Flying & Fighting the Fulcrum with "Spanky" (ep. 159)

[@Whiskey11Gaming]

Man, at 500 hours he probably has more hours than most pilots in the MiG29 who were from countries who actually operate(d) the dang thing. Great interview! Thanks!

[@Battlenude]

The IAF has some instructors doing lots of flight hours of their Mig-29. But they rebuild their's to the Mig-29UPG standard. Which gave them a much better flight time. That means longer time on each mission and so fourth

[@weidles]

This is the best fighter pilot interview I have heard. Hats off to you Spankey, your the best.

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

Excellent ! Thank you ! Spanky has an amazing background. He's got an easy going, modest self effacing way about him, extreamly intelligent, and I bet he's a very, very formidable adversary, in the air.

[@pierre-alexandre90]

Awesome interview! I loved that episode, the Mig-29 is one of my favorite planes. Greetings from Montreal. I fell in love with podcast when i discovered it a few months ago and i'm listening to all the episodes one by one since and introducing it to my friends that are into aviation like me. Keep up the good work!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Glad to have you, Pierre! Enjoy the journey but buckle in--it gets bumpy at times.

[@Guysm1l3y]

Love it! And totally agree, the content trumps any concerns about video or audio quality. When the discussion is good, it's good.

[@xXpiaXx]

Agreed. It is possibly the most detailed and informative interview I've seen to date. :)

[@iloverbk1]

Yet the crappy audio is frustrating a. f.

[@ti1ion]

Finally, finally, finally, finally! Jell-O you have answered my prayers and interviewed Spanky! Ever since I read an old interview with him I have wanted to hear more. Aircrew Interview had a German pilot on and he said the MiG-29 eval really got professional once Spanky came along. Now I have to watch this interview...

[@TheJunior2305]

@FighterPilotPodcast Can't believe I just found your stuff. Really fantastic to hear the professional stick and rudder guys talk. All you guys are bad ass!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

💪

[@f1matt]

Couldn't help but chuckle at the comment about shooting down balloons and V1's in earlier wars and "I guess a kills a kill" with what's been going on the last little while.

[@jeffklepzig920]

Not to mention planes lined up on an airfield.

[@Nonukes2024]

@@jeffklepzig920 WW1..no credit for parked a/c that I'm aware of.... Strafing supply trains.,... that's Where the damages were Done.... Good ol Flak

[@jesseleblanc989]

Great interview as usual! I stayed up until almost midnight to listen to the video because it was so informative! Thank you!

[@mikebridges20]

Can't wait to hear about the MiG-29; hope to hear comparisons between the Fulcrum and the F-16!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You will be satisfied. 😉

[@superrantam]

Great interview and video! Love how you've added additional info in the form of extra footage and overlays :)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks!

[@AbuctingTacos]

I love the new format and great guest!

[@Scott11078]

It's a pity the AIM-97 Agile didn't make it to production. Atleast VTAS aka the first in-service helmet mounted sight, made it to a few F-4S squadrons. 2 amazing systems we had in the 1970's we missed the boat on.

[@jg5875]

Been in the Valley some 25 years so could relate to his early stories. And great podcast overall 👍🏻

[@xXpiaXx]

Absolutely great interview. Keep up the good work! :)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it! I take it the diminished audio / video quality did not bother you?

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

1986 - Some Russian aircraft had come to the Abbotsford International Airshow. I was working as aircraft sheet metal worker working on the Challenger Biz jet. I was wandering the ramp at the show and noticed a Mig -29 sitting by itself, no ropes, no guards, nothing. I walked over and had a close look, stuck my head up in the wheel well, looked into all the open panels. The workmanship on the plane would have gotten me fired. Under driven rivets, over driven rivets, lumpy skins. It was ugly up close.

[@ryansta]

Wow, imagine if it was built well then, as it out flew (in displays) near enough everything there.

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

@@ryansta My main recollection of the flying of the Russian aircraft in that show was how poorly they were flown. Those guys couldn't hold a close formation to save their lives, flew wobbly aerobatics, and made a relatively high percentage of rough landings. And those guys were supposed to be the best the Russians had. What I don't recall is the Mig-29 out flying anything.

[@J.Runk81]

This is fantastic Jello and Spanky. I really like the video format now.

[@therocinante3443]

Boy I love this podcast. Enjoying the pivot to video!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks!

[@alexdentondxiw]

I like how Spanky said " The 29 is like a Hornet on steroids." It will be interesting to see what the Fulcrum has done in this new conflict in Europe.

[@TheGranicd]

Nothing cuz stock 80s radar and missiles.

[@Battlenude]

​​@@TheGranicdThere are newer Mig-29, they go under the Mig-29k and Mig-35. The Russians fixed the fuel shortage issue by removing the upper aux air intakes, installed larger wings, increased volume forward cockpit section(and shrunk the volume for avionics, and moved it to larger radome nose, general avionics minuturization by halfvolume from the first mig-29 generation). plummed the migs for a lot more wet bags. i saw one on display carry four large wet bags and one senter buddy hose refuel pod. It looked crazy good. That put its fuel capacity on the F-15C version, or even better depending on which wet bag configuration. Now you would then say the Mig has grown a lot in volume and weight, and its all true. Hense they installed new digital FBW, and engines with more thrust.

[@richardfenner6096]

The first Fulcrum to come to NA was in August 1989. It came for the Abbotsford Airshow in Canada. They brought a -29 plus a -29UB. The demo was flown by Anatoly Kvochur, who had a low level ejection at Paris about 4 months before. Hell of a display and their support a/c was the An-225 Mira. On the Sunday, Captain Bob Wade RCAF became the first western pilot to fly the MiG-UB. I wuz there....and it was a hoot of a w/e!!

[@Native_love]

Wow! What a great interview! Subbed!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Welcome!

[@andrewdavies3584]

"The Mig-29 and Su-27 Ejection Seat Demonstration Team" :D :D :D

[@joegilgan2509]

Great interview, very interesting. Thanks!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome!

[@JD-xh3ex]

what a great interview. Thanks!

[@BoloMalboro]

All those 29's from Laage AFB Spanky was flying are now in Malbork 22nd AFB Poland in Polish Air Force. We took them from Luftwaffe :)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I’m guessing you typed this before the end of the interview.

[@LRRPFco52]

The most striking thing I learned from his article was that the USAF didn't retain him as an Aggressor pilot at Nellis, if it's the same guy I'm remembering. Major lost opportunity on talent management.

[@bobbyraejohnson]

Have you seen the government lately?

[@LRRPFco52]

@@bobbyraejohnson That was decades ago in the 1990s though.

[@PontiacBanker]

Hey another DLAB test taker, LOL! I love hearing someone else’s experience with it. Proud Army Signals Intelligence Specialist here!

[@PontiacBanker]

DLI is NO JOKE!

[@boggy8557]

That was so good! Thank you Jello

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome, boggy!

[@MrJonnyrocknroll]

I was at the Paris Air Show the day after that time when poor Russian guy had to eject from his Fulcrum during his demo. IIRC they didn't sell many of them that year :)

[@vineetkaddu1214]

An Awesome Interview about one of the sexiest jets ever, great Banter, and the intro music kicks ass! What more can I say?

[@bradjames6748]

There is an RCAF hornet pilot whose resume is very Similar to this guy and has the same call sign ,he recently retired as Lockheed's senior F35 test pilot.

[@petrovichbauer5105]

Good to see you, Fred. Pete Ochabauer

[@johnstaniszewski5504]

That was a great interview Jello

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, John!

[@jaredchilders3781]

I've saw Kirlin's MIGs a 100x sitting parked between the hangers and never had a clue they had engines in them. I saw a small foreign fighter plane flying around above the airport area east of Quincy in 2013 and believe it was the same jet that filmed Spanky in the first flight of the MIG 29 in 2010.

[@sharoncassell9358]

I read a book around 1999 about a Russian pilot defecting in a Mig 31. He went to Japan where they disassembled the plane and pyiit it back together here. He left family behind with no notice.

[@jaredchilders3781]

@@sharoncassell9358 I read on the web about a MIG 31 defecting back in the 80s, and Japan did give the MIG 31 back to the Soviet Union upon request. What the west was after for roughly 3 decades was the MIG 25 Foxbat. They never got their hands on one until the Gulf War. Kirlin's story of what he went through to get his first MIG 29 is a damn good read.

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

@@jaredchilders3781 A Russian pilot, Lt Victor Belenko, defected in a MiG-25P on 6 September 1976 into Hakodate Airport on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. It wasn't a MiG-31. Spanky

[@interestingvideosofinteres5136]

Awesome episode gentleman. ❤

[@MrGivmedew]

@fighter pilot podcast Thanks I loved this… I have beyond excellent hearing but have a condition that makes it hard to understand what people are saying (I have to use subtitles). For example I had the hardest time in flight school talking to the tower with the cheap headsets they had in the training Cessnas. Which bring me to this: I used to do web production and webinars for Fortune 500 companies. Next time you do one of these have both computers record the mic audio to the drives. Then your archive can use the higher quality audio. I actually always recorded the audio and video and then after the event depending on what company hired me I’d either send them the high fidelity copy or I’d upload it to whatever platform. We’d replace the live show with the higher quality audio and video so people who watched it later could have a better experience. Technically we could have ran HD and 128K audio but we never ever did unless it was live to KZbin. We always used a low bitrate 480 and 240 feed with 64k stereo on the 480 and 32k mono on the 240 feed. So obviously not the greatest quality. We’d always go back and upgrade the quality afterwards though. Once you learn how to set it up if you need to help a guest setup the recoding on their machine use a free Remote Desktop program that works by sending a link (so you don’t have to worry about IP addresses, port forwarding, and firewalls). I used TeamViewer but I had a license. I’m not sure if you’d be breaking any laws by using the free version for this. I guess if you are considered a business or you are profiting then you shouldn’t use TeamViewer but there are legitimate free options out there besides TeamViewer. If you end up using Remote Desktop a lot then the license for TeamViewer might make sense. Anyways, While I really struggled to understand your guest I did love the show! This was the first time I saw anything from you. KZbin recommended me to you probably because I had just got done watching a Ward Carrol show. Oh one other tip… if you are going to do what I’m suggesting then do hand claps at the beginning so you can sync the audio to the video easily.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you for the feedback. There are web-based services like Zencastr that perform what you suggest for free. Normally I use those services for feature episodes but the happy hour series were intended to be more casual. Had I known I would adapt them as I did, I would have used Zencastr which would, in affect, follow your advice. Thanks again

[@rickcordell7343]

Thanks, this was great.

[@BeechSportBill]

AMAZING ! So much experience!

[@dutchbrotherfan1284]

Yes this is something I have wanted to learn about. After a few years the Luftwaffe transferred them to Poland . I wonder if that was bittersweet for the German pilots or was it like “ don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya”

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

It was bittersweet for many of the MiG pilots. For most of them, the ferry flight to Poland would be their last flight in a fighter as not everyone got to convert to the Eurofighter. Spanky

[@dutchbrotherfan1284]

@@mig29fulcrumflyer oh I did not know that. That would be bittersweet. I loved the interview, I did not realize the Fulcrum was a beast in the close in dogfight.

[@RobertSantos-rw8dy]

Cheers mate.. good stuff.. righteous.

[@raydolinger1980]

Remeber the good ol' days of "smear the Queer" :) That was awesome )

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

That's right!

[@jamesmterrell]

How did he get Call sign? Great video.

[@kpsig]

It was very strange to hear the disappointment for the M2000. Most probably, younger, less experienced pilots in there

[@spacebear49]

Awesome episode! But of all the guests to forget the callsign discussion!! 😁

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I did not forget, this was a happy hour and I generally did not ask about callsigns on those

[@spacebear49]

@@FighterPilotPodcast ah, fair enough. Enjoyed it very much!

[@nrao8977]

I think the Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-29s are very heavily modified. I do not think they can be compared to any other MiG-29 out there. So too the MiG-29K of the Indian Navy.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Yes, the MiG-29K Fulcrum D has two extra wing weapons stations, folding wings, a tailhook, and much more...

[@Flyingcircustailwheel]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Don't they fly the SMT as well? I think they increased the internal fuel quite a bit.

[@simtech8475]

They got rid of the inlet FOD ramps and aux air intake on the inlets from the second gen Fulcrums to add extra fuel there as well.

[@jato62]

Excellent!

[@petar.banovac]

German MiG29's had restricted engines with reduced thrust. The original MiG29's had a better T/W ratio.

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

That was done to extend the life of the engines. However, during our summer deployments to Sardenia the engines were trimmed to full power. The difference was noticable, but slight.

[@danbelot416]

I wish he would talk more about fighting the f14

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Sounds like it was not much of a contest.

[@jrads]

Great video Mooch!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

“Mooch”?

[@jrads]

@Fighter Pilot Podcast Sorry, I was watching Ward carrrols channel, and when I went to comment, your video started, and I didn't realize it. Don't worry. I love your content, too. I watch both channels religiously

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@jrads 👍

[@nicholaswilson9724]

I'm trying to remember where I read it (possibly "Fulcrum" by Alexander Zuyev, or possibly it's just from a Tom Clancy novel), but supposedly the front of the plane was built well by skilled labor, but further aft where it "didn't matter as much" they were built by high school grads with no other training. Citation Needed ;)

[@keppscrossing]

I remember reading that, too. I think it was in Aviation Week back in the 1980s, but could be wrong about the source.

[@odalv316]

It sounds like American propaganda.

[@indy500tabasco8]

Great interview. Maverick just saw Mig28. & guest didn't say his callsign.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

His callsign is in the title: "Spanky."

[@indy500tabasco8]

@@FighterPilotPodcast thx. Problem solved

[@clutchcrgo]

50:00 I would love to have heard Spanky say what scenario culminated in his “thinking about” bailing out of an F-16.

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

I was headed home after yet another very boring night DCA CAP in support of Southern Watch. I was high, low 40s, and fast, somewhere between 1.3 M and 1.4 M and had just crossed into Saudi airspace and turned my lights on. I was flying a Block 40. About the same time I turned my lights on, I got an ENG LUBE LOW warning in the pilot fault display. There had been a recent safety supplement to the Viper's flight manual (Dash-1) stating that if this fault appeared to first acknowledge the fault by pressing the Fault Acknowledge button and then clear the display. If the fault did not reappear, then press on, if it did reappear, then pucker. That went into the BAD column for single-engine fighters. The fault reappeared. I immediately pulled the throttle to idle and turned to the nearest divert field, which was about 45 NM away. The field was listed in our inflight guide, so I found the frequency and tried to establish contact with the local ATC. Unfortunately, no one was home. I arrived overhead the field about 18,000 ft AGL and not only was anyone not answering my radio calls, the field was unlit. Being uncertain how long the engine would last, I was committed. There was no place else to go. This was back before we started flying with NVGs, but luckily I was carrying a LANTIRN FLIR pod, which would project IR imagery in the HUD. As long as the engine hadn't seized I still had all my electrical systems. If it had seized, the FLIR and the HUD would've both dropped offline. They weren't connected to the emergency power buss. I was in a great position energy-wise to make the runway, but if I lost those two systems I wouldn't have been able to see the runway. Hence, 'thinking about' jettisoning a Viper. Thankfully, the engine never quit as GE engines are notoriously bad about not running very long without oil. I taxied off the runway, shut down, got out and found the belly of the jet underneath the engine covered with oil. Fortunately, the engine was swapped out the next day and one of the squadron pilots went and flew it home. Broken oil line.

[@clutchcrgo]

@@mig29fulcrumflyer Great job saving the plane; do you think rolling the power off is what kept it running long enough to power the LANTIRN pod & your HUD all the way to touchdown? Presumably the engine with the broken oil line got sent back to some depot or other for rework; would love to know how much of it could be saved & how much longer it could’ve idled well enough to keep the LANTIRN FLIR pod & HUD powered up.

[@mikolajgrotowski]

I fly MiGs 29 in Poland, is possible i fly the same MiGs, because some of these German MiGs come to my squadron, most of come to another because my have some MiGs from USSR and Slovakia. As for ejection seats, we have problems with them, tragically one of the pilots was killed because of faulty ejection :-( .

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Sorry to hear

[@АлександрШершнёв-р6с]

К-36 пожалуй лучшее кресло из всех созданных, спасло жизнь не одной сотне летчиков. Надёжное как автомат Калашникова!

[@DrittAdrAtta]

@@FighterPilotPodcast It needs to be said that the cause of the accident was a faulty spare part ( a rubber cap of some sort ) which did not brake (as it was design to) to let the shute out. It was a homemade knock-off, since there are no original Russian spare parts available. The seat itself is outstanding, as mentioned by Spanky. The famous ejection of Anatoly Kvochur in 1989 at the Paris Air Show is really something to see. The MiG is plummeting nose down after suffering right engine failure due to prior bird strike(s) when the pilot decides to punch out. He ejects almost horizontally, really close to the gfround, 200 ft roughly. In a fraction of a second after the ejection, the seat repositions to vertical for the parachute dome to open and fill. Outstanding.

[@АлександрШершнёв-р6с]

​@@DrittAdrAtta К-36 не на одном авиасалоне показало свою работу!

[@pavlejukic605]

@@АлександрШершнёв-р6с youtube: Mig 29 Airshow crush

[@Tolya1234]

As a Pole, I'm wondering if any of the 29s from Luftwaffe we got for 1 euro a piece will finally end up in Ukraine.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

That is the question.

[@Prifly70]

Spanky, you have a basement ?????? In Vegas???? Super rare. Jealous. If a tornado rolls thru I'm heading your way. LOL

[@Only_God_Is_Allah_SWT]

It would be awesome to challenge these legendary guys on DCS just to see what they're made of. It would be Epic.

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

You got us. You 1-g DCS aces are the best fighter pilots of all time and actual fighter aces throughout history would tremble at the thought of an aerial duel against you. Real fighter pilots should talk to you to learn your techniques for prosecuting the air battle. I wish I could go back in time where I was able to withstand the g-forces and give you a ride in an F-16. In your rare moments of consciousness you'd be throwing up things you ate when you were 5 years old. See what they're made of? Real fighter pilots put on their big-boy pants and put themselves in harm's way. What happens when you get shot in DCS? You hit the reset button. YGTBFSM!! Spanky

[@Only_God_Is_Allah_SWT]

@@mig29fulcrumflyer nope. It'd be awesome to learn new things from these guys. Since you like to call yourself a big boy that tells me that you're some kind of manchild that for some weird reason got triggered. I guess that you are the greatest ace in the history to run through the atmosphere so it'd be excellent to show us what you yourself are made of since you're so full of yourself I don't know how you put up with yourself in the morning. Ain't easy for you buddy.

[@Only_God_Is_Allah_SWT]

@@mig29fulcrumflyer I'm waiting, Big Boy. Your username and server you're on. Before you choke me in your imaginary F-16, first you should stop being a keyboard warrior and try in online servers and only then, after you shoot me down, you can try your Wild Weasel things out. As soon as I take care of my business over here and get my gear, we're on buddy. I did only politely asked if some of these guys would be available online, only to wake up this morning to find a reply from some NPC threatening me with g locks in his imaginary F-16. *Well buddy, Bring It.* .

[@ssheets02]

This is a great interview, but Fred’s audio cuts out so much he’s sometimes hard to follow and I’m hanging on every word.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Yeah, especially when I talked over him. Had I known I would eventually use this interview for a video like this I would have used a different platform.

[@ssheets02]

With many rewinds, I did make it to the end. Great interview.

[@kayakutah]

40:06, we flew the N against the A. No chance, not even close.

[@2ZZGE100]

Actually, there are about 6 HUD kill videos with guns of a USN Black Aces F-14A vs Luftwaffe MIG-29s in the Fighter Fling videos. While MIG-29 had better thrust to weight than the F-14A, the Tomcat pilots knew they had a better two circle rate fight so that is what they used to win the fight. I also did not get the big and heavy comment for the GE-F110 powered F-14. Yes, it was big (not bigger than the F-15) and heavier than the other teen fighters, but the B/D made WAY more thrust than the other teen fighters with a combined thrust of 60,000 lbf peak at sea level. In light configuration (not fleet defense configuration), F-14 B/D had a much better than 1:1 thrust to weight that could rocket up from 200 knots in full afterburner and flaps down in the vertical as high as the pilot wanted to.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Maybe.

[@garethbarry3825]

Can you post a link to those videos?

[@2ZZGE100]

@@garethbarry3825 You will have to find the Fighter Fling videos from 1996 to 1999 on KZbin and I saw them in one of them. Cannot remember the year as they used to make a fighter Fling video. You might have to look for them

[@garethbarry3825]

@@2ZZGE100 ok found one!! Fighter Fling 1995, at about the 3:55 mark on the video, clear guns solution on a mig 29! I have to admit i was someahat skeptical about fiding this but there it is! On a side note, those Fighter Fling videos are quite fun and entertaining, with surprisingly little views. In another side note, looking at the EM chart of the f14b or d at low altitude is really surprising, with a very high str and itr at low speeds. Yes it doesnt match what i have found for an f16a but its not far off an f16c st around 350 knts. Below that speed the f14 has an advantage until really slow. From 350 knts up the f16 has a big advantage that just get more and more the faster the speed-not sure how meaningful that is in a dogfight, a turn at 500knts will be as wide as Texas. Another side note, the speed and performance of the tomcat at low level in those videos is something to behold.

[@garethbarry3825]

One other interesting thing in this video as well as other hud video ive seen of tomcat guns solutions against F5s- the pilots dont use the radar lock+gun lead calculator.

[@Mike-01234]

Seems like American airpower was all built in response to the Mig-15 after that there was a drive to always beat the Soviets.

[@waynegriswold8953]

for being in a basement, that is a real looking window behind him

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

The windows are actually below ground level. At each of three windows in the basement there's a metal semi-cylinder with a ladder to ground level. Is that building code? I don't know. Spanky

[@jiceBERG]

This is the fighter pilot podcast yet in the intro you have a bomber and helicopter. What gives lol? I do love the B-1 just as much as the next guy, it's beautiful but it's not a fighter despite the oxygen mask, joystick and T-38 track to fly it.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

This show is about all military aviation

[@TheGranicd]

Тhat bombing in Fulcrum description is strange. It should have had CCIP and CCRP.

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

It was actually closer to CCIP than dialing mils. I was afraid of running out of time talking about something I hadn't done. A/G ranging was done with the laser-range finder, which was dearmed in the German jets due to eye safety concerns. There was no bomb-fall line or flightpath marker/velocity vector, just a pipper based on dive angle, airspeed, range to the target and type of bomb. CCRP? No, a system bomb depends on an accurate navigation system. The Fulcrum's nav system was anything but accurate. Spanky

[@pierre-alexandre90]

@@mig29fulcrumflyerSpanky that was a great interview! We need to know about your callsign though, is there a story behind it? Greetings from Montreal

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

@@pierre-alexandre90 Since the origin of "Spanky" has generated some minor interest, here's the backstory - My first summer deployment from Misawa to someplace that had better weather was to Elmendorf AFB, AK. That's where I first saw a MiG-29. It was June to July 1990. Since we were going to do a lot of flying against the Elmendorf-based Eagles, I was asked to give a pre-deployment briefing on the best ways to fight them. I used a lot “here’s how to spank an Eagle” in the briefing. Plus, since I had a strong air-to-air background the normal outcome of flying BFM against me was that people got spanked (trust me, self-aggrandizement is not my strong suit). During the deployment the squadron decided on “Spanky,” which was far better than some of the alternatives. That stuck through the rest of my career.

[@danobrien3601]

Interesting interview . In the Ukraine Russian war it seems the sky belongs to the ground based inexpensive missiles S-300 which are now very good and of course cheap drones . These missiles have effectively created a no fly zone for fighters .Both sides now appear to be holding back their very expensive jet fighters and fighter pilots . Also this war is the first modern war since WW2 and how did the Russians deal with superior airpower and artillery of the Germans at Stalingrad ? Answer they "hugged the enemy" in close quarter ground fighting so that the Germans could not use their planes and artillery . This is what we beginning to see..trench warfare attrition like WW1 on the Somme and Verdun where trench lines can only be broken by tank charges and ..er gas

[@TheJustinJ]

First modern war since WWII? Korea, Vietnam, the 6-Day War, Iran-Iraq War, Desert Storm... All "Modern" in their time.

[@michaelharper4989]

A question popped into my peabrain. There have been discussions about how long it would take Ukrainian pilots to transition to our or European planes. Sounds like Spanky transitioned very quickly to the Russian gear. What time would it take to transition the Ukrainians??????

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Keep in mind by that point Spanky had done a tour in F-15s, another in the F-5, and transitioned to the F-16. He was also a weapons school graduate. Few other pilots in any country have that kind of experience.

[@michaelharper4989]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Thanks for the reply. I was hoping that they could transition faster and be able to support the spring offensive to take back Crimea.

[@michaelharper4989]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Just stated to listening to Ward Carroll and Justin Bronk discuss this topic. A good discussion for us peabrain.

[@АлександрШершнёв-р6с]

Да хоть ф-16 вместе с подготовленными лётчиками поставляете,они закончатся так же быстро как и Байрактары , не спасет Украину ничто!!! Ни танки ни самолёты.

[@vctor6768]

It still shows some. Lack of training in the Russian side in single profile colom first you hit the front viechle then the last viechle then eat them one by one..... For some unknown reason he chose the center one.... I was expecting to see +12 wrecks 1 per missile + canon Forder wrecks ... the target were so venerable

[@robertdownie6135]

Spanky? I think we had better not know....

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Fortunately, for you, I did not ask.

[@robertdownie6135]

@@FighterPilotPodcast wise, brother, wise...

[@mcguire4162]

Questions for either one of you; how long do you think it will realistically take for Ukrainian Mig29 pilots to transition to the F16?

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

Transitioning from the MiG-29 to the F-16 is a very different problem than going from the F-16 to the MiG-29. The Viper is a very sophisticated aircraft, while the Fulcrum is very simple. There are so many different weapons and display options and so much information available to the Viper pilot that a Fulcrum pilot doesn't have. It was good that we had a very good avionics trainer to use when I checked out in the F-16. I spent many hours going through the switchology on my own time to help in the learning process. It was even more complex than the F-15s I flew. It would've been more difficult to learn on the fly. I'm sure the Ukrainian Fulcrum pilots are all very experienced and professional, but if the simpler Fulcrum is all they've known, there are going to be some growing pains. Ideally, I think you'd want 6 months. Unfortunately, the situation doesn't allow for that. Three to four months? Certainly not ideal, and being thrust into a combat situation in an airplane you're not 100% familiar with isn't the best situation either. Perhaps Mikolaj Grotowski, a Polish MiG-29 pilot who also commented on this video, could give you better insight on a timeline as there were most likely Polish MiG-29 pilots (I'm guessing) who converted to the Viper. Spanky

[@briancavanagh7048]

For the Ukraine the challenge and difficulties in converting to a western fighter, setting up a supply chain & maintenance personnel for the Ukraine is there an F29 option? Do you think there may be some ‘simple’ modifications to upgrade the capabilities of the Mig 29? Getting AIM-120 loadout?

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

@@briancavanagh7048 There would be absolutely nothing simple about upgrading the MiG-29 to western standards. Shooting AMRAAMs off the Fulcrum? Sure, if you can get a firing pulse to the weapons station, but you'd barely scratch the surface of fully exploiting the AIM-120's capabilities. Without getting into classified areas of how AMRAAM works, the MiG-29's Slotback 1 radar is totally incompatible with AMRAAM. Now, you're talking a radar retrofit, in addition to many other systems. Go back to my original sentence. Spanky

[@briancavanagh7048]

@@mig29fulcrumflyer Yes I agree, but in time of war sometimes not perfect modifications are required to meet a dire need. There is no need to completely refit the avionics to westerns standards. The full capabilities of the AIM-120 are not required, only some. There are some pretty smart people which could suggest ways to accomplish this. The goal is to put previously immune Russian aircraft under threat of being shot down and make them pull their air assets further from the front lines. Shooting from the hip, ground control radar targeting Russian aircraft, the Ukrainian Mig becomes the shooter. A secure and data link to the Ukrainian Mig Western airborne radar, compatible with the AIM-120, in a ‘civilian’ aircraft to send targeting info to the Mig shooter. And finally a new ‘western’ AIM-120 radar to Mig. Remember the effort required to accomplish this task has to be easier & faster, but not necessarily as good as the introduction of new western aircraft to Ukraine. Things are more complicated now, but remember the speed at which needs were addressed in WW2. New measures, counter measures and effort were done to win a war.

[@patrickunderwood5662]

Men! MEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNN!!

[@chrislaska5728]

Language barrier with danish pilots? Every single danish person I’ve ever met, has spoken English impeccably daresay better than most Americans. I highly doubt there’s a language barrier.

[@mig29fulcrumflyer]

I didn't say there was a language barrier. I said that English was used as the common NATO language. The Danish F-16 pilots' English was very good, though not quite to the level of the Dutch F-16 pilots.

[@chrislaska5728]

No, you didn’t say that Jell-O said that. Amazing interview I found it very compelling. I imagine your experiences are incredibly unique for an American pilot 😊

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

37:55 He sounds like what I imagine of a Marine pilot,,, 😆

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You need to rejigger your imagination, he was an Air Force pilot

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

@@FighterPilotPodcast :)) I meant rhetorically, as I've heard, probably on your channel that Marines go for the jugular, straight off.

[@davedeville6540]

The Ukrainians should have changed those kills stats by now

[@raydolinger1980]

Pax River = Tiki Bar Solomon's Island

[@wojteklabuc]

If President Zelensky calls "Spanky" there is chance "Spanky" could fly same MiGs he was flying long time ago. Looks like former German MiG-29 from Polish Air force will be soon wearing Ukrainian colours. ;P

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

So it seems.

[@jamesleaty7308]

The Russian Spanky,, guy. A Ru Colonel, his era, our era. Was killed on mission. In UK. 2022. Died doing what he liked.

[@ishangore2745]

Using the East German Air Force as a benchmark of Fulcrum usage is sort of unfair. Poorly funded & low on morale, that Air Force was just low on quality. Whereas, the Indian Air Force who’s been using the Fulcrum for over 25 years, has great experience & kicks ass on every exercise they do. Including the Singaporean Air Force’s F16s.

[@mountainserenity9347]

Shlem

[@lukew2031]

Trash talking about my beloved aircraft ain't gonna get you like from me this time

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😭

[@pcpolice7937]

I love living in St Louis. Best kept secret for great fun and diverse interests. If you don’t like St Louis, Don’t come here. We won’t miss you. I stopped watching here

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

And this is what's wrong with society nowadays--no one can take a joke anymore. Bye.

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

NOT a big fan, of the Russians, or their second rate jets, these days, just say'n,

[@АлександрШершнёв-р6с]

Если Российские самолёты второсортные,то многие американские на третий не дотягивают!)))

[@TheJustinJ]

@@АлександрШершнёв-р6с We patiently wait for a Russian aircraft to score a victory against: F-15 104:0 against soviet aircraft. F-16 76:0 against soviet aircraft. For these, they might have a chance. Even against 104-1 odds from the F-15, there is still a chance. For the F-22? No chance. Soviet products serve one purpose: To project an image. An illusion of technological achievements, military competence, and productive ability to the world and for their citizens. But despite confiscating the freedom, wealth, and happiness from their subjects and pouring it into aerospace for a century the net result was and is and always will be apocalyptic mediocrity.

[@АлександрШершнёв-р6с]

@@TheJustinJ что ф-15 и ф-16 никогда не воевали на равных всегда при подавляющем приемущества. И тем не менее их сбивали даже старые Миг -21 и Миг -23. И израильские в Сирии и в Ираке американские. Падали только на подконтрольные территории поэтому и можно было скрыть потери. С Су -27 вообще столкновений не было. При равных силах будут примерно равные потери .что то не торопиться запад на Украину свои самолёты отправлять обещает через год когда Украины уже не будет . Знают что худшей антирекламы не заработать это не сотнями самолётов с поддержкой АВАКС и постановщиков помех против десятков устаревших самолётов воевать. Закончатся ф-16 и прочие быстрее чем турецкие Байрактары. Повеселили про просредственость!))) Ваша система образования вообще ни на что не годна. Вы по всему миру таланты скупает. Воровать только обучены и обманывать . Недолго осталось. Близок ваш конец.

[@TheJustinJ]

@@АлександрШершнёв-р6с The Russian population has declined consistently for 100 years. Our population has multiplied nearly by 400%. Most of those are not immigrants. Our wealth reached #1 in the world by 1900 and we are infinitely wealthier now than we were before the Model T, Wright Brothers, and Microsoft. Carburetors have not even been an option on our cars for 30 years, where your puff blue smoke and fumes. The cheapest car sold in America has air conditioning standard. The poorest people in our country weigh up to or exceed 300kg due to the abundance of food available for so cheap. They even have their own Television show just because they are fat and for No other reason. We shall see how long Russia can sustain a population decline before they cry uncle and abandon their immoral system that punishes man for thinking and rewards him for unproductiveness and theft from those who do produce wealth and prosperity for themselves and everyone around them.

[@raevj]

@@АлександрШершнёв-р6с no one cares, dude.