36:00 I think he was talking about Ft. Bliss near El Paso Texas rather than Ft. Bragg which is in North Carolina. Coincidently it's only about 10 mins of flight time from Holloman AFB in NM.
I agree with the format idea, you being framed smaller is "imagery 101" as far as focus and framing goes. Even _IF_ you've got a voice for radio and a face for youtube. 🙃
Another fantastic interview! Fascinating for everyone deeply interested in the F-117A. Still have fond memories standing in the r/h wheel bay of article YF-117 79-10783 in a hangar at EDW in 2014 during a public base tour. Maybe you can ask one of the 117 drivers in future interviews on the revolving rumors (which I haven't see any serious evidence so far) of a classified companion aircraft to the 117 in the Iraqi theatre?
I did ask Chris whether they ever worked with 'other platforms', precisely because I remember reading in a British newspaper at the time that the USAF had confirmed that the '117 has operated over Iraq with a companion platform. Not sure whether the clip of me asking him is in this interview, or the next one... but he said that he was not aware of such a collaboration. He did say something interesting, though... you'll have to wait and see what it was!
Had a couple of actual laugh out loud moments, which was awkward as I was listening to it in the gym. Fantastic interview again, you get such interesting guests! 🍻
Thanks, Paul! I am pretty sure Part 3 will be interesting - I certainly don't think that I was running out of questions and therefore turned the conversation to aliens and Area 51 ;)
Great interview and discussion, regarding the potential use case for the AIM9, there is great interview on the fighter pilot podcast where Jell-O interviews F-117A pilot Major Robert Donaldson. One of the early theorised missions for the F-117's was potentially to bring down Russian AWACS assets undetected using the AIM9.
LAU141 in the bombay with an amraam fed targeting data by an external source is a conceivable means of adapting a bomber for air-air. We've seen crazier setups in the last few months (summer 22) I've always thought there should be a B-2 variant with a few dozen fox3s nesting in it. lol
Great job on the interview once again! I think I know where the idea of the Nighthawk carrying A2A missiles originated. If you watched on YT the Fighter Pilot Podcast episode 72 featuring the Nighthawk the pilot being interviewed said that at one point there was discussions about possibly making the plane have the interceptor role included so it can shoot down the Soviet AWACS since it was harder to detect and could get closer. Just hearing that blew my mind, so I can totally understand the fascination with that idea and inquiring with another F-117 pilot if he knew about it.
Thanks, Manolo. Actually, this interview was recorded in May, I think - so, it pre-dates the other podcast. I had been prompted to ask it by someone on the 10 Percent True Facebook Group, and because in the old Microsoft F-19 Stealth Fighter game, HVA air-to-air missions were a thing!
@@10percenttrue That's funny because I used to play the F-19 Stealth Fighter game growing up. Wow I forgot about that game. That brought back fun memories playing it.
That was a great interview Steve, really interesting descriptions of weaponry used on F-117, adaptable warheads that made the bombs hit the targets with precision with minimal collateral damage. Use of the (slick) bomb first, then release the GV 27 and the GV would hit the target first even though it was the second bomb dropped due to the immediate downward angle and speed that increased to right above the speed of sound.. fascinating stories and I could tell the pilot ( Topo Topham) was right back living the experience again as if it had just happened... Thank you for a great interview and very amazing review of the F-117 capabilities!
Great interview it ia Fort Bliss outside of El Paso, being from Albuquerque I was fascinated to find out the 117 was flying training flights into Albuquerque.
LGBs best dropped with no lase for majority of bomb flight, bomb is more accurate if it follows a natural ballistic path to target and then lase for the last few moments for precise impact
Excellent interview! I’ve always wondered about declassification of programs, and how or when participants would know they’d be be able to talk about them. Now I know a little more.
I met a guy back in 1999 who brought a MiG-21 up to my home airport. He was going to fly some exercises with the Canadian Navy the next day, and he let me look around and sit in the cockpit. Talking to him, it seemed that he was ex military. This was years before Constant Peg was declassified, but there were mentions in books about MiG exploitation and evaluation programs. I was going to ask him some more about it the next time I saw him, but sadly he was killed the next day after his Fishbed hit the water.
I met a guy back in 1999 who brought a MiG-21 up to my home airport. He was going to fly some exercises with the Canadian Navy the next day, and he let me look around and sit in the cockpit. Talking to him, it seemed that he was ex military. This was years before Constant Peg was declassified, but there were mentions in books about MiG exploitation and evaluation programs. I was going to ask him some more about it the next time I saw him, but sadly he was killed the next day after his Fishbed hit the water.
Thanks, Sim! Yes, once you're 'read out' of a programme, that's it - the shutters come down. By way of example, and IIRC, Gail Peck, the 'father' of Constant Peg, noted that he was surprised how far the programme had come between being read out in the early years, and read back in again for a Constant Peg exposure while he commanded an RF-4 unit.
10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit yep, that’s the one. His name was Doug Schultz. His name doesn’t appear on the Constant Peg website.... maybe he flew against them, or perhaps had some involvement in some of the “HAVE” programs.
As an adversary, pitted against this machine, secure in the knowledge that there is absolutely no imminent threat from the air, safe also in your knowledge of your 'bomb-proof' confines, about to settle down for the night: what a wonderful way to leave this life. A joyous transition from the mayhem of the present, into that 'other-worldly' wonder-land of the martyred Jihadi. Just; Gone; in an instant.
Yeah funny the same aircraft had conducted thousands of bombing missions over Serbia destroying many important targets. ..And you managed to shoot one down well done give yourself a pat on the back LOL ...Air defence is supposed to stop bombing missions. ...One in a thousand amazing 😃😃😃😃
Perhaps it’s all the pics of the -117 going through the Sidewinder of late that made me want to revisit this. Such an intriguing aircraft.
36:00 I think he was talking about Ft. Bliss near El Paso Texas rather than Ft. Bragg which is in North Carolina. Coincidently it's only about 10 mins of flight time from Holloman AFB in NM.
I agree with the format idea, you being framed smaller is "imagery 101" as far as focus and framing goes. Even _IF_ you've got a voice for radio and a face for youtube. 🙃
Another fantastic interview! Fascinating for everyone deeply interested in the F-117A. Still have fond memories standing in the r/h wheel bay of article YF-117 79-10783 in a hangar at EDW in 2014 during a public base tour. Maybe you can ask one of the 117 drivers in future interviews on the revolving rumors (which I haven't see any serious evidence so far) of a classified companion aircraft to the 117 in the Iraqi theatre?
I did ask Chris whether they ever worked with 'other platforms', precisely because I remember reading in a British newspaper at the time that the USAF had confirmed that the '117 has operated over Iraq with a companion platform. Not sure whether the clip of me asking him is in this interview, or the next one... but he said that he was not aware of such a collaboration. He did say something interesting, though... you'll have to wait and see what it was!
Had a couple of actual laugh out loud moments, which was awkward as I was listening to it in the gym. Fantastic interview again, you get such interesting guests! 🍻
Never imagined that this'd make good workout listening!
Another excellent interview. I love hearing the British point of view on the F-117. I’m eagerly awaiting part 3!
Thanks, Paul! I am pretty sure Part 3 will be interesting - I certainly don't think that I was running out of questions and therefore turned the conversation to aliens and Area 51 ;)
10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit can’t wait!
Great interview and discussion, regarding the potential use case for the AIM9, there is great interview on the fighter pilot podcast where Jell-O interviews F-117A pilot Major Robert Donaldson. One of the early theorised missions for the F-117's was potentially to bring down Russian AWACS assets undetected using the AIM9.
LAU141 in the bombay with an amraam fed targeting data by an external source is a conceivable means of adapting a bomber for air-air. We've seen crazier setups in the last few months (summer 22)
I've always thought there should be a B-2 variant with a few dozen fox3s nesting in it. lol
Great job on the interview once again!
I think I know where the idea of the Nighthawk carrying A2A missiles originated. If you watched on YT the Fighter Pilot Podcast episode 72 featuring the Nighthawk the pilot being interviewed said that at one point there was discussions about possibly making the plane have the interceptor role included so it can shoot down the Soviet AWACS since it was harder to detect and could get closer. Just hearing that blew my mind, so I can totally understand the fascination with that idea and inquiring with another F-117 pilot if he knew about it.
Thanks, Manolo.
Actually, this interview was recorded in May, I think - so, it pre-dates the other podcast. I had been prompted to ask it by someone on the 10 Percent True Facebook Group, and because in the old Microsoft F-19 Stealth Fighter game, HVA air-to-air missions were a thing!
@@10percenttrue That's funny because I used to play the F-19 Stealth Fighter game growing up. Wow I forgot about that game. That brought back fun memories playing it.
You can get it for free now as vaporware. Rekindle those old memories!
Fab interview with RAF Squadron Leader Chris "Toppo" Topham. Can`t wait for the third part. Thanks -
Great interview
Mother great interview Steve, thanks.
That was a great interview Steve, really interesting descriptions of weaponry used on F-117, adaptable warheads that made the bombs hit the targets with precision with minimal collateral damage. Use of the (slick) bomb first, then release the GV 27 and the GV would hit the target first even though it was the second bomb dropped due to the immediate downward angle and speed that increased to right above the speed of sound.. fascinating stories and I could tell the pilot ( Topo Topham) was right back living the experience again as if it had just happened... Thank you for a great interview and very amazing review of the F-117 capabilities!
Thank you for these interviews. And thanks to all these Pilot's of different conflicts telling their stories.
Thank you :)
Great interview it ia Fort Bliss outside of El Paso, being from Albuquerque I was fascinated to find out the 117 was flying training flights into Albuquerque.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great find , reaĺly enjoying these
Glad you like them!
LGBs best dropped with no lase for majority of bomb flight, bomb is more accurate if it follows a natural ballistic path to target and then lase for the last few moments for precise impact
Loved that, thanks..
Glad you enjoyed it :)
Excellent interview!
I’ve always wondered about declassification of programs, and how or when participants would know they’d be be able to talk about them. Now I know a little more.
I met a guy back in 1999 who brought a MiG-21 up to my home airport. He was going to fly some exercises with the Canadian Navy the next day, and he let me look around and sit in the cockpit. Talking to him, it seemed that he was ex military. This was years before Constant Peg was declassified, but there were mentions in books about MiG exploitation and evaluation programs.
I was going to ask him some more about it the next time I saw him, but sadly he was killed the next day after his Fishbed hit the water.
I met a guy back in 1999 who brought a MiG-21 up to my home airport. He was going to fly some exercises with the Canadian Navy the next day, and he let me look around and sit in the cockpit. Talking to him, it seemed that he was ex military. This was years before Constant Peg was declassified, but there were mentions in books about MiG exploitation and evaluation programs.
I was going to ask him some more about it the next time I saw him, but sadly he was killed the next day after his Fishbed hit the water.
Sim, must be this one. Unfortunately, it doesn't name him: www.upi.com/Archives/1999/08/26/US-pilot-killed-in-MiG-21-crash/3619935640000/
Thanks, Sim! Yes, once you're 'read out' of a programme, that's it - the shutters come down. By way of example, and IIRC, Gail Peck, the 'father' of Constant Peg, noted that he was surprised how far the programme had come between being read out in the early years, and read back in again for a Constant Peg exposure while he commanded an RF-4 unit.
10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit yep, that’s the one. His name was Doug Schultz. His name doesn’t appear on the Constant Peg website.... maybe he flew against them, or perhaps had some involvement in some of the “HAVE” programs.
Toppo’s wife figured he’d had too much to drink!
I suppose Baghdad could have used searchlights to see them, like WWII nights.
I don't really know much about the WW2 stuff, but the weren't many of the bigger search lights radar directed?
Sir Topham Hat!
As an adversary, pitted against this machine, secure in the knowledge that there is absolutely no imminent threat from the air, safe also in your knowledge of your 'bomb-proof' confines, about to settle down for the night: what a wonderful way to leave this life. A joyous transition from the mayhem of the present, into that 'other-worldly' wonder-land of the martyred Jihadi. Just; Gone; in an instant.
Indeed, Tim. Much worse fates lie in wait for those less fortunate.
Most will overlook the fact that Its an "F".. not "B" nor "A"...
The aeroplane knew where it was by knowing where it was not.
A bit like a cruise missile?
@@10percenttrue
Lol yeah it was a reference to this ua-cam.com/video/bZe5J8SVCYQ/v-deo.html
Really enjoyable interviews, subbed.
Was Chris a Tornado Pilot?
Jaguar pilot .
Serbia 🇷🇸f-117 👎👎😂😂😂
Yeah funny the same aircraft had conducted thousands of bombing missions over Serbia destroying many important targets. ..And you managed to shoot one down well done give yourself a pat on the back LOL ...Air defence is supposed to stop bombing missions. ...One in a thousand amazing 😃😃😃😃