Discover this podcast and so much more

Podcasts are free to enjoy without a subscription. We also offer ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more for just $11.99/month.

From F-16 to MiG-23: Gabby Drake

From F-16 to MiG-23: Gabby Drake

From10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit


From F-16 to MiG-23: Gabby Drake

From10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

ratings:
Length:
109 minutes
Released:
Dec 2, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

You can support me here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh00:00:00 Introduction00:00:21 Callsigns and names00:03:22 Assignment to F-16s at Nellis AFB in 198100:03:59 Tactics development of the F-16A – influenced by the F-400:04:30 Brief description of low-level tactics of the F-400:05:02 INS and INS updates in the F-16A, speed management and TOT information00:06:12 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-400:07:02 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-16A00:10:27 Air to Air radar in the F-16A and the F-400:12:40 Thoughts on going from a dual seat to a single seat fighter00:15:18 F-4 Air to Air radar in the visual arena00:16:01 F-16A Air to Air radar in the visual arena00:17:25 What was the intended role of the F-16A in the early 1980s?00:19:53 Gabby’s thoughts on the early F-16A radar00:22:57 Air to Air and Air to Ground radar modes in the F-1600:25:14 F-16A Maneuverability00:27:10 The F-16 reclined seat, pulling g and neck injuries00:28:17 Methods of dealing with high-g forces in the F-16A00:28:59 Electrical Issues and flight control problems00:30:52 Story of an F-16 pilot’s flight control issue and subsequent ejection00:31:50 Story of a fatal F-16 accident due to flight control issues00:32:20 Changes to F-16 EPU and flight control computer logic and the performance changes00:32:52 Changes to the F-16 leading edge flap program due to structural damage00:33:38 AoA Limits of the F-16A00:34:35 G-LOC propensity of the F-16, and how it was recognized and addressed in the USAF00:38:34 Gabby describes the physiological effects of G-forces00:40:55 Auto-GCAS 00:41:17 How tactics evolved in the USAF as the F-16’s advanced avionics were understood00:42:17 Gabby describes how BFM/ACM in the F-16 differs from fighting in the F-400:43:25 Walkthrough of engaging in 3 v 1 ACM00:45:15 Development of multi-fighter tactics for the F-1600:46:15 Walkthrough of fighting Eagles with radar-missile capability00:47:27 Discussion of the Exploding Cantaloupe maneuver00:48:32 Steve questions how USAF safety culture affected training00:51:06 Gabby describes an early F-16 mishap00:53:58 Employment of the F-16 for strike/bombing, and how the F-16 fares when configured with a heavy air to ground loadout if bounced by enemy fighters00:57:35 How aggressors of the time had to evolve to provide quality training to F-16 aviators00:59:15 Gabby’s transition from the F-16A into the MiG-21 Fishbed as a Red Eagle and Aggressor, contrasting the MiG-21 and F-1601:02:02 Gabby’s experience flying against Constant Peg as an F-16 pilot01:04:03 How to defeat the MiG-21 in BFM01:05:52 Steve references Gabby’s time as the Red Eagles’ MiG-23 high-time pilot01:06:19 The process of Gabby transitioning from small, maneuverable fighters (F-16, MiG-21) into the MiG-2301:09:52 Which Soviet missiles the Red Eagles simulated01:10:27 Instructing at Luke AFB after the Red Eagles1:12:30 Transitioning from Mig23 to F-16C was it a culture shock?1:13:45 Viper radar mode 3/wartime1:15:42 Russians in Winnebegos stalking the Nellis ranges1:17:29 AMRAAM for the Viper1:19:10 What did AMRAAM mean in terms of how you operate the Viper?1:21:30 HOTAS geek out1:23:05 Viper RHAW and "New guy audio" and workarounds1:27:10 Scary Stories?1:28:00 Spinning the Mig-23 Twice!1:31:30 Recovering from "half" a compressor stall in the Mig-231:33:05 Flogger birdstrike1:33:50 Flogger mishaps1:40:30 Origins of "Gabby" and MiG-21 checkout1:46:40 Final question - F-4 shutdown checklistSupport the show
Released:
Dec 2, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Interviews and anecdotes from military pilots and aircrew from across the globe. As the rule says, so long as it's 10 percent true, you're allowed to tell the story! Head over to the 10 Percent True YouTube channel to listen and watch at the same time.