Best Airlift Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 188 – Front Line Air Mobility Revolution: 317th Airlift Wing Conversation 57:23

5d ago57:23

57:23

Episode Summary: In episode 188 of the Aerospace Advantage, Front Line Air Mobility Revolution: 317th Airlift Wing Conversation, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with 317th Airlift Wing Commander Col Thomas Lankford. Based at Dyess AFB and equipped with C-130Js, the men and women of the 317th are executing their missions in one of the most transformati…

1
Episode 189 – Fighting the Air Base: Decisive Combat Sortie Generation Under Fire 45:30

1h ago45:30

45:30

Episode Summary: In episode 189 of the Aerospace Advantage, Fighting the Air Base: Decisive Combat Sortie Generation Under Fire, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Mitchell Institute experts Mike Dahm and Mark Gunzinger about a key aspect of modern operations in an era of peer competition. U.S. Air Force commanders must be prepared to fight their fr…

1
A Cold War Hungarian Journey Through War, Revolution, and Emigration (352) 1:07:27

28m ago1:07:27

1:07:27

In this comprehensive narrative, Imre recounts his life from his birth in 1936 in Hungary to his emigration to the West after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He discusses the influence of his family’s Hungarian and German heritage, his father’s work in the oil industry, and the impact of World War II and communist rule on his upbringing. The account…

1
Workhorse - E32 - Maintenance 1975-1997 with David Richardson 1:02:55

5d ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Dave 'Richo' Richardson discusses a broad range of maintenance topics spanning the 1975-1997 era, including: Corrosion and Fatigue Boron fibre repairs C-130E wing repairs C-130E outer wing swap C-130H wing design Paint schemes Electronic warfare modifications Maintenance reorganisation Engine sulphidation Operating cost reductions (removing wing ta…

1
228 - D-Day Landing Craft 1:09:03

5d ago1:09:03

1:09:03

More than 132,000 Allied troops landed on the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944. Through their efforts, the tide of the war turned for the final time to favour the Allies. But how did the Allied army get to the shores of Normandy? The contribution of Landing Craft to D-Day is often overlooked. Andrew Whitmarsh joins me to correct this oversight. Andr…

1
Mutiny in the East German Army (351) 48:02

6d ago48:02

48:02

In this riveting account, Tilo recounts his experiences as an East German soldier during the final months of East Germany. He details the rising political awareness among soldiers, and his fear that his unit will be asked to shoot on demonstrators also provides a personal perspective on the pivotal moments leading up to and following the fall of th…

1
S4 #065 The Past, Present & Future Of Drones In The British Army 1:30:18

8d ago1:30:18

1:30:18

CONTENT The guest today is Neale Smiles a former Gunner now working in the defence industry. Neale often posts his thoughts on military matters on LinkedIn and was a guest on pod 51 where we discussed “Guns, Rockets & Training For War”. So if you have an interest in all things artillery it is worth a listen. Even if you don't check it out as Ukrain…

1
Episode 187 – Spectrum Warfare: Freedom to Attack, Maneuver, and Defend 45:58

12d ago45:58

45:58

Episode Summary: In episode 187 of the Aerospace Advantage, Spectrum Warfare: Freedom to Attack, Maneuver, and Defend, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander Col Joshua Koslov. Electromagnetic spectrum operations are critical to the success of any modern combat mission. With the growth of sensors, processing power, …

1
Face to face with the Soviets at the Cold War Reykjavik Summit between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev (350) 1:12:45

13d ago1:12:45

1:12:45

This episode is brought to you by the CNN Original Series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game which premieres 2nd June 2024 and is available now on BBC Iplayer). The series tracks the spies operating behind the scenes in the 1980s as the Cold War brings two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. This razor-sharp series examines the tenuousness of glo…

1
Missouri Military Minute -Rep. Graves And Funding Two C - 130J Planes 1:00

14d ago1:00

1:00

Missouri Congressman Sam Graves pushes for C-130J funding to potentially help 139th Air Wing.By Minnesota News Network

1
Missouri Military Minute - Rosecrans Memorial Airport Improvements 1:00

17d ago1:00

1:00

Missouri Military Minute - Rosecrans Memorial Airport Improvements by Minnesota News NetworkBy Minnesota News Network

1
Missouri Military Minute - MO House Takes Up Wide - Ranging Bill To Serve Service Members 1:00

16d ago1:00

1:00

Missouri Legislature's outreach to service members.By Minnesota News Network

1
Missouri Military Minute - Admiral James Stavridis, Churchill Fellow 1:00

17d ago1:00

1:00

Admiral James Stavridis addresses Churchill conference at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri on importance of NATO.By Minnesota News Network

1
Missouri Military Minute - Steinway Pianos And WWII 1:00

17d ago1:00

1:00

A writer from NW Missouri tells WWII stories with a unique angle.By Minnesota News Network

1
Workhorse - E31 - Strategic Circumstances from mid 70s - mid 90s 14:54

19d ago14:54

14:54

This episode explores the 'Defence of Australia' years and how this strategy impacted C-130 operations. The impact of the Dibb Review is also discussed.By Bill 'K9' Kourelakos

1
Episode 186 – Congressional Update, Triad Questioned, Space Guard Debate: The Rendezvous 59:43

19d ago59:43

59:43

Episode Summary: In episode 186 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Update, Triad Questioned, Space Guard Debate: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the beltway and the broader national security community. The conversation begins with a review of where de…

1
227 - D-Day: Sword Beach 1:05:21

19d ago1:05:21

1:05:21

6th June 1944 saw the largest seaborne assault in human history: D-Day. While much has been written about the operation as a whole, little detailed attention has been paid to the battle for Sword Beach itself, the easternmost of the amphibious attack areas. For this episode, I am joined by Stephen Fisher. Stephen is a historian and archaeologist wh…

1
The President’s Kill List - Assassination and US Foreign Policy since 1945 (349) 52:36

20d ago52:36

52:36

Luca Trenta is an associate professor at Swansea University and has recently authored The President's Kill List: Assassination and US Foreign Policy Since 1945. We dig in detail into the contents of the book delving into the history of Cold War CIA operations including instances of electoral interference and assassination. Our conversation explores…

1
Beyond the Beaches: The amazing aviation innovations behind D-Day 45:59

20d ago45:59

45:59

The 6th June 2024 will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day – the Allied invasion of Western Europe during the Second World War and one of the most pivotal days in human history. Most people will be familiar with the sight of the landings in Normandy, but fewer know the story beyond the beaches. D-Day itself saw an incredible 14,674 flights, all hand…

1
S4 #064 7 Minutes To Midnight - Korea The Forgotten War 48:08

22d ago48:08

48:08

CONTENT On this podcast we feature the British involvement in the Korean War which took place between 1950 - 1953. A war that is fairly unknown and overshadowed by WW2 and later the Vietnam war. It is considered forgotten but was as gruelling as any of the WW2 theatres of operations. We discuss the prelude to war, the opening engagements, the feroc…

1
The sinking of the USS Scorpion and the Velvet Revolution (348) 33:58

23d ago33:58

33:58

I’m a big fan of the History Daily podcast, where my good friend Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous moment that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Visit Historydaily.com or search History Daily in your podcast app to learn more. As an introduction to History Daily I have selected two Cold War-themed episodes that I know yo…

1
226 - D-Day and the Great Deception 52:37

24d ago52:37

52:37

As the Allied forces prepared for the monumental invasion of Normandy, concealing the massive build-up of troops in Britain from the Germans became increasingly challenging. To mislead German intelligence about the timing and location of the invasion, the Allies devised a series of elaborate deception plans. The most audacious of these schemes aime…

1
Episode 185 – Tomorrow’s F-35: Cooling is Key 37:08

26d ago37:08

37:08

Episode Summary: In episode 185 of the Aerospace Advantage, Tomorrow’s F-35: Cooling is Key, host Heather “Lucky” Penney and Doug Birkey chat with Matt Pess, Chief Engineer on the Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) program at Collins Aerospace, about a key technology to sustain the F-35's future capability growth. The fighter’s powerful sens…

1
A US Diplomat's Son in Cold War Soviet Union, Nicaragua and Cuba (347) 1:08:40

27d ago1:08:40

1:08:40

In this fascinating interview, Patrick D. Joyce recounts his unique experience growing up as the son of a U.S. diplomat during the Cold War. Living in the diplomatic community of the Soviet Union, Nicaragua, and Cuba, Patrick shares vivid memories of his father's career as a Soviet and linguistic expert, who rose to become Deputy Ambassador at both…

1
Episode 184 – New NATO Voices: Conversation with Maj Gen Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish Air Force 34:26

29d ago34:26

34:26

Episode Summary: In episode 184 of the Aerospace Advantage, New NATO Voices: Conversation with Maj Gen Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish Air Force, host Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret) chat with NATO’s newest airpower leader. Given recent events, the time for this conversation couldn’t be better. Our Air Forces have been…

1
Workhorse - E30 - Unique Loads of the 70s 16:54

1M ago16:54

16:54

This short episode covers a few unique loads carried by Royal Australian Air Force C-130s in the 1970s and early 1980s. Included are: A bull taken to China The entombed warriors (China again) Stock to Tonga A 3-day trip for a croc A giant pig Darwin Beer Can Regatta and, F-111 maintenance into Johnston Atoll…

1
Episode 183 – 89th Airlift Wing: Understanding the Mission of SAMFOX and Beyond 35:52

1M ago35:52

35:52

Episode Summary: In episode 183 of the Aerospace Advantage, 89th Airlift Wing: Understanding the Mission of SAMFOX and Beyond, host Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Col Angela Ochoa, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing. They call themselves “SAMFOX” – which stands for Special Air Missions Foreign. These are the Airmen who are best known for flying …

1
East German Army Bullying, Serving in a Brigade HQ and Military Exercises (346) 50:25

1M ago50:25

50:25

Warning: This episode does cover the subject of suicide. If you need help please use these links: UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Rest of the World https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp Tilo shares his raw and powerful testimony of a young man conscripted into the East German military at the height of Cold War tensions. …

1
S4 #063 Use Of AI In Targeting & Autonomous Platforms 56:12

1M ago56:12

56:12

CONTENT The guest today is Chris Lincoln Jones. Chris is a retired Army Officer and worked for 17 years in the Defence Industry where he was an Intelligence Surveillance and Target Acquisition Specialist with a particular knowledge of Uncrewed Air Systems. He has been a visiting lecturer at the University of South Wales on an MSc course in Global G…

1
225 - Hill 107 and the Battle of Crete 45:41

1M ago45:41

45:41

On the morning of May 20, 1941, the Germans launched Operation Mercury. The invasion of Crete was the largest airborne operation yet attempted during the war, with thousands of Fallschirmjäger deployed. Key to the operation's success would be the capture of the airfield at Maleme. Outnumbered and having suffered horrendous casualties, when the airb…

1
Episode 182 – Tomorrow’s Air National Guard: Lt Gen Loh Conversation 1:02:56

1M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Episode Summary: In episode 182 of the Aerospace Advantage, Tomorrow’s Air National Guard: Lt Gen Loh Conversation, Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Gen Joseph "Gus" Guastella, USAF (Ret.) chat with the Director of the Air National Guard. Whether discussing air superiority, aerial mobility, aeromedical evacuation, or cyber—Guardsmen are deployed aroun…

1
America's Cold War Scottish Bastion (345) 1:22:42

1M ago1:22:42

1:22:42

David McKay is a former Cold War special forces officer and author of Bubbleheads, SEALs and Wizards: America's Scottish Bastion in the Cold War. His book highlights the Scottish bases' significant role in supporting the US military over three decades. David brings his expertise into play, examining this intriguing story by reaching out to more tha…

1
Episode 181 – Defense Budget, Space Update, CCA Decision, and PLA Reorg: The Rendezvous 1:00:41

2M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Episode Summary: In episode 181 of the Aerospace Advantage, Defense Budget, Space Update, CCA Decision, and PLA Reorg: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney and John “Slick” Baum chat with members of the Mitchell Institute team about topics you’ve seen in the national security headlines. We begin the conversation exploring how and why the legislat…

1
Workhorse - E29 - Airlift Competitions with Gary Robinson 36:27

2M ago36:27

36:27

This episode covers off on three airlift competitions that RAAF C-130s won on several occasions: Volant Rodeo, Bullseye, and Air Tattoo. The details are discussed with retired WOFF Gary 'Robbo' Robinson, an ex 36SQN Loadmaster. Of note, Robbo was a crewmember on the only RAAF contingent to ever win 'Best Wing '- the top prize at Rodeo. Robbo also d…

1
The Challenges of a Christian East German Childhood (344) 53:08

2M ago53:08

53:08

Tilo offers an engaging and personal account of growing up in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He begins by describing his early childhood in a rundown building in Prenzlauer Berg before moving to a new prefab neighbourhood in Lichtenberg. Tilo’s grandfather on his mother’s side was a pastor in the Lutheran church and second in comma…

1
224 - The Theory and Practice of Command in the British and German Armies 1:04:52

2M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

In this podcast episode, we will discuss the different approaches to command and control of the British Army and the German Army. From a management point of view, both organisations developed different doctrines to deal with the 'fog of war' or 'friction', which affected how commanders responded as a battle unfolded. We'll do this by delving into t…

1
S4 #062 Infantry Officer In Iraq & Afghanistan 1:36:03

2M ago1:36:03

1:36:03

CONTENT The guest today is Laurence Moore, known as Loz, who served in the Cheshire regiment and on this episode we discuss his time at Sandhurst and what it was like to deploy on operations as a young officer in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Loz also discusses the effect combat had on him personally and why he helped set up Cockleshell 2…

1
Episode 180 – Royal Air Force Insights: Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton 48:24

2M ago48:24

48:24

Episode Summary: In episode 180 of the Aerospace Advantage, Royal Air Force Insights: Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.) chat with the head of the Royal Air Force. The U.S. is fortunate to have many allies are partners, but few are as close and aligned as the United Kingdom. The plan…

1
Commanding a Cold War US Navy Nuclear Missile Submarine (343) 1:22:01

2M ago1:22:01

1:22:01

Bill Woodman is a former US Navy nuclear missile submarine commander, who shares his rich experiences from joining the US Naval Academy in 1964 to commanding two SSBN submarines, the USS James Monroe and the USS Alabama during the Cold War. Bill opens up about his initial aspirations, rigorous training at the Naval Academy, and his challenging inte…

1
Serving from the skies - London's amazing emergency services pilots 47:54

2M ago47:54

47:54

With such unique requirements, one of the most essential and complex users of our skies are the emergency services. In this month’s Altitude, we’re joined by pilots Captain Andrew Brandt from the National Police Air Service and Captain David Rolfe from London Air Ambulance Service to learn about their amazing life saving work and how collaboration …

1
223 - Landing Craft Infantry 52:35

2M ago52:35

52:35

In this podcast episode, I'm looking at the work of LCI's, Landing Craft Infantry. These are not the smaller Higgins Boats we see storming the Normandy beaches in Saving Private Ryan but large beaching craft intended to transport and deliver fighting troops, typically a company of infantry or marines, to a hostile shore once a beachhead was secured…

1
Workhorse - E28 - Tactics and NVGs - with John Samulski 42:03

2M ago42:03

42:03

During the 1975-1986 era, the Australian Army reinvigorated Airborne Operations. With the drive to enhance airborne operations capabilities came the notion of operating C-130s into contested environments, and that meant improving RAAF C-130 tactics. Modern tactics development led 36SQN to consider electronic warfare, operating as low as they could,…

1
Episode 179 — Space Electronic Warfare: Key to Modern Combat Operations 39:23

2M ago39:23

39:23

Episode Summary: In episode 179 of the Aerospace Advantage, Space Electronic Warfare: Key to Modern Combat Operations, John “Slick” Baum and Charles Galbreath chat with Col Chris “Trigger” Fernengel and Lt Col Chris “Shocker” Adams of the Space Force. It’s no secret that space is an increasingly contested domain. The U.S. didn’t want it to be this …

1
My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 2 (342) 59:47

2M ago59:47

59:47

Burt recounts the surreal experience of learning about Fisher's true identity from a newspaper headline, the subsequent FBI interrogations, and the emotional courtroom testimony where he struggled to reconcile his friendship with the stark reality of espionage. Burt's journey leads him to Moscow in a failed attempt to reconnect with Fisher, reveali…

1
Episode 178 — Airpower in Central Command: Leadership Update 46:04

2M ago46:04

46:04

Episode Summary: In episode 178 of the Aerospace Advantage, Airpower in Central Command: Leadership Update, Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.) and Doug Birkey chat with 9th AF/ US Air Forces Central Command Commander Lt Gen Alexus “Grynch” Grynkewich. When the U.S. sunset large-scale military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, many assumed military…

1
222 - The D-Day Scientists Who Changed Special Operations 47:52

2M ago47:52

47:52

Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid on the coast of France, was a disaster in 1942. However, it did highlight the need for more reconnaissance before any other amphibious operations were mounted. In London, a small group of eccentric researchers, experimenting on themselves from inside pressure tanks in the middle of the London air raids, explored t…

1
S4 #061 7 Minutes To Midnight - NATO Cold War "Stay Behind" Operations 1:12:32

2M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

CONTENT The guest today for our conversation on NATO Cold War "stay behind" operations is Tamir Sinai a political scientist and exercise professional. Tamir teaches Security Policy and develops Simulation Exercises for International Organisations, Governments, Private Industry and Universities with a focus on Security and Crisis Management. His cus…

1
Episode 177 — Hypersonic Ascendancy: Regaining America's Edge 49:39

2M ago49:39

49:39

Episode Summary: In episode 177 of the Aerospace Advantage, Hypersonic Ascendancy: Regaining America's Edge, John "Slick" Baum chats with Dr. Michael Brown, the Principal Scientist of the High-Speed Systems Division at Air Force Research Laboratory, and Mark Rettig, Vice President and General Manager for Business and Technology Development at GE Ae…

1
My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 1 (341) 1:07:08

2M ago1:07:08

1:07:08

In a riveting episode that peels back the layers of Cold War espionage, we sit down with Burt, an artist who unwittingly befriended a man better known as Colonel Abel, the infamous Bridge of Spies Spy who was exchanged for shot down US U2 pilot Gary Powers. Burt knew Abel as Emil Goldfuss but his real name was Willie Fisher from Newcastle Upon Tyne…

1
Workhorse - E27 - Airborne Ops Development - 1975-1986 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

The advent of the 1976 White Paper came with a reduction in the ADF's combat operations, and an emphasis on preparedness for the defence of Australia. As a result, the ADF put a great deal of energy into exercising and developing combat skills and proficiency. This effort led to the re-establishment of a permanent Regular Army airborne operations c…

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