23 min listen
RFT 031: Thunderbird/USAF Chief of Staff General McPeak
FromReady For Takeoff - Turn Your Aviation Passion Into A Career
RFT 031: Thunderbird/USAF Chief of Staff General McPeak
FromReady For Takeoff - Turn Your Aviation Passion Into A Career
ratings:
Length:
54 minutes
Released:
Jun 6, 2016
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Merrill McPeak followed his initial Air Force F-104 and F-100 flying assignments as a member of the Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, performing in 200 airshows. He then went to Vietnam, and became the commander of the famed Misty FAC (Forward Air Controller) squadron. After Vietnam, he went to Armed Forces Staff College, then to the Pentagon, and had a host of other assignments that eventually led to his becoming the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. In this podcast, General McPeak recounts a fascinating story of his Air Force career, which started with his notaccepting a Regular commission, since he had no intention of making the Air Force a career! He also describes his crash during an airshow, when the wings separated from his F-100 as he was pulling up for the “bomb-burst” show finale, at just under the speed of sound. In this interview General McPeak also talks about his return to Southeast Asia with his sons, to see the Ho Chi Minh trail from the ground.
Released:
Jun 6, 2016
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
RFT 009: Interview With Phenom Pilot Bill Straw: Bill Straw is a contract Phenom pilot with extensive experience ferrying light planes all over the world. Ready For Takeoff - Aviation and Commercial Airline Podcast - Your source for thoughts from the flight deck and beyond for Airplane Geeks... by Ready For Takeoff - Turn Your Aviation Passion Into A Career