About this episode
What really happens when a U.S. Marine fighter pilot faces off with a Russian MiG-29 at 8Gs? In this week’s episode of Urban Valor, we sit down with Major Ed Rush, a decorated Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of tactical flight time and over 50 combat missions under his belt. Raised by a legendary basketball coach and an NBA referee, Ed’s journey took him from a high-pressure family legacy to the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, he shares how a lie at a bar landed him in the Marines, what it feels like to be shot at during takeoff, and the second-by-second breakdown of an epic simulated dogfight against a Russian MiG-29. Ed didn’t just fly F/A-18s—he became the #1 dogfighting instructor in the Marine Corps, helped shape the F-35 training program, and later launched a successful entrepreneurial career by applying fighter pilot tactics to leadership and life. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Video Chapters: 00:00 Surviving 8G Combat Against a MiG-29 00:18 Meet Ed Rush: Marine Corps Major & F/A-18 Pilot 01:00 Growing Up in a Family of Legends 09:29 A Lie That Changed His Life 16:32 First Steps into the Marine Corps 30:20 Flying the Legendary F/A-18 Hornet 44:40 Breaking Down the MiG-29 Dogfight 59:14 The Most Dangerous Moments in Combat Flying 1:08:41 Balancing War & Fatherhood 1:15:10 From Warfighter to Online Entrepreneur 1:24:13 Ed Rush’s Advice on Finding Purpose After Service #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines #warstories