Behind the Wings

Asteroid Bennu and the Ingredients for Life - Episode 80

What can a few grains of asteroid dust tell us about the origins of life on Earth? In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with NASA astrochemist José C. Aponte about

How the World Agreed to Go Farther - Episode 79

NASA’s Meredith McKay discusses how diplomacy, trust, and international cooperation are helping turn ambitious space missions into reality. In this episode, Host Rick Cr

Fighting Wildfires from the Sky - Episode 78

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

F-15, F-16 or F-22? A General's Verdict - Episode 77

Brigadier General Micah “Zeus” Fessler shares stories about flying the F-15 and F-22, traces Colorado fighter aviation from early biplanes to the F-16, and today's homela

The Most Dangerous Plane to Fly in Vietnam - Episode 76

Air Force veteran Art Elser reveals what it took to fly low, slow, and exposed as a forward air controller during the Vietnam War. In this episode, Host Rick Crandall ta

Will Air Taxis Change Everything? - Episode 75

NASA’s RAVEN aircraft is helping researchers explore one of aviation’s biggest next steps: electric vertical takeoff and landing. NASA’s RAVEN aircraft is helping resear

Flying Soviet MiGs in the Nevada Desert - Episode 74

Rob “Z-Man” Zettel shares his story from inside one of the Air Force’s most secret Cold War programs, Project Constant Peg. In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks wit

Maintaining America's Secret MiGs - Episode 73

Jim “JB” Bell shares his story from inside one of the Air Force’s most secret Cold War programs, Project Constant Peg. In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with Jim

Leadership Under Pressure - Episode 72

Major General John Barry shares his story of leadership through some of the most consequential moments in modern aerospace and national security history. In this episode

Shot Down Over Hanoi - Episode 71

Retired Col. Thomas Kirk shares his story of surviving solitary confinement for two years as a prisoner of war at the “Hanoi Hilton." In this episode, Host Rick Crandal

Behind the Wings Season 8 Trailer

Season 8 of Behind the Wings podcast is here. Hosted by Rick Crandall, the next 10 episodes deliver first-hand accounts from across the aerospace world, spanning historic

Supersonic Flight Without the Boom - Episode 70

Get an inside look at NASA’s Quesst mission and the effort to bring supersonic flight back over land, without the disruptive sonic boom. For more than 50 years, civil ai

The F-100 Saved This Pilot's Life - Episode 69

Retired Pilot Col. John “Warman” Stewart discusses his Vietnam combat sorties and how the Super Sabre saved his life. In this episode, we explore the history of the Nort

Designing a Home for Artemis II - Episode 68

Human Factors Engineer Cynthia Hudy shares what it takes to design a spacecraft around the people who fly it. We explore Cynthia’s role designing the systems inside Orio

From the End Zone to the Cockpit - Episode 67

NFL Alum and Pilot Jimmy Graham shares stories about stunt flying and how it helped him relax when off the field. In this episode, we discuss how Jimmy earned his pilot

From Warthogs to Reapers - Episode 66

Retired Fighter Pilot Lt. Col. Tammy Barlette shares how flying the A-10 prepared her for operating UAVs like the MQ-1. In this episode, she discusses the Warthog's capa

Test Flying the SR-71 Blackbird - Episode 65

Retired Test Pilot Rogers E. Smith recalls flying the final SR-71 Blackbird flight and how a fuel leak grounded the aircraft forever. In this episode, we discuss his Can

Flying the First U.S. Harrier Combat Mission - Episode 64

Retired AV-8B Pilots Capt. Frank “Pugs” Smith and Lt. Col. Luke “Warren” Jacobs take us behind the iconic Jump Jet and its 40-year legacy. We are back with our regularly

Unlocking Asteroid Secrets - PBS S7 Miniseries Episode 4

How OSIRIS-REx's journey to Asteroid Bennu could reveal clues to the origins of life on Earth. Welcome to the finale of our 4-part bonus podcast miniseries on the makin

50 Years of the F-16 - PBS S7 Miniseries Episode 3

How the F-16 became a combat legend around the world, and what it takes to build them. Welcome to Part 3 of our 4-part bonus podcast miniseries on the making of Behind t