Dim Jones chats about flying the F-16 on his USAF exchange tour. He also talks about flying the Lightning, Phantom and Jaguar with the RAF.
Пікірлер: 149
@nickforster7485 жыл бұрын
Dim was my Station Commander during my Tac Weapons Course, what an utter gent! We TacEval’ed him and he and his wife were great hosts to a bunch of student pilots arriving on his doorstep for dinner with minimal notice. Such a great example to aspiring fighter pilots and what a career! A great choice of interviewee and lovely to see him again after all these years!
@Aircrewinterview5 жыл бұрын
Ah that’s great to hear Nick!
@nickforster7485 жыл бұрын
I have enjoyed your interviews very much & have a suggestion for you to consider: once you’ve secured an interview, perhaps let the subscribers know and invite suggestions for questions? You will obviously have to filter them, but someone might have a bit of inside knowledge that inspires an unusual or illuminating question. What do you think?
@billr.12304 жыл бұрын
Quite a guy. As a USAF maintainer first on F-4C's for three years then transitioned to F-16's when Luke took over the F-16 training program, I can assure viewers that this gentleman knows what he is talking about.
@JoakimFritz6 жыл бұрын
I love how most of these guys still seem genuinely passionate about aviation, even after having dedicated their entire career to it. These videos are an absolute treasure. Thank you AI!
@bowser5155 жыл бұрын
Wonderful interview. And what a splendid career this man had. A life many of us could only dream of for sure. I'd give anything for a ride in an F-16.
@kpsig2 жыл бұрын
These RAF aviators have granted us with some of the most (or the most) enjoyable stories. Well done Mike, well done RAF!
@kpsig6 жыл бұрын
When I saw the last picture with Dim Jones in front of the F-16, I realized how old the F-16 really is !! Thumbs up for a great interview !
@leifvejby80235 жыл бұрын
Yes, next year it will be 45 years!
@bjhall5137 жыл бұрын
Atta Boy! Incredibly well done! No way anyone else could have done any better! I am in awe as to how in the world you ever prepared for such an extensive, in depth "live" interview? Everyone who gets to see this will be envious yet very appreciative to have shared such time in any of these aircraft together with you! Incredibly well done lad! Proud to have shared some of those adventures with you (and many other wonderful, gifted aviators as well). BJ
@barrysheridan91867 жыл бұрын
What a brilliant interview, one of the very best of its kind. Thank you for posting and especially thanks to Dim Jones.
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Thank you Barry.
@barracuda70186 жыл бұрын
Very balanced view .. This is exactly what the F-16 was . He should also have tried the Block 60 with AESA radar..
@Pow3llMorgan6 жыл бұрын
These old pilots are such charitable lads. I'm really liking this channel!
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
Glad you like it, plenty more for you to watch!
@joelhume6 жыл бұрын
Great interview, shows what a quantum leap the F-16 was as a tactical fighter compared to what had come before.
@lahma697 жыл бұрын
Great interview with an exceedingly interesting and accomplished individual who should be equally respected by both Brits and Americans. What a long and comprehensive career this gentlemen had... I really enjoyed the entire interview, and I appreciate your channel providing such excellent content for our consumption!
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
lahma69 Thank you for your kind words, it's much appreciated.
@mookie26377 жыл бұрын
Another great interview - thanks for producing these. And what a career! Imagine flying an F16 in 1979...
@Cubcariboo7 жыл бұрын
Wonderful man and another wonderful Interview. Good show!
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Cub Cariboo thank you :)
@Thetequilashooter15 жыл бұрын
Another fantastic interview. You somehow manage to find good and decent people who don’t have the ego that are often thought of when you hear about fighter pilots.
@Aircrewinterview5 жыл бұрын
Cheers. That was my thought when I first started 4/5 years ago but not really had a bad experience yet.
@timo_84884 жыл бұрын
Thetequilashooter1 That’s just the common misunderstanding people have. No airforce hires ego-problematic persons to fly their fighters. Totally the opposite. What is wanted for fighter pilotes are the most mentally balanced guys they can find. And you can see that in all these interviews, no matter the nationality.
@terryboyer13425 жыл бұрын
I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Jones interview. I think this is the best one yet! What a great man.
@Aircrewinterview5 жыл бұрын
Cheers Terry.
@trespire5 жыл бұрын
Calling the F-15 a flying tennis court is spot on. In IAF D check, 4 of us played a quick game at lunch break of mini football on top the F-15 "Baz" we were working on. The raised air break served as the goal post. We wore booties to protect the paintwork, & no one fell off the wings.
@realMaverickBuckley2 жыл бұрын
Wow, just checked, the F-15 is only 1 metre shorter than an Avro Lancaster Bomber. Couple of yards shorter than a B17 😳
@trespire2 жыл бұрын
@@realMaverickBuckley Yeah, in person, the F-15 is a big jet, on par with the Phantom just over-all taller mostly due to the wings position and really hight rudders.
@robertlassiter58085 жыл бұрын
I was at McDill AFB when Dim Jones was there. I remember seeing him around, once in particular he came out to fly and crawled the crew chiefs ass about something. He seemed a little bit more aloof than the American pilots. He wasn’t very popular amongst the crew chiefs I do remember. I was an electrician so I didn’t have to have a whole lot of interaction with the pilots. I’m not trying to poor mouth the man but that was his reputation amongst the maintenance people. There was also a RAF maintenance officer there who was highly regarded by the maintenance people so it was by no means anti British thing. Me personally had and still have a high regard for the RAF. Was around them several times during my time in the AF. I would talk to them every chance I could get. Never met one that wasn’t friendly and outgoing. That’s the maintenance people, can’t speak to the others.
@MattThornton877 жыл бұрын
Another fantastic video. Thanks to Aircrew Interview & Dim! I'm often in the Coltishall area & always get a feeling of sadness as the base is now closed. Such a shame considering it's history & how highly thought of it was. Still dreaming of those purring cats getting airborne into the big Norfolk skies...
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Matt Thornton you're very welcome. It was a great base that's for sure.
@charlesharwood57055 жыл бұрын
It's amazing how Macdill used to be sprawling with fighters, now it's a Tanker base, but still lovely place.
@JohnS9165 жыл бұрын
That was one enlightening and interesting interview of a well-accomplished individual. It was great to hear of his experiences and the range of them must have kept him on his toes because he had so many transitions, including to another country. I wish him well whatever he does in the future.
@hughesja19757 жыл бұрын
So good even the squirrel at 13:16 wanted to be a part of the interview!! 😃
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
hughesja1975 ha I didn't notice that.
@Aeronaut19756 жыл бұрын
Ha ha, well spotted!
@JoakimFritz6 жыл бұрын
11 o'clock low
@JoakimFritz6 жыл бұрын
Your channel is awesome!
@trespire5 жыл бұрын
Squirrel on FOD duty.
@nervo63214 жыл бұрын
Really great to hear stories that are every military aviation enthusiasts dream....
@davidsandell78335 жыл бұрын
I just love the aircrew interviews. Keep em coming please.
@wojciechczupta4 жыл бұрын
the best interview from your library. Great man and fantastic experience!
@Aircrewinterview4 жыл бұрын
Cheers!
@SteveGould17 жыл бұрын
Fabulous interview! Though interviewer was a little on the quiet side, Dim provided a window into military fast jet aviation of the period, and spoke with the knowledge and confidence that suggests that he could jump straight back into any one of the described machines, and be right there at the leading edge!
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Steve Gould glad you enjoyed it! I shall try to speak up in future :)
@SunDodger7 жыл бұрын
Another great video. I'm in awe of all these folk.
@elta62415 жыл бұрын
The F-16 will always wax an F-15 in an air-to-air encounter once it becomes visual, and they always do because things always get equalised. They're just so easy to see and spot. A flying tennis court is accurate. The F-14 is a football pitch. You really can't underestimate making an aircraft smaller in order to make it visually difficult to spot.
@no_regerts51762 жыл бұрын
Not true. The F-16 was built as a high-energy fighter and though it can pull Gs, it doesn’t necessarily out-rate an F15 or F14. Energy fighting was a doctrine from Vietnam that carried over to the F14/15 and was actually used to design the F16. Once doctrine began to shift from energy to high alpha, you started to see what those bigger fighters could really do. You’d be very wrong to underestimate the ability for an F15 or F14 (better yet, an F/A-18) to point it’s nose where it wants.
@265justy Жыл бұрын
@@no_regerts5176 Sorry. Have do disagree.... The F-16 is the king in the close range dogfight. As I also heard an F-16 pilot once quote... Fighting Tomcats is like clubbing baby seals...😂
@johnmilner5485 Жыл бұрын
@@265justy The Air force feared Snort and his Tomcat , and I grew up an air force brat so I'm biased , the viper has had it's arse handed to it plenty of times , and by aircraft that would shock you. My father was an IP in the F-16 .
@265justy Жыл бұрын
@@johnmilner5485 The Viper was the aggressor simulating the performance off various Migs... Not itself..
@johnmilner5485 Жыл бұрын
@@265justy So was the F-5 & T-38 . neither of them were the cats arse either. You need to look up the missive F-15C's and Paco Giesler . You have no idea who either name I mentioned are , do you ? Just another chump running his mouth on the web .
@meltvision3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely wonderful stories and info...great interview...thank you, Dim Jones, for your service sir...peace from California
@dougstitt1652 Жыл бұрын
great guy and i do love the squirrel running along .
@jimbrown52682 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike and Dim. Great interview
@Aircrewinterview2 жыл бұрын
Cheers Mo.
@marcallen72334 жыл бұрын
👍 It’s good to see that Mr. Jones and the F-16 are still going strong!
@mkmdexplorationparanormal56107 жыл бұрын
A very good interview, nice to see lots of fresh faces on here with different experiences and backgrounds, well done Mike ☺
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike!
@dbcleaningservices7 жыл бұрын
Great video. The rocket powered rollerskate!!
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
A great way to describe it!
@gaviscon797 жыл бұрын
I love these interviews. Very interesting. Thank you.
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Cheers Gavin.
@robw30275 жыл бұрын
Great interview- many thanks.
@spins3217 жыл бұрын
What an awesome guy :) Great interview, great channel!
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Very much appreciated :)
@ThomisticAmerican13FOX3 жыл бұрын
Amazing spread of airplanes he flew. Hell yeah I would extend my tour for F16 seat time, what a program!
@NicolasCorte4 жыл бұрын
I would love him to investigate about the curvature of the earth that helped him to get airborne on that certain plane.
@nicholasdavies87955 жыл бұрын
Great interview. You see these talented guys with grey hair and balding BUT superb aviators during their time . Great respect !
@mickmckean73785 жыл бұрын
Had to laugh at the scampering Squirrel at 13:15 :)
@bjjace16 жыл бұрын
Fantastic interview.
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
+Matty mo Cheers
@matthayward78895 жыл бұрын
What a career!
@BIGNEWY7 жыл бұрын
thanks for sharing, enjoyed the interview
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
BIGNEWY Cheers.
@LorSTApunk076 жыл бұрын
Really enjoying this channel.
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
Cheers Patrick
@oliverwilson79037 жыл бұрын
absolutely love your channel! keep it coming!! :)
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Thank you and we will do:)
@lilletrille89986 жыл бұрын
Wow what a life this man has had!
@timrogers20456 жыл бұрын
Bang on. Thank you.
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Timothy.
@Peorhum6 жыл бұрын
You hear so much of how good the F14 was but Jones doesn't seem to think much of it. I hear a Grumman engineer saying the last version of the f14 was the version that matched power with the size of the plane. The next version of the F14 would likely have been cutting edge but was never made in favour of the F18 taking it's role.
@mississippirebel14095 жыл бұрын
The F-14 had a TON of issues and was never going to be kept. The F-18, F-16 and F-15 all had much better capabilities. The F-14 required so much maintenance it was crazy. It wasn't a very in air to air fights either.
@okisoba5 жыл бұрын
It is because he might have drank some haterade.
@hoghogwild5 жыл бұрын
@@mississippirebel1409 It was an excellent air-air fighter, it was designed as an air superiority fighter. It required a lot of maintenance as many of the airframes were so old. If only the Navy would have gotten the all the new build airframes it wanted in the 90's. It comes down to pilot skills amongst these aircraft.
@charliea6973 жыл бұрын
What a great channel! Love these interviews.
@simonrichardson50777 жыл бұрын
Quality work as always,thank you
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
thanks again Simon.
@Chrizzletrizz3 жыл бұрын
Thank you :-) Happy landings
@thefrecklepuny7 жыл бұрын
Once more another cracking interview. Would be interesting to know whether he thought the RAF should have gon ahead and bought F-16's. The only F-16's with fixed refuelling probes probably.
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
I think the general consensus is a no from raf pilots I have talked to.
@lahma697 жыл бұрын
I would find it very interesting to hear what arguments are put forth by raf pilots for believing that it was the right decision not to purchase F-16's. I really know very little about this period of the raf's history, the politics of the time (I do know a lot of about Margaret Thatcher, but not necessarily how her influence affected the raf, including decisions on new aircraft selection and such) and what their thinking and ambitions were. I'm sure there is entirely too much information too discuss in the comments section, but perhaps you could point me to some resources? Thanks!
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
lahma69 I shall have a think and get back to you with any sources to find more info about it.
@thefrecklepuny7 жыл бұрын
I did hear a rumour (maybe nothing more than a rumour) that Michael Portillo when he was Defence Sec. in the '90's was recommending the RAF purchasing a batch to replace the Jaguar.
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
thefrecklepuny I have not heard that before. Interesting.
@soopersonik7 жыл бұрын
Excellent vid, real old school pilot! Im subscribing! You should try and get interviews with the former test pilots from RAF St Athan, real characters
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
soopersonik Cheers! Interesting idea.
@keithcowieson63245 жыл бұрын
Squadron Leaders Graham Cullington, GuyPearce and Ian Hartley from mid-late 1970s through to the end of the 1980s. No idea where they are now.
@davidboardman78277 жыл бұрын
another great interview it would be nice if someone can talk of the f15 and sea harrier
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
david boardman it's in the works David :)
@davidboardman78277 жыл бұрын
great
@andrewockenden7 жыл бұрын
Very, very interesting! Why did it end so soon?
@jontrout20106 жыл бұрын
Incredible quality content here. Subscribed!
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much, Jon.
@blobusus6 жыл бұрын
These interviews are really superb. I wish I had a lot more money to send your way.
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind thought :)
@edpritchard30013 жыл бұрын
Love this Gent!!
@AdurianJ7 жыл бұрын
The Swedish air force weren't that impressed with the Jaguar compared to the Viggen that they used at the time. Also minimum height in the Swedish air force was 60 feet over land and 30 feet over water both judged not absolute.
@louissanderson719 Жыл бұрын
They’re completely different aircraft. Use the Jag for its intended role, it’s fine
@Doones516 жыл бұрын
really good stuff
@chunder274 жыл бұрын
One of the few in these interviews who does not come across as a little full of himself, probably why he has such a great reputation and was selected for this US trip.
@EdMcF14 жыл бұрын
Most of them come across as confident, as does this interviewee. I don't think it's fair to describe the others in such terms.
@taproom1136 жыл бұрын
Right jolly bloke ... Brilliant ! ^v^
@Aircrewinterview6 жыл бұрын
Cheers
@shermansquires39795 жыл бұрын
how many times have you asked a pilot if they enjoyed flying and said 'errr, not really'
@rodzilla4rilla3 жыл бұрын
Fascinating career. Were you ever A99
@briancooper21124 жыл бұрын
Cool. Luke still has F-16 and now F-35.
@thehillbillygamer21832 жыл бұрын
I have a little respect in the background making that noise a cold warrior's talking
@Magic-Smoke5 жыл бұрын
Ackle - proper Jag bloke!
@fastone9423 жыл бұрын
They had a few F16 at Macdill back then land after ending Turkey vultures for lunch and other big birds and MC very long runway and the south end is all water all the way out to Gulf of Mexico give the A little less to worry about no homes or buildings just boats
@MrCashewkitty2 жыл бұрын
There is so much "this jet would beat that jet". If you listen to most former pilots, they will tell you that whoever drags the other jet into their strong point or style of BFM, is the winner. F18s can smoke f16s if they can drag them into a slow fight. Likewise, not many many fighters can beat the f16 in a rate fight or match its ability to fight fast. It's hard to believe some of the tomcat stories but one thing is for sure, those guys were cowboys and have some wild stories. Haha
@yomarimorel8562 жыл бұрын
With all due respect sir, with the mighty eagle i never Lost against the viper. I'm not even mentioning BVR, at Red flag i did a 1 v 3 intercept........end result, Fox 3, Fox3 and Fox 3 again!!!
@kpsig2 жыл бұрын
Very interesting comment, sir. Do you have experience frying dissimilar with HAF (Greek) Mirage 2000-5 and F-16 Block 50, or these models with a different Air Force?
@blackbird86322 жыл бұрын
Many pilots on this channel seem to think of the F-16 as the better air to air fighter, (mind you i’m not saying they are right or wrong) do you have an insight as to way those pilots believe that?
@louissanderson71928 күн бұрын
I’m sure there a plenty of f16 pilots who will disagree with you. I’m sure CW Lemoine on his channel has spoken about ig
@Dr.Know_4U4 жыл бұрын
Transitioning from F-16 to Jaguar... Ouch.
@ninjaabcde4 жыл бұрын
Happy crap! Weren't you an actor in space force on Netflix?!?!
@Twirlyhead7 жыл бұрын
Another video head, shoulders, torso and most of the legs above everyone elses'. No that's a bit mean - completely in a league of your own.
@Aircrewinterview7 жыл бұрын
Twirlyhead thanks very much!
@CrazyRussianPilot Жыл бұрын
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
@penguinslayer70133 жыл бұрын
at 13.16 SQUIRRL!!!!! To the left.
@thehillbillygamer21832 жыл бұрын
America fought two wars against England and then we fought two wars with them and together we won the Cold war although we did make them give up the British empire which I think was a big mistake we should have let him keep all their colonies
@strikeeagle32127 жыл бұрын
I enjoy the modern genre BF3, BF4, BBC2, and historical experience of WWII and BF1. The diversity increases the experience for both, IMHO. I would love to see a crossover package with the Korean War progressing to the Vietnam War using DLCs. There was tremendous variety to both those conflicts that would create a great FPS backdrop. I can only imagine what the creative gaming minds at Dice could come up with. The futuristic gumball gaming I'm not a fan of.
@543567767 жыл бұрын
Strike Eagle Lol, wut? This isn't a battlefield video.
@geogeorge20394 жыл бұрын
There was not fly off at all.
@willthorson45434 жыл бұрын
Hilarious...didn't have time to fly the hunter, backed up...so what does the British high command do? Send him to a platoon in the infantry for a year...lol
@thehillbillygamer21832 жыл бұрын
The United States should have never forced the British to give up their colonies after world war II they should have been allowed to keep all their colonies we should have fortified those colonies America should have started taking colonies too Iraq Afghanistan though should be American colonies today while the entire Middle East really should be an American colony Saudi Arabia could be a vassal Kingdom which basically is but officially
@paladin06544 жыл бұрын
I like your series but I must admit your Britishcentric bias in questions is a bit annoying: the aircraft speak for themselves.
@braeddie6 жыл бұрын
SQUIRREL!
@thelmaviaduct3 жыл бұрын
Lighting sounds a pos, basically useless.
@veritasvincit27452 жыл бұрын
Designed purely for one job and one job alone at a time when other aircraft were planned for other jobs. It's job was to keep Soviet bombers from anywhere near V-Force bases. At that job it was absolutely supreme. The world and role changed, the other aircraft weren't introduced and the Lightning couldn't adapt too well to them due to it's single minded design. Politics and budget cuts.