"Standby for Ejection!" - The INTENSE Story of This F-14 Pilot's FLAT SPIN

[@squidin9347]

I was fully engrossed in his storytelling to the point that the past 20 minutes flew by incredibly quickly. Thanks for making the interview, it was a pleasure to listen to!

[@KCLIBURN-mj9qx]

Me too! Another exsquid 1977-1985

[@rodneyjewett5248]

30 seconds of sheer terror. 8 minutes of sightseeing, and splash. These guys are some of the greatest human beings in history. God bless you all!

[@maxcorder2211]

A good description of air refueling at night in weather. In the B-52 that I flew, it could take 45 minutes on the boom to get a full load of fuel.

[@EmotionallyExhausted]

Slammer tells a great story. The attention to detail is amazing. I love these interviews, Mooch. Always educational and entertaining.

[@WardCarroll]

All credit to Slammer.

[@nplus1watches35]

@@WardCarroll And credit to you as well, for letting Slammer tell his story w/o interruption. Great celebrity hosts are the same way, they have the good sense to let a good story be told w/o getting in the way. Well done, sir.

[@crimsonfyre67]

i loved this.. thank you.

[@vincentmazzola7230]

@@WardCarroll //////////////////0/

[@Jamrock626]

He's a legend. A really good Skipper.

[@Condor060]

Just wow. What an interview. Ward, you have some amazing buddies, and you seem to be in good company.

[@WardCarroll]

I definitely have amazing buddies. (They come with flying fighters for 20 years.)

[@Condor060]

@@WardCarroll Touché Sir. I swear, its like you guys are characters right off the pages of Tom Clancy novels. Americas finest brought to life.

[@lydellrobinson4673]

Wow, such an exciting story!! He told it so well! So happy they weren't injured more seriously.

[@yafuker6046]

@@WardCarroll Do attack aircraft pilots go through the same training?

[@ppgwhereeverett4412]

@@Condor060 Tom Clancy gets his stories from These guys !

[@Just_Mark]

30 years has passed since working for him @ VF-114, Slammer still looks the same. Good to see you Sir, and great story!

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks for watching!

[@gabrielvazquez1691]

We've all dreamed of being able to sit down with people like this and just hear their stories. Ward has now opened doors for the rest of us.

[@JosephHallenbeck]

yes

[@jettsetter7]

When he said he didn’t have his head in the right position I knew it was going to be horrible. So many F-4 guys blew their necks and backs out. Especially when the seats were ballistic seats and not rocket seats. Ejections have ended pilot’s careers because it messed up their neck and/or back. Scary stuff.

[@kainhall]

@@jb6027 as a 6 foot 7 guy...... that does not sound fun . i get MANY people who say "omg i wish i was as tall as you" no... no you dont......... all you do is bash your head off shit....

[@kainhall]

like.... do you know how many times ive almost knocked my own ass out???? . my grandmothers ceiling fan currently holds the record for near knock outs 1930s house.... LOW ceilings (but it costs less to heat and AC..... meh)

[@shaunwang2262]

What's the distinction between ballistic and rocket ejection seats? Curious as I didn't know there were ejection methods other than rocket based

[@jettsetter7]

@@shaunwang2262 Shaun, back in the day (like early days of 1950s - early 1960s) it was an explosive charge, like C4 that blasted guys out during ejection. Then Martin Baker switched to more of a rocket propelled ejection. I am not an expert on the subject, but what I just described to you is pretty close.

[@kennyFF033]

@@shaunwang2262 I'm not sure about rocket seats, but I knew a tech that worked on F-4's, specifically avionics and ejection seats. Ballistic systems used a large tube mounted behind your seat that contained a large ball attached to a cable. The pilot would reach over their shoulders, grab the eject handle and crouch forward as an explosion charge would go off launching the tethered cannon ball, hitting the inside back of the canopy and blowing it off. The ball would then travel straight up until it hit the end of the tether, at which point it would rip the seat out of the aircraft. A very violent exit, to say the least.

[@davidsmith8997]

Once again, Chuck Yeager was right when he said "I'd rather be lucky than good!". You have the SME experiencing bad luck in a spin and then the good luck of the E2 and SAR training. Even good pilots can get into a bad situation and while training is obviously incredibly useful, sometimes a bit of good luck can be the best solution!

[@rockriver2652]

Luck is where preparation and talent meet opportunity. (stolen from Dan Rather)

[@goodtalker]

General Yeager spoke many times about "The RIght Stuff." He said experience was what made pilots, and others, good at what they do. Great vid.

[@dennistedder3384]

And sometimes, Nasty SME just had his head up his ass. Thanks for the 30 Mil loss Nasty

[@Giessen-cr6gn]

Lmn I’ll do Pooh

[@zacharyradford5552]

In just about everything there’s unknown variables that can pop up that preparation and talent can prevent.

[@michaeldehart648]

When I see and hear guys like Mooch, Jellow, Mover and Slammer tell their stories I'm struck by what good guys they are. Just basically good guys. Regular guys that perform at an extraordinary level in particularly hazardous situations. I tip my stetson to ya!

[@jeffcrenshaw9932]

The intelligence and professionalism is glaring too!

[@kennethwiese8699]

I've heard a saying attributed to Adm. Halsey, to wit: "There are no great men, just great challenges that ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet." That says a lot, but the bottom line is that some do a lot better job meeting them than others, it seems.

[@andrewpizzino2514]

Have always liked military history among other reasons because it involved ordinary men in extraordinary situations

[@stephenbritton9297]

What great story tellers they are! I mean these stories are amazing to begin with, but the way there told!

[@pamc4106]

Excellent. Thoroughly enjoy theses videos. This would be a perfect way to share with our younger generations. Wish they were required to listen to these events. Bless you both!

[@crimson_landscape]

Good story. I was an army paratrooper. The opening shock of the parachute and realizing your still alive is the best feeling.

[@4t0m5k]

I'm at the edge of my seat and then he goes "from there on out it was pretty uneventful" and politely laughs. What a legend of a man and how humble too. It is no wonder it is these breed of men who are daring to tread into space and beyond. Great respect for you all

[@BMac-lx8bb]

As a Flight Equipment Marine, or PR, I'm happy to hear all the gear worked as advertised, especially when he was knocked unconscious! Glad the only thing that really got hurt was maybe some pride! Great story with a good ending! Everyone came home! SSGT. B. McDaniel USMC 1989-1998

[@michaeljohnson4258]

Thank you. Because of your hard work and the hard work of others I survived 1000 hours of flying without a scratch.

[@tmick7108]

Splash Splash Splash! I was a black shoe from NOB Norfolk ASAC Anti-submarine Air Controlman. I eventually retired as a FAA ATC. The Navy never leaves you. They took our AIC/ASAC class from Damneck Va. to checkout NAS Oceana. I remember getting a up close look at the F4's and F14's Firstly I was awestruck by how large the F4 was basically a rocket with wheels. I worked a few F14's when they wanted to play a experience that will never leave you. Secondly I was impressed by the dining facilities at NAS Oceana nothing but first class for the flyboys! Ward, thank you so much for your service and thank you for your channel "Buster Climb Angels Two Five" Bravo Zulu!-

[@billdewahl7007]

Pilot and Rio at the merge in chutes. Unreal.

[@timburke127]

Fight's on!

[@4xoverland]

Thank you so much for sharing this story.

[@alistairwhite2906]

Stories like this are so interesting to listen to. Ward, please catch up with more of your old buddies for a chat.....

[@JM_Smith1]

I second that request!

[@peregrina7701]

I third it. 😜

[@homefront3162]

I was born at Coronado, Dad was an F-4 Pilot. One of my most treasured things was the Flourescent Orange Switchblade with the Parachute Line hook in it.

[@natural-born_pilot]

Still have mine, keepsake because it went through all the crazy and scary moments as I.

[@snapjamwoodworks710]

Wow! Intense...Glad you made it out! Rear Admiral Manazir was my XO on CARL VINSON when I was the Air Bos'n there 2002-2005,

[@richardvanleest3778]

Bedankt

[@mmoore102]

Amazing video. I was stationed in VF-124 and VF-24 Checkertails. I was an AME so ejection seats were my babies. During my 22 years of service I had the privilege of having my name on 3 different type of aircraft where men had to use their seats. 2 in the F-14 community, where my DIVO was the pilot in them both, a T-2 and an S-3. Unfortunately we lost the student in the T-2, he was out of the envelope, however all others survived. Wow, brought back many memories.

[@joserodriguez9528]

Thank Slammer for sharing his story with us. It was very entertaining and educational. I'm glad they made it okay

[@jamescatrett2608]

Classic Aviation Physiology Training: "This Is What Happen To Me When I Ejected" briefing. You can tell they both stayed awake during survival training, (plus knowing / following Bold Face) because the Post Ejection Procedures were post on except for the inadvertent playing chicken with a 28 ft flat canopy parachute. That was down right SCARY ! Welcome to Martin Baker Club!

[@DBenX]

Thank you to Slammer for telling his story, what a nice guy and great sense of humor.

[@williammfelmleebill1470]

Great narrative. Well done (stayed out of his way so he could tell the story). That is so hard to do, yet you did it so well Ward! Thanks for the 20 minutes of learning and enjoying.

[@mvfc7637]

Such a well told story by someone with an obvious good sense of humour.

[@charlescdt6509]

Im impressed how after all this time yall go right through your steps verbatium like you were strapping back in the seat. Awesome work.

[@47mphill]

This was a great video ! We lost a number of A7s in the early 70s for the same reason. Our departure training in 74 was very similar with the zero airspeed maneuver etc. Our procedure was to put your hands on the canopy rails and Wait. After an uncomfortable time through post stall gyrations and the falling leaf sequence the A7 would stabilize. The lesson was that most spins in the A7 were pilot induced. Great story and glad for the outcome. Obviously this mishap didnt damage the instructors career as he made Flag rank. Bravo !!!

[@richardwallinger1683]

no old bold pilots .. except for you guys. enjoy life .. keep smiling .

[@fredkilian4614]

Great interview, great to see Sam, he was a student in VF-124 while I was a instructor there, and I was fortunate enough to have Sam as one of my Department Heads in VF-213 later in his career. "Killer"

[@ajtabbilos]

Wow you’re the pilot slammer mentioned during the interview video tomcast episode 4 flying the f14. According to him, you can fly around the boat like nobody’s business.

[@fredkilian4614]

Hi Allen, thanks for letting me know about the other video Slammer did. I just got done watching it and really enjoyed it!!! Thanks again, Killer

[@ajtabbilos]

@@fredkilian4614 You’re welcome. Hoping to see you getting interviewed in future episodes. Thanks! 😊

[@indycustommade3568]

The first thing I have to say is a great job of letting the guy who is telling the story tell the story. No questions just that awesome story told by an amazing guy. You guys really destroy the stigma of a cocky pilot. When I was in Desert Storm we had an LT who had the same demeanor as you guys. Very cool under fire and just a truly great guy. The last thing is how do 7 people downvote this story? I don't understand people. Thanks for the great story Slammer and thanks again for the awesome content you share with us, Ward. Please stay safe. "Truly superior pilots are those who use their superior judgment to avoid those situations where they might have to use their superior skills." - Frank Borman.

[@jamescatrett2608]

From Tomcat Bye-Bye Baby book. "If it the says Pratt & Whitney on the engines, it dawn well better say Martin-Baker on the seats" Joe "Hoser" Satrapa. Can't say it any better than that!

[@MarioMario-pp9lr]

Great material again Ward! Greetings from Poland to both of you gentleman :) what a story! Did not manage to serve at the air forces(only finished secondary air school), but few of my friends flies MIG-29's and F-16's here in Poland. I'm closer to guitars now near 40 yo, but almost every day I think about what I missed... stay safe guys!

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks, Mario. Hello to Poland!

[@natural-born_pilot]

Great story and very well told by Slammer, had me on the first 3rd of my seat when he stated that he wanted to do that stall recovery exercise again. Also brought me back, a hundred years ago, when I went through the USAF water survival course at Florida’s Biscayne Bay. I thank the good Lord I never had to eject, but in the survival course we para sailed up to about 600 ft and completely released to sail down going through the prep procedures as Slammer explained. Releasing my chute upon water entry it came down and covered me. I went through the procedure taught to us by taking one of the lines that go from one side of the chute to the other pulling it over and behind me. It worked but in doing so it all collected behind me and the risers tangled around my legs. The chute became heavier as I worked to free myself. Thankfully the recovery boat arrived and yanked me out of the water.

[@DaveTaste]

That's a long time ago.

[@byronbailey9229]

French Air Force colleague during ACT's in his Mirage, against a Mirage 2000 ( fly by wire ), pulling lead at 35,000 ft flicked into a spin. Couldn't recover then tried to eject but spin was so violent couldn't get his hands up to initiate ejection. Starting mentally preparing for the afterlife when the aircraft recovered by itself at 8000 ft. Had a RAAF colleague in Avon Sabre flick into spin at 10,000, recovery action insufficient and at 4000 ft and windscreen full of green ( sea ) he ejected. His one man dinghy had a leak so he spent the hours until rescue by chopper, blowing the manual inflation tube and bandaids from the medical kit. Bang seat wrecked his back - never flew again.

[@johndormer9297]

2000 hrs in the Tom. This is the best spin recollection and description I’ve ever heard.👍

[@AWDTurboPOWAH]

One of my favorite videos so far! His bit at the end, about how his spine felt 🤣 Truth is always stranger than fiction. Loving these awesome uploads Ward!

[@chrissheffield5468]

Great story. I know what he means about concerns over collision under canopy. I was Airborne and had a collision with another jumper. No big deal; communicate and slip away. The real problems started when I landed. I was so happy to be o.k. I forgot what to do next. I landed in a blackberry bush, took off my gloves and started chomping on berries. My 'chute reinflated and got dragged for a minute through the blackberry bushes. Got the canopy under control and out of my rig. I took about 20 steps away from my landing spot and rolled my ankle in a hole. I came staggering in to the recovery point and the local church group was waiting there with a mobile hamburger stand. When the Church Lady saw me see loudly asked: "Are you that Army boy that bounced off the other Army boy?" My buddies got a laugh out of that. A handful of ibuprofen and a Diet Coke later I was right as rain.

[@MarcoStillSeasonsCattaneo]

I would trade a year of my life to spend some time with such people; the good manners, the way they recall those stories... Great stuff!

[@pg1171]

Fantastic ejection story! Thank you both so much! I can only imagine how intense it is going through an ejection. I;m glad the both of you came out it alive, and in one piece. Your training and your intelligence kept you with us. Thank you all for your service! And God bless!

[@JordanSeibert]

This is gold. I love the story telling and the history described in vivid detail. So valuable for future generations.

[@anthonyfitzgerald1768]

Great story. Very entertaining. I like how you just let your guests tell their story without multiple interruptions.

[@sixstringedthing]

Looked death in the face, laughs about it. Amazing stuff. I'd love to hear how Slammer and Nasty got their callsigns!

[@mykalbee]

That was an amazing story. I can't imagine the level of concentration it takes to go through a checklist of procedures during such an event. I'm glad they both survived.

[@Michael-oy3pz]

Thanks

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks so much, Michael!

[@thomasroutson3046]

WOW! Really liked this video! I was a USAF Life Support Tech and know a few guys who punched out. The stories are always fascinating, but this one was great! Love the channel Ward! Keep 'em coming!

[@michaelallen7636]

Thanks!

[@WardCarroll]

Thank you so much, Michael!

[@TheGeorgiaRover]

Man, what a story! I can never get enough of these. Keep ‘em comin’!

[@yafuker6046]

Thank God we have such people serving our (so far) great country!

[@JohnFourtyTwo]

Great story Sam, glad both of you weren't injured and everything worked out. Awesome video Ward, please keep these coming! 👍✨

[@WardCarroll]

Roger!

[@flyinghog1223]

When I was with VF-213 in the early 90s, then LCDR Richardson was our MO, great officer, Naval Aviator and leader. Treated us enlisted with respect and professionalism. A class act all the way. Bravo Zulu!

[@vedrancolak3890]

Awww, come on...this stuff is getting better and better by the hour. Ward you own the internet. 💪

[@WardCarroll]

Ha! Good thoughts, Vedran. Thanks.

[@hugebartlett1884]

These guys live right on the edge every day,every time they fly,and it never ceases to amaze me that men and women with this courage keep turning up to take their turn at cheating death every time they climb into that cockpit. This isn't just bravery,this is sheer raw guts of the highest caliber.

[@QXZ9027MKII]

Thanks Ward for sharing, I'm glad they survived, that spin footage was horrific, a testimony to their rigorous training.

[@kdawson020279]

Love these stories. As a guy born at the tail end of Gen X, between the F-14 program and its feature length recruitment commercial starring Tom Cruise and the Blue Angels in the F/A-18 precision flying, this is stuff I'd have geeked out on ages ago if the information age had allowed it. I grew up with aircraft because everyone here either works in or has family or friends that work in building airplanes here in Wichita and we have an air museum along with our air base even though our fighters are fewer and farther between and the B1 program has moved on. We still deliver tanker gas from here though. I never became a pilot, but I have served the civilian side of government for 23 years now and in my down time I watch all the aviation I missed out on. Thanks, gentlemen, for an excellent story!

[@theejectionsite1038]

Glad Slammer did so well with the ejection! Thank you for the interview, I love hearing these stories and examining what went right, and what went wrong. Glad they both made it. Hope that Nasty wasn't too bad, I assume not since he had such a great career.

[@bghammock]

These stories are golden. Love your content, Ward.

[@jasonwilson8802]

Flyers always tell the best stories and all have a natural ability to tell it well.

[@321fightson]

Great story Slammer. What a heck of a flying lesson that turned out to be. Thankfully you both made it out of it alive & safe.

[@darrendegouff9965]

Awesome interview. Those navy pilot guys are so smart and sound so intelligent when they are reliving events.. And everybody that's ever served knows how cool it is to see an old military come to town and get to hang out.

[@chrismaverick9828]

I'm not surprised that the ejection ended up relieving that back issue (at least until much later). Sometimes you can get things out of wack and they stay that way until you get a reciprocal force that fixes it. Have some disks in my back that would occasionally slip when I moved a certain way or even sneezed too hard, and they'd hurt a few days before settling into a constant stiffness. A few weeks later I'd turn the right way or cough or sneeze hard and feel them pop back into place, a moment of pain, and then relief as the constant stiffness is relieved. Fortunately I haven't had that happen in years, but I can see what he was talking about and am also amazed that it was bad enough that it took an ejection in the wrong, normally terrible position, to fix it.

[@KutWrite]

That's what a chiropractor does for me!

[@Inkling777]

Yes, but given the cost of that now-lost F-14-say $30 million or so-I think a visit to a chiropractor might have been cheaper.

[@DFI429]

I got pretty nerved-up before my ride in an F-15D due to dual C5-C6 bulges.. but kinda had the same result - I felt better after coming back from 8.1Gs. Best ride ever had in a vehicle lol

[@tellyknessis6229]

I thought I'd done my back/neck in really badly, but without memorable trauma. Restricted mobility (penguin walk, nil head rotation) and "stingers" shooting up the spine - agony! Off to Ireland for a week, so self-med on Guinness and paracetomol with no improvement over 10 days. Eventually see a female physio; strip down to shreddies and run thru all the limb articulation routines. She asks if OK to "check the books". "You go, girl - whatever it takes!" With a history of hypermobility (double-jointed), dislocations (shoulder x 10, elbow x 1) and near-misses, she eventually diagnoses "pelvic misalignment" - the two halves out of (vertical) kilter. "So, whadda we do now?" On the table, overhead grip on the edge, my misaligned foot clamped between her THIGHS, and she leans back with all her body weight. (All the while, I'm thinking, "This is where the Ethics Board kick the door down, followed by camera flash...", but no.) No physical click or magic moment, but when I'm back on my feet, I'm pretty damn good! Two return visits to make sure it's back in place and staying there. Nothing since - go figure.

[@robertbrandywine]

I think that is what chiropractors call a "subluxation", not a slipped disk. Basically one of your vertebrae is out of position and it needs to be moved back in place. I once was suffering from a subluxation and went for a ride on a roller coaster. I wasn't really paying attention when the ride started and was completely relaxed when the car fell out from under me. There was a very noticeable movement in my back and a loud crack and all the previous back pain I had had was immediately gone.

[@dfiglide]

These are great interviews & first hand accounts, better than any documentary.

[@bobbysmelser3621]

No sh*t!

[@axlslak]

I don't know where 20 minutes went. Thank you for this gentlemen. I would like to think you guys are making up for how people think military men are based on movies.

[@jamesray8771]

Slammer was my skipper at 101 ... what a great leader, officer, pilot and american. He will always be one of my heros ... could tell you a couple slammer stories from my time with him at 101

[@DLPyke-vs9zp]

Thank you Ward for bringing this story to light. Enjoyed it.

[@JHillNC]

That absolutely riveting ejection story fortified by that absolute butter of a smooth voice. Man, that voice is every airline pilot's envy. A true smooth operator. 🫡

[@bigearsandnoddy1]

Hi Mooch & Slammer im just happy that u both survived your tours of service to be able to talk about them in future years, I salute you guys, coming from London England✌ PEACE✌✈✈✈✈

[@jordanmartinez2432]

Ward, these interviews are GREAT!!!! Love 'em👍

[@dougrobinson8602]

Wow. I never knew the F-14 was also a chiropractor! Is there anything she can't do? Glad to hear Slammer and Nasty made it out Okay. Bummer about the jet, though.

[@navyao]

Slammer! Just missed him when I got to 114 but had a chance to talk to him a few times when I was in WEPS aboard Big E 89-90 timeframe. He was a cool JO. Epic part of Tomcat Tales is Slammer and the Admiral tell this story, they put you right there with them.

[@bajamedic]

“Goose missed that step” had me rolling.

[@Oetti]

That footage at 2:27 is so cool, especially with the zoom-in and shaking. Looks intense, and just like the dogfight at the end of Top Gun: Maverick where they try to get vertical separation from the incoming missile to dump more flares

[@linaleahgarcia1516]

His back did more flips than the Tomcat and it straightened his spine right up

[@bluetrue6062]

That parachute story reminded me of my near mishap in Ranger School jump at the Camp Darby phase in 1977. Good times! Glad y'all made it unscathed.

[@rodneybacio7402]

How in the sam hell could happenstance be present so much in one man's story? Disabled handicap van, Tomcat flat spin SME, SAR exercise in the area, Hawkeye just out playing, and whatever else I forgot. His callsign should have been "Gump." Amazing story! It blows my mind how fate intervenes without notice. In the early 80s there was a pit fire (fuel pits) on the Matwing side at Oceana. A maintainer got burned up really bad. There just happened to be a burn specialty team present on the base for a team exercise and this guy was saved. Mind-boggling %?

[@spacewalk001]

This kind of stuff happens all the time, but never ceases to amaze me. I dislocated my knee once in Kung Fu class. By sheer chance, the doctor/owner of a chiropractic office (not a student) was visiting with my Sifu just 15 feet from the mat, and put it back in place for me in less than a minute after the incident. The recovery was lengthy, but mostly complete - how bad might it have been without such quick assistance?

[@waynefletcher9884]

Man you guys (F-14 pilots and wizzos) are the BEST! Ward, please send your father this Marine’s best regards & Semper Fi!

[@samuelWx]

The Admiral tells the story in "Tomcat Tales". Bravo Zulu!

[@SempreGumby]

"Bold Face" - When you're going to do the Carpet Dance, it's always nice that you were standing on the manual.

[@btmckinley]

The end reminds me of: "She falls down a well, her eyes go cross. She gets kicked by a mule. They go back. I don't know..."

[@esuohdica]

I don't know why this popped up on my feed, but what a FANTASTIC story! Thanks for posting

[@dilus13]

F14, the worlds most expensive Chiropractor 😂 incredible how you guys can stay focused in such circumstances. Great hearing it from a guy that’s got the “t shirt” and didn’t Goose it 👍

[@R760-E2]

The guys you have on your channel are here still kickin', but were trained and ready to do what the people we remember today did.

[@meltvision]

Ward thanks for the interview...and Sam my goodness thanks for your service...you too Ward...peace from California

[@Corktip14]

Love that story! It's included in the Tomcat Tales documentary, told by both Slammer and Nasty. Nasty's way of telling the story is just plain hilarious and had me in stitches.

[@SLG0921]

Great story. Really underscores how quickly a good day can turn bad. You'd think Goose would have known better!

[@advorsky1]

Awesome story thank all of you guys for the AMAZING SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY AND NOT ONLY KEEPING US SAFE BUT ALSO FREE! Thank god for Men like you guys! Would love to meet you and shake your hand some day and look you in the eye and thank you!!

[@nickhimaras9331]

Thank you for introducing us to these great folks, and their stories, Commander! Please keep it coming, even after the Hook 21 event.

[@shapracing3676]

Probably been said already but I watched “tomcat tales” on Amazon about 6 months ago and thought the story was familiar and realised it was the instructor pilot telling the story. Cool to hear the back seater’s perspective.

[@TJRohyans]

Does "Slammer" remind anybody else of Dick Van Dyke? Another great story teller. Hand Salute!

[@Joetechlincolns]

Close, even has the voice!

[@slowpoke96Z28]

As soon as I read this, YES lol!!!

[@pierovittori1076]

I think the way pilots and rios are taught to think is reflected in the calmness and sharpness of this detailed reconstruction. Wonderful listening thanks ! Tomcat is a badass plan by any means.

[@fazole]

I'm a bit surprised that a tail slide in the F-14 was not a prohibited maneuver since wouldn't it be likely to cause a compressor stall? Great story, nonetheless!

[@carlherbermann2053]

If engines were at idle, a stall would be a likely outcome, but Slammer indicated they were at mil power which should keep enough air flow to keep the compressor compressing. Then again, never underestimate the TF-30 ability to stall (or come apart) at any throttle position.

[@MaverickM1]

Tomcat stories are the best. It was a very special plane and it will be always my favourite. Thank you sir for telling your story!

[@ypaulbrown]

Wonderful Video Commander, very informative and to the point....Bravo.....

[@sar4x474]

Freakin’ awesome episode, Sir. A very intriguing interview. Fighter pilots are a special group, indeed.

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Great story. It’s been over 40 years since I went thru ejection/survival training but I still remember a lot of that stuff. Excellent training.

[@350ZEASZE]

These two almost crashed their parachutes too. Full day

[@bigdogpr]

I’ve worked with Slammer for a long time. Great guy.

[@lancet.346]

I'm really glad they didn't have to stay in the Pacific for too long. Mother Ocean plays no games. Any chance we can get an in-depth look at ejection seats? I've always been fascinated by the engineering behind their development. Thanks for another great episode, Ward!

[@rickwilliamson9248]

Great suggestion. I hope Ward sees it.

[@harryfaber]

All you need to know in one easy lesson! (This was the film I was shown in the 1970s before i was allowed to work on an airfield) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXWrdWSbrc-letk

[@lancet.346]

@@harryfaber Nice! Thank you!

[@dmutant2635]

John Trotti has a good book on flying Phantoms over Vietnam. One chapter does a nice job of describing the Martin-Baker experience and how the seat works. And in some cases doesn't work. He was a Marine out of Da Nang. Phantom Over Vietnam is the book.

[@lancet.346]

@@dmutant2635 I’ll check it out! Thank you

[@tjarmand]

true American hero if you ask me.. so humble!! love this guy!! love Ward as well! what a man what a man.. what a life he lived!!

[@Felix_SG]

You know pilots actually tell pretty good stories.