So There I Was artwork

Aviation · Chuck Newton and Pete Harmon

So There I Was

by Chuck Newton and Pete Harmon

So There I Was” is a weekly aviation podcast and YouTube show featuring true pilot stories from fighter pilots, airline captains, helicopter pilots, and other military and civilian aviators. “So – There I was.” It’s how ALL great aviation tales begin! Join hosts Fig and Repete as they bring in some great aviation raconteurs to relate the glamorous, hilarious, poignant, tragic, and incredible tales of aviation. Fig and Repete met more than 30 years ago as Marine Attack pilots in Marine Attack Squadron VMA‑223 flying the AV‑8B Harrier II. Both have since gone on to careers in the majors. Realizing that they are around the most accomplished professionals in aviation with amazing stories to tell, they decided these stories are too good to be kept quiet. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll laugh until you cry, but you’ll never be bored!

Chart trend

Position in the Aviation chart (US), last 90 days.

#12
all-time peak
620
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Semper Gumby: Remembering Sticks Episode 228

#18 trending · Aviation

This week's episode honors Coast Guard rescue pilot John "Sticks" Hall with his brother-in-law's eulogy and son Tyler's letter, plus a night-divert tale from Stretch off

Sep 3
1 h 09 min

I Never Exceeded 5' Episode 227

5 Feet — that’s the altitude Roadrunner held on a self-appointed decoy mission in Vietnam, and it’s the heart of Episode 227. It’s also the reason he walked away with a B

Aug 27
1 h 37 min

Semper Paratus, Farewell Sticks Episode 226

Farewell Sticks is the hardest episode we’ve ever had to record. On August 20th, we lost our friend, producer, and co-host John “Sticks” Hall in a small plane crash near

Aug 21
13 min

Flight Path: He Who Dies with the Most Laugh Wrinkles Wins Episode 225

Retired C-141 pilot and author Chill-Rob McD joins Fig and RePete for a night of Starlifter chaos: a Dutch roll at 35,000 feet, a mid-air fight with a runaway yaw damper,

Aug 20
1 h 35 min

Race to the Shear Switch Episode 224

Race to the Shear Switch is exactly what it sounds like. You either cut the cable, or the cable decides your night for you. On Episode 224, retired Coast Guard helicopter

Aug 13
1 h 33 min

Coasties in Space Episode 223

This week’s Coast Guard aviation stories come courtesy of a special guest co-host: Deuce, a newly retired Coast Guard aviator (and, briefly, the service’s senior space at

Aug 6
1 h 25 min

Seeing it Through Episode 222

An update on Fig's serious crash and injuries and an AMAZING story of heroism under fire in Vietnam!

Jul 30
1 h 26 min

Lt. Jones Needs a Ride Episode 221

RePete opens the show and a call with Sticks about buying an airplane. Apparently, Sticks needed an airplane-shaped hole in his finances! Before that, two quick health ch

Jul 23
38 min

Fig's Health Update

Fig was involved in a serious crash on Thursday - 16 July. A Short update on his condition.

Jul 18
7 min

Putty, Lawman, Gallo and Candyman Episode 220

Putty talks Camp Bastion Attack in Sept of 2012, Lawman describes the most legitimate ejection ever made and Candyman talks traffic tickets in a war zone!

Jul 16
32 min

Put a Booger on the Winshield Episode 219

Marine Corps aviator Maui (call sign Cobra-31) joins RePete and Fig for stories spanning three decades of naval aviation: serving under Colonel Don Conroy — the real-life

Jul 9
1 h 39 min

Harrier Sundown: Monster and Rizzo’s Stories Episode 218

In Episode 218 of So There I Was, Fig & RePete bring listeners two stories recorded live at the Harrier Sundown gathering in North Carolina. First up is "Monster," one of

Jul 2
35 min

We Declined to Apologize for Returning Fire Episode 217

Marine Cobra pilot X-Man flew combat in both Grenada and Beirut — in the same month. He walks RePete and Fig through his path from a test pilot neighbor in Northern Virgi

Jun 25
1 h 24 min

Crossing the Pond: No, Really! Episode 216

This week’s episode was recorded live at King Mackerel’s Beach Tavern Bar & Grill in Moorehead City, NC, right after the historic Harrier Sundown Ceremony at Cherry Point

Jun 18
20 min

Scrape a Hole and Hang On: Buggsy's on Welded Wing Episode 215

Buggsy joins us to talk Flight school, Joining the Navy, Flying Harriers, Sundown Ceremony and more!

Jun 11
59 min

Trainwreck Episode 214

A near mid-ground collision by Strecken and

Jun 5
32 min

Don't Bother Logging It Episode 213

Col Bill Wehrung - Horny sits with us to talk Naval Academy, Marine Aviation - including 235 combat missions in Vietnam, getting hit twice and an amazing career spanning

May 28
1 h 24 min

Belly Up on Lead: The Growler Midair Episode 212

Fig & RePete go over several aviation topics - including the F/A-18 Growler Mid Air collision in Mountain Home Idaho, last week.

May 21
34 min

I Can't Run That Far Episode 211

Brain joins us to talk Flight School, Harriers, Drones and F-35s! Funny, touching... Don't miss this Great American!

May 14
2 h 07 min

I Flew Through the Afterburner Plume 'cuz I Heard It Episode 210

Bonk, Top Gun, Marine MAWTS-1 and Test Pilot Stories kick off with him bobbing in the Pacific after less than 500 flight hours in total flight time! Actually, that’s just

May 7
1 h 46 min

Chart positions

Where So There I Was ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 6, 2026).

#21 Aviation US

More podcasts like So There I Was

Popular shows in Aviation, for your next listen.

Browse charts by category

Daily updated Apple Podcasts rankings for the United States.

About So There I Was on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of So There I Was, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

Questions or issues? Reach us at hello@reason.fm

0:000:00