of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast can be downloaded from my website at markhasara.com. Next week's episode will be with a former Iranian Air Force Colonel who planned and flew one of the longest strike missions during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.

Welcome to the sixty-third episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit Podcast! I'm your host Mark Hasara, a retired KC-135 pilot of the United States Air Force. After five fantastic years and the greatest flying assignment of my career at Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa Japan, it was time for an assignment change of station or PCS. I took a Headquarters assignment to a location all of us in the Young Tiger Tanker Squadron laughed at because they had absolute control over all air mobility operations around the world except us at the 909th! This assignment became one of those tremendous learning experiences of my Air Force career. I left this assignment feeling bulletproof in my knowledge and capabilities. This assignment gave me additional experience and expertise needed to help in my next assignment working with a great team creating and standing up the KC-135 Weapons School in the fall of 1997.  The Lessons from the Cockpit podcast is supported and financed by the book Tanker Pilot found in all four formats, hardback, softback, Kindle, and Audible on Amazon. Tanker Pilot gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at air refueling operations in four wars and numerous air operations. Thirty-two pictures taken during the operations discussed in the book are included. All pictures in the softback version are in black and white, and color in the other three. Lessons from the Cockpit is also financed by Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. Profile graphics of aircraft printed four, six, and eight feet long on vinyl can be peeled off and stuck on any flat surface. There are 129 Ready-to-Print aircraft profiles extensively researched and very detailed available on the website. Wall Pilot can create your name, tail codes and numbers, and weapons load on your favorite aircraft/ Take a look at some of the custom profiles Wall Pioot has done for customer hangers, one thirty feet long! Please go to www.wallpilot.com and purchase one or two of these incredible graphics for your walls. For over twenty-four years I flew the KC-135 Stratotanker available as a Ready-to-Print graphic. A 909th Young Tiger Tanker Task Force KC-135R Model in the old SHAMU scheme or current Air Mobility Command Grey can be found at these links. The KC-10 Extender acts as both a tanker and airlifter flying support missions all over the world. KC-10A Extender profiles from Travis AFB and McGuire AFB are available at these links. In the summer of 2022, Air Mobility Command christened a Charleston AFB South Carolina C-17A Globemaster III "Spirit of the Candy Bomber" in memorium to Colonel Gail Halvorsen, the famous Beling Airlift Candy Bomber. Little Rock AFB is the Center of Excellence for Air Mobility Commands Tactical Airlift fleet. A C-130J or Arkansas Air Nationa Guard C-130H from Little Rock AFB is available in Wall Pilot's Ready-to-Print section.  Thanks for downloading and listening to this episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast! This and previous episodes of the podcast can be found on my website at markhasara.com. If you have an hour or so during a morning or afternoon commute while stuck in traffic, the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast has some great stories and lessons learned for you to listen to!  

Welcome to the sixty-third episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit Podcast! I'm your host Mark Hasara, a retired KC-135 pilot of the United States Air Force. After five fantastic years and the greatest flying assignment of my career at Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa Japan, it was time for an assignment change of station or PCS. I took a Headquarters assignment to a location all of us in the Young Tiger Tanker Squadron laughed at because they had absolute control over all air mobility operations around the world except us at the 909th! This assignment became one of those tremendous learning experiences of my Air Force career. I left this assignment feeling bulletproof in my knowledge and capabilities. This assignment gave me additional experience and expertise needed to help in my next assignment working with a great team creating and standing up the KC-135 Weapons School in the fall of 1997.  The Lessons from the Cockpit podcast is supported and financed by the book Tanker Pilot found in all four formats, hardback, softback, Kindle, and Audible on Amazon. Tanker Pilot gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at air refueling operations in four wars and numerous air operations. Thirty-two pictures taken during the operations discussed in the book are included. All pictures in the softback version are in black and white, and color in the other three. Lessons from the Cockpit is also financed by Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. Profile graphics of aircraft printed four, six, and eight feet long on vinyl can be peeled off and stuck on any flat surface. There are 129 Ready-to-Print aircraft profiles extensively researched and very detailed available on the website. Wall Pilot can create your name, tail codes and numbers, and weapons load on your favorite aircraft/ Take a look at some of the custom profiles Wall Pioot has done for customer hangers, one thirty feet long! Please go to www.wallpilot.com and purchase one or two of these incredible graphics for your walls. For over twenty-four years I flew the KC-135 Stratotanker available as a Ready-to-Print graphic. A 909th Young Tiger Tanker Task Force KC-135R Model in the old SHAMU scheme or current Air Mobility Command Grey can be found at these links. The KC-10 Extender acts as both a tanker and airlifter flying support missions all over the world. KC-10A Extender profiles from Travis AFB and McGuire AFB are available at these links. In the summer of 2022, Air Mobility Command christened a Charleston AFB South Carolina C-17A Globemaster III "Spirit of the Candy Bomber" in memorium to Colonel Gail Halvorsen, the famous Beling Airlift Candy Bomber. Little Rock AFB is the Center of Excellence for Air Mobility Commands Tactical Airlift fleet. A C-130J or Arkansas Air Nationa Guard C-130H from Little Rock AFB is available in Wall Pilot's Ready-to-Print section.  Thanks for downloading and listening to this episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast! This and previous episodes of the podcast can be found on my website at markhasara.com. If you have an hour or so during a morning or afternoon commute while stuck in traffic, the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast has some great stories and lessons learned for you to listen to!  

Welcome to the fifty-eighth episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast. We are going to talk about nukes since there is so much about a possible WW III in all the media.  President Ronald Reagan created the world's best nuclear deterrent capability in Strategic Air Command as he poured money into the military after years of neglect. The timeframe from when I showed up at the 509th Air Refueling Squadron in 1985 to 1990 when I left Pease as it was closing was a great time to be a KC-135 pilot at Portsmouth New Hampshire. I was flying an airplane I loved, doing a critical Air Force mission that was fun, and got to take a T-37 up whenever I could find another Copilot to go with me. It was a golden age of flying in my career. But still very dangerous as every third week I would go into an underground nuclear-hardened bunker and sit on Single Integrated Operations Plan or SIOP alert with six FB-111As carrying four nukes and five to six tankers to refuel them on their mission of Armaggedon. This episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast is sponsored by the Amazon Best-Selling book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit found in all four formats... Hardback, Softback, Kindle, and Audible. Twenty-two chapters give readers a behind-the-scenes look at global air operations from a KC-135. Visit Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. You can choose from four, six, and eight-foot-long aircraft profiles printed on vinyl you can peel off and stick to any flat surface. These are very detailed prints of famous aircraft so please go to wallpilot.com and order one or two prints for your walls. Wall Pilot does custom artwork and patches too. Our products are weather resistant... one customer put his F-15 squadron patches on his boat and they stayed put and didn't fade! I loved flying the KC-135 Stratotanker and my assignment to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa was the best flying experience of my career... where I learned the most. The FB-111A was the SAC version of the swing-wing fighter bomber made famous during Desert Storm. This is a print of the FB-111A from Pease AFB I sat alert with many times. The B-58 Hustler named Cowtown Hustler set the speed record for flight from LA to New York and back to LA setting seven speed records until the SR-71 Blackbird came along. The E-6A Mercury Take Charge and Move Out or TACAMO aircraft was flown by the Navy and used for command and control of the submarine forces. The SR-71 Blackbird was SAC's very special and very fast reconnaissance platform moving at over Mach 3+! The Okinawans called it Habu, after a poisonous snake on the island because it looked so much like the reptile. Thanks for downloading and listening to this and previous episodes of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast can be found on my website markhasara.com  

Welcome to the fifty-eighth episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast. We are going to talk about nukes since there is so much about a possible WW III in all the media.  President Ronald Reagan created the world's best nuclear deterrent capability in Strategic Air Command as he poured money into the military after years of neglect. The timeframe from when I showed up at the 509th Air Refueling Squadron in 1985 to 1990 when I left Pease as it was closing was a great time to be a KC-135 pilot at Portsmouth New Hampshire. I was flying an airplane I loved, doing a critical Air Force mission that was fun, and got to take a T-37 up whenever I could find another Copilot to go with me. It was a golden age of flying in my career. But still very dangerous as every third week I would go into an underground nuclear-hardened bunker and sit on Single Integrated Operations Plan or SIOP alert with six FB-111As carrying four nukes and five to six tankers to refuel them on their mission of Armaggedon. This episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast is sponsored by the Amazon Best-Selling book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit found in all four formats... Hardback, Softback, Kindle, and Audible. Twenty-two chapters give readers a behind-the-scenes look at global air operations from a KC-135. Visit Wall Pilot, custom aviation art for the walls of your home, office, or hanger. You can choose from four, six, and eight-foot-long aircraft profiles printed on vinyl you can peel off and stick to any flat surface. These are very detailed prints of famous aircraft so please go to wallpilot.com and order one or two prints for your walls. Wall Pilot does custom artwork and patches too. Our products are weather resistant... one customer put his F-15 squadron patches on his boat and they stayed put and didn't fade! I loved flying the KC-135 Stratotanker and my assignment to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa was the best flying experience of my career... where I learned the most. The FB-111A was the SAC version of the swing-wing fighter bomber made famous during Desert Storm. This is a print of the FB-111A from Pease AFB I sat alert with many times. The B-58 Hustler named Cowtown Hustler set the speed record for flight from LA to New York and back to LA setting seven speed records until the SR-71 Blackbird came along. The E-6A Mercury Take Charge and Move Out or TACAMO aircraft was flown by the Navy and used for command and control of the submarine forces. The SR-71 Blackbird was SAC's very special and very fast reconnaissance platform moving at over Mach 3+! The Okinawans called it Habu, after a poisonous snake on the island because it looked so much like the reptile. Thanks for downloading and listening to this and previous episodes of the Lessons from the Cockpit podcast can be found on my website markhasara.com  

Today I speak with Steven LaTulippe, MD about how he has been treated since speaking out against the Covid mandates and where he is with his legal battles. We speak further about traveling without a mask, vaccine updates and the politicization of healthcare. We also discuss the conflict in Ukraine and the Big Reset agenda. If you are offended by strong conservative views, this is not the episode for you. ABOUT MY GUEST Steve LaTulippe M.D. is a physician board certified in Family Medicine, a retired United States Air Force officer, and a Bible college and seminary-trained ordained minister whose focus was Christian doctrine and Bible interpretation. His medical practice has focused on pain and addiction medicine. His military service includes flying the KC-135 Stratotanker and an RF-4C phantom, then later serving as Chief of Medicine in the Oregon Air National Guard. Steve is currently fighting the battle of cancel culture in medicine, and he has published a book, Unity Without Compromise, as an instrumental tool towards unifying potentially the greatest force on earth—the Christians. Unity Without Compromise Radio Show host, Dr. LaTulippe, combines his experience as a physician, a seminary-trained ordained minister, and a retired Air Force officer, to boldly reveal the truth, expose lies, and show precisely how we can unite as Christians and Patriots into a powerful force against the present darkness that threatens our God-given freedoms that made America great. Find him online at: https://www.americaoutloud.com/author/dr-steve-latulippe/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jim-stroud2/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-stroud2/support

Episode 10 of Your NH Guard features Capt. Bryant Burns, a KC-46A Pegasus pilot with the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, New Hampshire. Burns discusses his career progression and transition from the older KC-135 Stratotanker to the state-of-the-art Pegasus.

The Boeing KC-135, nicknamed Stratotanker is an aerial refueling aircraft that has been in continuous service with the USAF for over 60 years with over 800 examples of the C-135 series built.  The first jet powered refueling tanker for the Air Force, the KC135 was conceived to refuel long range strategic bombers at the height of the cold war, however conflicts such as Vietnam and Desert Storm solidified the stratotankers use as a range extender for tactical aircraft and has since become an indispensable asset for the United States and its allies.  The KC 135 has some interesting nicknames and facts which may surprise you, including how it launched the airliner revolution.  If you enjoy this episode, subscribe to this podcast, you can find links to most podcast streaming services here:PilotPhotog Podcast (buzzsprout.com)You can check out my YouTube channel for many videos on fighter planes here:https://youtube.com/c/PilotPhotogAnd finally, you can follow me on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/pilotphotogSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/PilotPhotog)

My conversation with Steve LaTulippe (pronounced "LAH-too-LEAP") sent chills down my spine. By practicing evidence-based medicine, he dared to rebel against the leftist narrative concerning Covid and saved lives in the process. This put him out of favor with medical boards and certain politicians whose devotion to tyranny outweighed their allegiance to personal freedoms. As a result, Steve LaTulippe's life has been turned upside down and his very livelihood is at stake. His response? Keep fighting and inspiring resistance to medical tyranny wherever it rears its ugly head. In this David vs Goliath story its Steve LaTulippe against the world. By faith, he will be just as victorious as King David was. Tune in for a very special episode that in retrospect, I should have added the theme to Rocky in the background. This guy is a fighter. ABOUT MY GUEST Steve LaTulippe MD is a physician board certified in Family Medicine, a retired United States Air Force officer, and a Bible college and seminary trained (Christian doctrine and Bible interpretation) ordained minister. His medical practice includes full-spectrum family medicine, pain and addiction medicine. His military service includes flying the KC-135 Stratotanker and and RF-4C phantom, then later serving as Chief of Medicine in the Oregon Air National Guard. He also has a background in microbiology. He enjoys backcountry mountain flying and the great outdoors. He is currently fighting the battle of cancel culture in medicine, and he has published a book, Unity Without Compromise: A Biblical Basis for Christian Union, as an instrumental tool towards unifying potentially the greatest force on earth—the Christians. He recently has begun hosting a weekend radio show called Unity Without Compromise on America Out Loud Talk Radio, and he publishes weekly articles for America Out Loud. www.americaoutloud.com — weekly articles https://givebutter.com/fyy71h - Legal Defense fund Twitter: @StevenLaTulippe GETTR: @SLaTulippeMD ... FOLLOW JIM STROUD ONLINE Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/jimstroud Blog: https://blog.jimstroud.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimstroudshow Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/jimstroud Gettr: jimstroud --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jim-stroud2/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-stroud2/support

Happy New Year, Space Cadets! We are so excited to be back! Have you ever wondered what the Vomit Comet was? How do those anti-gravity simulator airplanes work anyway? Come hang out with us, your friendly neighborhood Aerospace Engineers, and learn all about Reduced Gravity Aircraft! Music from https://filmmusic.io "Tyrant" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Anna's Sources: “Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Dec. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker. Dunbar, Brian. “It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's a Student?” NASA, NASA, www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/researchernews/rn_ZeroGravity.html. “Falcon 1.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1. HABER, F, and H HABER. “Possible methods of producing the gravity-free state for medical research.” The Journal of aviation medicine vol. 21,5 (1950): 395-400. Possible Methods of Producing the Gravity-Free State for Medical Research, PDF Copy: https://motamem.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/space-medicine-classics-parabolic-flight.pdf “Heinz Haber.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_Haber. “Home - ZERO-G.” ZERO, 17 Dec. 2020, www.gozerog.com/home/. pwood@news-gazette.com, Paul Wood. “New Chancellor Took Her Own Path.” Gazette, 25 June 2019, www.news-gazette.com/news/new-chancellor-took-her-own-path/article_83ee0f63-96a4-5ae5-85b1-61595156d4c0.html. “Reduced-Gravity Aircraft.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Dec. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced-gravity_aircraft#cite_note-3. “Shih-Chun Wang.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Dec. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih-Chun_Wang#cite_note-news-gazette.com-7. Henna's Sources: Karmali, Faisal, and Mark Shelhamer. “The Dynamics of Parabolic Flight: Flight Characteristics and Passenger Percepts.” Acta Astronautica, Pergamon, 27 June 2008, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576508001574. “Reduced-Gravity Aircraft.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Dec. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced-gravity_aircraft#cite_note-3. Charlene Brooks, et al. “Free Falling: the Science of Weightlessness.” Science in the News, 18 Oct. 2018, sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/free-falling-the-science-of-weightlessness/.

The KC-135 Stratotanker has been in service longer than most of us have been alive. Born out of the cold war need for nuclear deterrence the Air Force purchased 800 of the airframes from 1957 - 1965 in order to keep B-52 bombers airborne around the globe. We recently had the opportunity to chat with the senior materiel leader and Legacy Tanker Division chief Col. Mark Mocio about the challenges his team at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma face in keeping 60+ year old airframes in the fight. The plan now is to keep at least 75 percent of the current KC-135 fleet available for service to 2050 and beyond. Col. Mocio explained that the key to achieving that goal is in partnering with stakeholders throughout the Air Force and Industry, and in utilizing the robust weapons system integrity plan all working to solve tomorrow's problems today. For more information on all things related to AFLCMC visit our website at: https://www.aflcmc.af.mil. Follow and like us on our social media channels for the latest information and news from programs across the center. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/aflcmcofficial Twitter: @AFLCMCofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AFLCMCofficial Instagram: @aflcmcofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzpbkmBDlq05aBqPYvcze3A History Office Twitter: @airpowercradle

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Ellison, with the 126th Public Affairs Office, talks to the wing's Staff Judge Advocate, Lt. Col. Matt Goetten. Lt. Col. Goetten tells us why every member of the 126th should visit their office. Roll Call is the official podcast of the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, located at Scott Air Force Base. The wing flies the KC-135 Stratotanker to accomplish their mission of aerial refueling for U.S. and allied military aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard audio by Tech. Sgt. Brian Ellison)

When aircraft designers and military planners sought a simple way to extend the range, increase the payload, and lengthen the endurance of combat aircraft, they may have been inclined to consider a host of various technological solutions. In fact, the best way to accomplish these endeavors is through aerial refueling with big wing tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker ( https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1529736/kc-135-stratotanker/ ) , KC-10 Extender ( https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104520/kc-10-extender/ ) , and forthcoming KC-46 Pegasus ( https://www.af.mil/about-us/fact-sheets/display/article/104537/kc-46a-tanker/ ). On this episode, retired U.S. Air Force ( https://www.airforce.com/ ) Lieutenant Colonel Mark “Sluggo” Hasara ( https://markhasara.com/ ) joins us to discuss the history, practical applications, and strategic implications of big wing tankers. As a 25-year veteran with over 5,000 flight hours in the KC-135, Sluggo literally “wrote the book ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501181661/ref=as_li_tl?camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1501181661&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=749978b1939e150c65bebbb41b5770ab&tag=ftrpltpdcst18-20 ) ” on big wing tanking and was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Air Force tanker Weapons School ( https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/132790/schoolhouse-trains-tanker-instructor-pilots-to-be-weapons-officers/ ). Be sure to check out his Wall Pilot ( https://www.facebook.com/wallpilot/ ) Facebook page and bonus content ( https://www.patreon.com/posts/38282658/ ) where Sluggo spends another 52 minutes answering listener questions. Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell ( https://www.clintbellproductions.com/ ). This episode was produced by our friends at The Muscle Car Place Podcast Network ( http://www.themusclecarplace.com/tmcpnetwork ). Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

It wasn't long before the aircraft were able to fly to much greater altitudes and at greater speeds and get into an environment where humans just could not function correctly and humans became sort of the weak link or the limiting factor Anyone who watches military aviation knows that many believe the F-35 will be the last manned fighter aircraft produced by the United States. Remotely piloted aircraft have been prevalent in the battlespace for at least a decade. Many of the most routine tasks in-flight are accomplished by a machine with a pilot monitoring. But the discussion about the "man in the can" far predates any of the debates that confront us now. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Tim Schultz to discuss the limitations that were placed on aviation development by the insistence that there be a human in the cockpit. Author of The Problem with Pilots: How Physicians, Engineers, and Airpower Enthusiasts Redefined Flight, Schultz lauds the engineers and scientists along with flight surgeons for all of the advancements they were able to make in the aviation industry in spite of the human crew members on board. He joins Senior Editor JP Clark as they look back at the trade offs that have been made in aircraft design to accommodate the pilot. Dr. Timothy Schultz is the Associate Dean of Academics for Electives and Research, U.S. Naval War College and the author of The Problem with Pilots: How Physicians, Engineers, and Airpower Enthusiasts Redefined Flight. COL JP Clark was the Deputy Director for Academic Engagement for the Strategic Studies Institute and a WAR ROOM Senior Editor as well as a student in the AY20 resident class at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Members of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wisc. prepare to land a KC-135 Stratotanker after a training exercise Nov. 3, 2013. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jenna V. Hildebrand/Released

This week on the show we welcome USAF AE Flight Nurse and Tactical Games Athlete, Amy Way! We're excited to partner with GunStuff TV for a special giveaway! Enter to win one of our Hellfire Slides for G19 with a Faxon TiN G19 Barrel! Click HERE to join the Mailing List so you don't miss it!   In celebration of Daylight Saving Time, we're doing a Daylight Savings 9mm Bundle on FaxonFirearms.com! Buy a 9mm Integral Barrel and a 9mm BCG and save $50 when you check out! Promotion runs March 5-8, 2020 while supplies last. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Cannot be applied retroactively. Available on in-stock items only. Promotion added at checkout. Amy Way: Air Force to The Tactical Games By: Dustin Wallace To say I'm blown away by Amy is an understatement. I was thrilled when she gave Faxon a shoutout on Instagram after she completed a successful competition at The Tactical Games. Then, as I scrolled through her profile to say thanks on behalf of Faxon Firearms... my respect grew even greater. Amy joined the Air National Guard at 17 in Mississippi, and began her career as an aircraft mechanic working on a KC-135 Stratotanker. Her career ebbed and flowed in such a way that she transferred to another unit with an Air Evacuation Squadron. Being a civilian nurse already, she now gets to work missions getting wounded soldiers and airmen to the medical care they need. But that's not where Amy's activity stops. She's a Crossfit Coach and Competitor... AND a Tactical Games Athlete. Amy's connection with Crossfit made Tactical Games an ideal landing spot (pun intended) for her entry into the competitive shooting world. In our interview, Amy kept coming back to the idea of community. She finds it in the military, in Crossfit, and in the competition shooting world of Tactical Games. Amy uses a Faxon 10.5" Pencil Barrel and Lightweight BCG in her competition rifle, and has loved the accuracy and durability of both items. In a recent Instagram post, Amy writes... "I've shot this baby out past 300 yeards accurately and have never had a single issue." When scheduling our interview, we made sure to work around her kids getting home from school. That's right... a USAF Flight Nurse... Crossfit Coach... Competition Shooter... AND a mom. This woman is a superhero. I hope you enjoy our chat on the podcast! -Dustin

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group on the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona is often referred to as the Boneyard.That’s because it houses approximately 4,000 retired military aircraft – more than anyplace else in the world. And, according to recent reports, it’s about to get a little bigger.The Air Force has announced plans to retire more than 100 planes across its bomber, airlift, tanker and drone fleets in order to make room for additional aircraft tied to its $1 billion Next Generation Air Dominance program.According to a report on Military.com, shipping 17 B-1B Lancer bombers, 44 A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jets, 30 KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender refuelers, as well as 24 RQ-4 Global Hawk drones and 24 C-130H Hercules troop transport planes will free up over $4 billion that the Air Force can use on some other stuff with really cool names.For example, the aforementioned Air Dominance program will explore what future fighter jet operations could look like and support the Advanced Battle Management System. This program will look to sync current intel with surveillance information and machine-gathered reconnaissance data in formulating military plans.In addition to investing in strategic air combat and defense planning, the funds will be used to help boost and update the Air Force’s current fleet with new F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, F-15EX fighter jets and MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters.The aircraft that make their way to the 2,600-acre Boneyard will either be stored for potential use in the short term, picked for parts, or readied for sale. On average, aircraft at the facility produce about $500 million in sales to “military, government and allied customers.

She went from being a little girl in Nebraska looking up into the clouds to burning holes in the sky over Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the world. USAF KC-135 Stratotanker pilot Barbara Bartch has been flying the workhorse tanker of the American Military for over 20 years. She joins us to tell us about her career, her plane and the professionalism and teamwork it takes to refuel other aircraft at the upper limits of the atmosphere moving at 4-5 hundred miles per hour. This is conference quality information without the expense report. 

Today's story: KC 135 Stratotankers deployed to Amari Air Base, Estonia from Royal Air Force Mildenhall as part of a weeklong mission assurance exercise.

Mark Hasara is a retired USAF KC-135 pilot, he talks about his time on the type including training, refuelling fighters and the first night into Desert Storm. He also discusses his upcoming book, 'Pumping Gas'

For twenty-four years Mark Hasara operated one of the Air Force’s oldest airplanes, the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. His career started during the Reagan Administration, carrying out Strategic Air Command's nuclear deterrent mission. Moving to Okinawa Japan in August 1990, he flew missions throughout the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia. His first combat missions were in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a Duty Officer in the Tanker Airlift Control Center, he planned and ran five hundred airlift and air refueling missions a month. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Mark spent seven years at Rockwell Collins in engineering, designing and developing military fixed and rotary wing aircraft cockpits. Mark became a full-time author and defense industry consultant in 2014.

Most families have traditions that revolve around holidays and special occasions. We introduce you to a family with a tradition that's intertwined with the history and future of two tankers, the KC-135 Stratotanker and the new KC-46 Pegasus.

Most families have traditions that revolve around holidays and special occasions. We introduce you to a family with a tradition that's intertwined with the history and future of two tankers, the KC-135 Stratotanker and the new KC-46 Pegasus.

Part 1 of our two-part series that covers the venerable KC-135 Stratotanker from tip to tail - literally!  From its first delivery to the military in 1957 to the R, T, and E modifications, we cover ths history and role of the aircraft, then talk to both a pilot and a boom operator.  This episode also includes a promo for our golf shirt giveaway.  Submit a show idea and you might find yourself wearing a handsome Airspeed golf shirt just like the ones that our crew wears at air shows!