Dave Berke talks F-35B Lightning II (Courtesy: Authentic Media)

[@matthayward7889]

Just in the first few minutes, Dave casually mentions he’s flown F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35, and been Topgun instructor and FAC. If you wrote that career for a film character, no one would believe it.

[@jinzhang8241]

I feel like we are in dejavu again like in the old F-4 Phantom II era where smart people thought the days of dogfighting are over and all we need are radars, first shot first kill tactics with sensor fusion/ BVR using one platform across different services. Fog of war will always happen, sensors fail, comms get jammed - and chances are Allied forces will need to merge with enemy forces for old fashioned BFM.

[@Idahoguy10157]

@@jinzhang8241 … the F-4 original requirement was a fleet air defense fighter against bombers with early cruise missiles. A gun wasn’t considered necessary. TheF-4 was pushed onto the air force. The navy early on recognized F-4 drivers needed better tactics flying over North Vietnam. It was the air force who lagged at employment of their F-4 AC. Having a gun in the F-4E was great! But training in dissimilar air combat was what saved F-4 drivers.

[@echoredfour]

If jocko verifies his huevos in ramadi it’s all good

[@gregparrott]

Add two more details. #1) Not many Marines who fly fighters, are CARRIER qualified #2) It wasn't any F-35. It was the jump jet ('B') variant. That requires an additional skill set, and offers the unique capability of takeoff/landing in places other than airports.

[@Idahoguy10157]

@@gregparrott … all Marine jet pilots learn CV deck landings. F/A-18 pilots I believe stay current at it. If and when the Marines operate the F-35C it’ll include carrier landings. Pretty much all fixed wing and helo Marine pilots must be able to operate at sea on a flight desk. The C-130 being an obvious exception.

[@sedlo]

Loved hearing this interview over on Authentic. That is a podcast well worth subscribing to. And yes, Safe on Deck is another great podcast, too. I really like Antonio's style, it does indeed mesh nicely with yours.

[@therocinante3443]

YES, I've been hoping to see Dave here on this channel. Greatest fighter pilot alive!

[@Novacngood185]

Great news. I thought you had given up 10 Percent true. I mainly listen to podcast while out walking. So my walks will continue to be informative and full of smiles.

[@mikeschultz9188]

I think I remember Steve saying it would be a few months before his next video in order to give him time to concentrate on his book.

[@kristofferjensen6695]

Great interview. Dave should be a salesman ;) Thanks for putting this out Steve, my inner av-geek is thriving ;)

[@gar6446]

This is a top-quality interview. Authentic well explained,no nonsense and logical. The one and half hrs flew by, another hour would have been welcome. ☆☆☆☆☆

[@Ian-Saxon]

Thanks Steve and here's to future uploads too.

[@elderforest617]

Interesting interview Steve. Would be great to hear from the Grim Reapers at Lakenheath on the challenges of transitioning from the F-15C to F-35A. Thanks again.

[@stretch3281]

Great interview as allways. Millennium 7 has done a series on the F35 and raised the same points about senser fusion and what a game changer it is, so it's good to hear his thoughts validated by an actual pilot.

[@SavageHenry0311]

Bravo Zulu, gents! Thank you for this interview.

[@Spike_au]

Thanks for the update, i missed the last podacst so wasnt sure what was going on. Recieved your red eagles re-print and cant wait to get home in a month to read it. Keep up the good work!

[@boggy8557]

Ooooh, this should be good! Thanks Steve!

[@echoredfour]

Great interview good deal Dave.

[@Ribney1]

A decent analogy for future air battle and the 35's SA is that if you have to fight Mike Tyson BUT know what his next punch is, you will win.

[@rentAscout]

I'd love a debate format between Starbaby and Dave. Well-spoken subject matter experts with some overlap experience would be very entertaining.

[@z33r0now3]

This Interview needs a part 2

[@forthwithtx5852]

Great interview!

[@Novacngood185]

After listening to the episode it makes me wonder What they have within the jet regarding all the sensor fusing and all? I know it will be many years before the public gets to know the details. But can anyone recommend a good video demonstrating what the F-35 can do that is released to the public. I know I can do a search. But there's so much rubbish out there.

[@andrewpizzino2514]

Presently reading F-35:The Inside Story of the Lightning II. Getting a better appreciation of how the allied fleet will better be able to both train and fight together. Not just having the same plane but same avionics to effectively be one force in any operation

[@joseherculano6302]

18, 16, 22 and 35B? Is that available on reincarnation or something?

[@sonsofthesilentage994]

The good fighter speaks with humility, and so quite rightly, I learned very little, as it should be

[@timtadeo8614]

Is Dave, Gonky from CW Lemoine(Mover) ?

[@10percenttrue]

No

[@viksaini]

Yes, more Starbaby!

[@raywhitehead730]

DATA link, (could go by different names) sharing of information, graphically, electronically, on a display for air to air, air to ship goes back more then 40 years. It just keeps getting better. Of course, it's grown to intercontinental DATA Link, not just in theater. My concern is operator competency. Like, What's relevant information that is being given?

[@mikeck4609]

The interview with Sprey was 2017 i believe: it was right after the F-35 first appeared at the Paris Airshow. It demonstrated it had great maneuverability and Sprey was anxious to ensure everyone knew it was still garbage despite everything we saw and heard from its pilots. He was an arrogant fraud. He was a defense analyst who often claimed he was “a designer” of the F-15, F-16 and A-10. In reality, he had not a damn thing to do with any of them except his incessant whining about the F-15 having “to much crap on it” to be any good at air to air. You’d think he’d shut up after it got its 107th kill but no. He ultimately found a voice on RT (Russian propoganda TV) as the F-35 critic of choice and he relished it.

[@gregparrott]

Yeah, that was the same impression I had of Sprey. He grabbed for himself far more credit for the F-16 than he had earned, and then disparaged anything for which he couldn't claim credit.

[@maddthomas]

More Starbaby!!!

[@scottlink183]

I wish you had talked more about the actual capabilities of the F-35b today April 2024 as opposed to the “aspirational” positives of the aircraft. Less “ra-ra it’s going to be great” and more stone called realities of where the aircraft is today. The T1 Refresh software is a year delayed with no date given of when it will be ready. No Refresh software update means no new block of abilities can be given to the F-35b meaning the abilities are still aspirational. Also the F-35b can not land vertically with fuel load and waepons on pylons. Meaning any F-35b returning to boat would have to “dump” weapons and fuel before landing on boat. The F-35b will always need to take off from boat using the ramp. The F-35b vertical landing and take off looks cool but in battle it’s useless.

[@10percenttrue]

Scott, i will be doing a follow up with Dave later this month. I’ll ask him to comment on the points you raise.

[@10percenttrue]

You might also want to listen to my interview with “Press” Wheeler on the F-35A. We discuss the TR there.

[@karmpuscookie]

Tough.

[@gregparrott]

You're being a bit hyperbolic. #1) There is a DEGREE to which the 'B' can vertically land with a payload. It's not so bad as you suggest - needing to dump All fuel and weapons. #2) The 'B' is a 'VSTOL'. The 'Short Takeoff' can also apply to landings. (i.e. With a carrier moving, and/or with a little runway, it can land with substantially heavier loads. #3) The 'B' DOES launch from carriers WITHOUT ramps. That's what U.S. carrier based Marines do. None of the carriers the marines use have ramps. Same for for Japan. #4) Ability to takeoff/land on surfaces other than airports is something that the Marines do NOT consider "useless''. Sorry, but I'll take their experience based view over yours.

[@jenrick4804]

The Harrier has similar limitations for true VTOL operations. For that matter a lot of aircraft have landing payload restrictions on either a carrier deck or a runway that would require dumping fuel and possibly ordinance.

[@tiago58]

You say on your introduction: "This channel brings together tales from the cockpit from around the world. " You forgot to mention that this "around the world" is valid only for US, UK and allied countries, Russia and China are excluded.

[@10percenttrue]

I'd gladly interview Russian or Chinese fighter aircrew, but the opportunity has never presented itself.

[@gaHuJIa_Macmep]

Why doesn't he say clearly and unequivocally the thing: bistatic radiolocation?

[@highlands]

1:18 I get the impression he either didn't understand the question or didn't want to answer it.