Interview with Dim Jones on the F-16 Fighting Falcon

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.

[@nickforster748]

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!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Ah that’s great to hear Nick!

[@nickforster748]

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.1230]

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.

[@JoakimFritz]

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!

[@bowser515]

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.

[@kpsig]

These RAF aviators have granted us with some of the most (or the most) enjoyable stories. Well done Mike, well done RAF!

[@kpsig]

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 !

[@leifvejby8023]

Yes, next year it will be 45 years!

[@bjhall513]

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

[@barrysheridan9186]

What a brilliant interview, one of the very best of its kind. Thank you for posting and especially thanks to Dim Jones.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you Barry.

[@barracuda7018]

Very balanced view .. This is exactly what the F-16 was . He should also have tried the Block 60 with AESA radar..

[@Pow3llMorgan]

These old pilots are such charitable lads. I'm really liking this channel!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you like it, plenty more for you to watch!

[@joelhume]

Great interview, shows what a quantum leap the F-16 was as a tactical fighter compared to what had come before.

[@lahma69]

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!

[@Aircrewinterview]

lahma69 Thank you for your kind words, it's much appreciated.

[@mookie2637]

Another great interview - thanks for producing these. And what a career! Imagine flying an F16 in 1979...

[@Cubcariboo]

Wonderful man and another wonderful Interview. Good show!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cub Cariboo thank you :)

[@Thetequilashooter1]

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.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers. That was my thought when I first started 4/5 years ago but not really had a bad experience yet.

[@timo_8488]

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.

[@terryboyer1342]

I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Jones interview. I think this is the best one yet! What a great man.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Terry.

[@trespire]

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.

[@realMaverickBuckley]

Wow, just checked, the F-15 is only 1 metre shorter than an Avro Lancaster Bomber. Couple of yards shorter than a B17 😳

[@trespire]

@@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.

[@robertlassiter5808]

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.

[@MattThornton87]

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...

[@Aircrewinterview]

Matt Thornton you're very welcome. It was a great base that's for sure.

[@charlesharwood5705]

It's amazing how Macdill used to be sprawling with fighters, now it's a Tanker base, but still lovely place.

[@JohnS916]

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.

[@hughesja1975]

So good even the squirrel at 13:16 wanted to be a part of the interview!! 😃

[@Aircrewinterview]

hughesja1975 ha I didn't notice that.

[@Aeronaut1975]

Ha ha, well spotted!

[@JoakimFritz]

11 o'clock low

[@JoakimFritz]

Your channel is awesome!

[@trespire]

Squirrel on FOD duty.

[@nervo6321]

Really great to hear stories that are every military aviation enthusiasts dream....

[@davidsandell7833]

I just love the aircrew interviews. Keep em coming please.

[@wojciechczupta]

the best interview from your library. Great man and fantastic experience!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@SteveGould1]

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!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Steve Gould glad you enjoyed it! I shall try to speak up in future :)

[@SunDodger]

Another great video. I'm in awe of all these folk.

[@elta6241]

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_regerts5176]

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]

@@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]

​@@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]

@@johnmilner5485 The Viper was the aggressor simulating the performance off various Migs... Not itself..

[@johnmilner5485]

@@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 .

[@meltvision]

Absolutely wonderful stories and info...great interview...thank you, Dim Jones, for your service sir...peace from California

[@dougstitt1652]

great guy and i do love the squirrel running along .

[@jimbrown5268]

Thanks Mike and Dim. Great interview

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Mo.

[@marcallen7233]

👍 It’s good to see that Mr. Jones and the F-16 are still going strong!

[@mkmdexplorationparanormal5610]

A very good interview, nice to see lots of fresh faces on here with different experiences and backgrounds, well done Mike ☺

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Mike!

[@dbcleaningservices]

Great video. The rocket powered rollerskate!!

[@Aircrewinterview]

A great way to describe it!

[@gaviscon79]

I love these interviews. Very interesting. Thank you.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Gavin.

[@robw3027]

Great interview- many thanks.

[@spins321]

What an awesome guy :) Great interview, great channel!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Very much appreciated :)

[@ThomisticAmerican13FOX]

Amazing spread of airplanes he flew. Hell yeah I would extend my tour for F16 seat time, what a program!

[@NicolasCorte]

I would love him to investigate about the curvature of the earth that helped him to get airborne on that certain plane.

[@nicholasdavies8795]

Great interview. You see these talented guys with grey hair and balding BUT superb aviators during their time . Great respect !

[@mickmckean7378]

Had to laugh at the scampering Squirrel at 13:15 :)

[@bjjace1]

Fantastic interview.

[@Aircrewinterview]

+Matty mo Cheers

[@matthayward7889]

What a career!

[@BIGNEWY]

thanks for sharing, enjoyed the interview

[@Aircrewinterview]

BIGNEWY Cheers.

[@LorSTApunk07]

Really enjoying this channel.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Patrick

[@oliverwilson7903]

absolutely love your channel! keep it coming!! :)

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you and we will do:)

[@lilletrille8998]

Wow what a life this man has had!

[@timrogers2045]

Bang on. Thank you.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Timothy.

[@Peorhum]

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.

[@mississippirebel1409]

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.

[@okisoba]

It is because he might have drank some haterade.

[@hoghogwild]

@@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.

[@charliea697]

What a great channel! Love these interviews.

[@simonrichardson5077]

Quality work as always,thank you

[@Aircrewinterview]

thanks again Simon.

[@Chrizzletrizz]

Thank you :-) Happy landings

[@thefrecklepuny]

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.

[@Aircrewinterview]

I think the general consensus is a no from raf pilots I have talked to.

[@lahma69]

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!

[@Aircrewinterview]

lahma69 I shall have a think and get back to you with any sources to find more info about it.

[@thefrecklepuny]

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.

[@Aircrewinterview]

thefrecklepuny I have not heard that before. Interesting.

[@soopersonik]

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

[@Aircrewinterview]

soopersonik Cheers! Interesting idea.

[@keithcowieson6324]

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.

[@davidboardman7827]

another great interview it would be nice if someone can talk of the f15 and sea harrier

[@Aircrewinterview]

david boardman it's in the works David :)

[@davidboardman7827]

great

[@andrewockenden]

Very, very interesting! Why did it end so soon?

[@jontrout2010]

Incredible quality content here. Subscribed!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks very much, Jon.

[@blobusus]

These interviews are really superb. I wish I had a lot more money to send your way.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks for the kind thought :)

[@edpritchard3001]

Love this Gent!!

[@AdurianJ]

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]

They’re completely different aircraft. Use the Jag for its intended role, it’s fine

[@Doones51]

really good stuff

[@chunder27]

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.

[@EdMcF1]

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.

[@taproom113]

Right jolly bloke ... Brilliant ! ^v^

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@shermansquires3979]

how many times have you asked a pilot if they enjoyed flying and said 'errr, not really'

[@rodzilla4rilla]

Fascinating career. Were you ever A99

[@briancooper2112]

Cool. Luke still has F-16 and now F-35.

[@thehillbillygamer2183]

I have a little respect in the background making that noise a cold warrior's talking

[@Magic-Smoke]

Ackle - proper Jag bloke!

[@fastone942]

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

[@MrCashewkitty]

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

[@yomarimorel856]

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!!!

[@kpsig]

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?

[@blackbird8632]

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?

[@louissanderson719]

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_4U]

Transitioning from F-16 to Jaguar... Ouch.

[@ninjaabcde]

Happy crap! Weren't you an actor in space force on Netflix?!?!

[@Twirlyhead]

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.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Twirlyhead thanks very much!

[@CrazyRussianPilot]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@penguinslayer7013]

at 13.16 SQUIRRL!!!!! To the left.

[@thehillbillygamer2183]

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

[@strikeeagle3212]

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.

[@54356776]

Strike Eagle Lol, wut? This isn't a battlefield video.

[@geogeorge2039]

There was not fly off at all.

[@willthorson4543]

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

[@thehillbillygamer2183]

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

[@paladin0654]

I like your series but I must admit your Britishcentric bias in questions is a bit annoying: the aircraft speak for themselves.

[@braeddie]

SQUIRREL!

[@thelmaviaduct]

Lighting sounds a pos, basically useless.

[@veritasvincit2745]

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.