Spying From 70,000 Feet - Episode 55

From the Marine Corps’ final Harrier squadron to the SR-71 Blackbird, Season 9 of Behind the Wings brings you the people and stories behind extraordinary aircraft.

Go inside Constant Peg, the once-secret Cold War program that gave American fighter pilots the rare opportunity to train against real Soviet MiG aircraft. In this special bonus episode, get a full-length lecture from former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot John Mann. A veteran of the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and Operation Desert Storm, Mann flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s with the Red Eagles during Constant Peg. He shares an extraordinary firsthand account of the aircraft, people and training program that transformed American air combat preparation. What you'll hear: Lessons from Vietnam: Why the U.S. Air Force reexamined its aircraft, weapons and fighter training The origins of Constant Peg: How real Soviet aircraft became part of a highly classified adversary program Meeting the MiGs: Mann’s first encounter with MiG-17 and MiG-21 aircraft during training Flying the MiG-21: Its impressive turning ability, unforgiving handling and unconventional cockpit systems Inside the MiG-23: Tremendous speed, variable-sweep wings and dangerous flight characteristics Training against the real threat: How Constant Peg taught American pilots to recognize and counter Soviet aircraft The maintenance heroes: How crews kept unfamiliar MiGs flying without factory support, technical manuals or standard replacement parts Risk and secrecy: The strict security rules, hazardous test flights and sacrifices behind the Red Eagles program Preparing for Desert Storm: How realistic adversary training helped give American aircrews a decisive advantage See the aircraft: Learn more about the MiG-23 on display at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Learn More: Visit Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum to see the MiG-23 Donate to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Subscribe and leave a review to support the show This episode is supported in part by United Airlines.

What can a few grains of asteroid dust tell us about the origins of life on Earth?

NASA’s Meredith McKay discusses how diplomacy, trust, and international cooperation are helping turn ambitious space missions into reality. In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with Meredith McKay, Deputy Associate Administrator in NASA’s Office of International and Interagency Relations, about the partnerships behind humanity’s next steps into space. From the hard-earned lessons of the International Space Station to Artemis and the growing community of nations signing the Artemis Accords, McKay explains how cooperation on Earth becomes exploration in space. This one is going to be cool! What you'll hear: NASA diplomacy behind the scenes: How a team of fewer than 50 people helps scientists, engineers, governments, and space agencies build successful partnerships Reworking the International Space Station: McKay recalls helping negotiate a new assembly plan after the loss of Columbia reduced the remaining shuttle flights from 28 to 18 What makes international cooperation last: Why shared goals, clearly defined responsibilities, and benefits for every participating nation give partnerships staying power Lessons from 25 years aboard the ISS: How trust and open communication have sustained one of the most complex international projects ever attempted The transition beyond the space station: How NASA is helping prepare commercial destinations and a new economy in low Earth orbit What makes Artemis different from Apollo: The international crews, spacecraft, rovers, payloads, and surface systems supporting a long-term return to the Moon What the Artemis Accords actually do: How their principles put the Outer Space Treaty into practice through peaceful exploration, scientific cooperation, astronaut assistance, and coordination on the lunar surface Building the future together: Why listening, remaining open to unexpected opportunities, and “rowing in the same direction” may be as important as any spacecraft or technology Learn More: Read the full show notes on the Wings Over the Rockies website Donate to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Subscribe and leave a review to support the show This episode is supported in part by United Airlines.

As wildfires grow larger and more complex, pilots, firefighters, scientists, and aviation experts are developing new ways to protect communities from the air. In Episode 78, Host Rick Crandall revisits interviews about wildfire aviation originally recorded in 2021. From Colorado’s East Troublesome Fire and infrared-equipped Pilatus PC-12s to single-engine air tankers, Firehawk helicopters, and night-vision operations, these experts reveal how people, aircraft, and real-time information come together to support firefighters on the ground. This one is going to be cool!