About this episode
A former F-14 Naval Aviator communicates the military aviation experience through his novels, videos, and writing. In the news, the Rolls-Royce all-electric airplane appears to have set three world records, an F-35B crash, flight attendant bonuses for the holiday travel season, flying under the influence, and an open rotor engine demonstrator program. Plus, an Across the Pond segment. Guest Ward Carroll is a former F-14 Naval Aviator who spent 20 years as an F-14 Radar Intercept Officer. He is the author of the bestselling Punk trilogy about life in an F-14 squadron. Punk’s Fight , Punk’s War , and the new Punk’s Wing are widely considered to be realistic portrayals of naval aviators in the context of a techno-thriller. In his novels, Ward creates characters that are recognizable as representatives of real people doing real jobs. As an example, through his female character, Ward confronts the issues surrounding the integration of women into the Tomcat community. Ward’s YouTube channel has grown to be very popular and gets much of his focus these days. He talks, as he says, about “airplanes, music, and writing . . . but mostly airplanes.” In our aviation news segment, Ward shares the perspectives of a Naval Aviator as we discuss the recent F-35B crash after takeoff from a British aircraft carrier. Outside the Navy, Ward has extensive experience as a military journalist. He was editor of Military.com and Approach magazine , and writes for the US Naval Institute . Besides his passion for aviation, Ward is a lover of music and plays in the band MiLES FRoM CLEVeR. Find Ward at his YouTube channel . The Punk’s books are available on Amazon.com and on the U.S. Naval Institute website. Video: The Real Truth About F-14 Tomcats and the Achille Lauro Hijacking https://youtu.be/G9HsaAn5BLY Mentioned: C.W. Lemoine’s YouTube Channel Aviation News Rolls-Royce says its all-electric aircraft ‘is world’s fastest’ In test runs, the Rolls-Royce “Spirit of Innovation” electric airplane has flown 387.4 mph (623 km/h). The company believes they have set three all-electric world records and await verification from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): top speed over 3 km of 345.4 mph, top speed over 15 km of 330 mph, and time to climb to 3,000 meters of 202 seconds. Video: Rolls-Royce | Spirit of Innovation – the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft https://youtu.be/kd-RDX1IjuM The ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is part of the ACCEL ( Accelerating the Electrification of Flight ) project and is based on the Nemesis NXT airframe. F-35 From The Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Has Crashed Into The Sea The pilot safely ejected from the F-35B (the STOVL version) in the eastern Mediterranean shortly after takeoff from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. See: Probe after British F-35 fighter crashes in Mediterranean . Other F-35 crashes: Marine Corps F-35B Has Crashed Near MCAS Beaufort In South Carolina Remains Of Japanese F-35 Pilot Found As Search Is Called Off For Crashed Aircraft Video Emerges Of Marine F-35B Crashing In A Ball Of Fire After Colliding With A KC-130J All The Ways The F-35 Tried To Kill Its Pilot Prior To Eglin AFB Crash JetBlue dangles $1,000 attendance bonuses for flight attendants ahead of holiday rush According to a company memo, JetBlue Airways flight attendants could earn a $1,000 attendance bonus if they don’t call out through early January. Meanwhile, if they meet attendance goals, Southwest Airlines will provide flight attendants and some other operations employees 120,000 points in the airline’s frequent flyer program. American Airlines flight attendants can earn pay bonuses for peak holiday trips as well as for meeting attendance goals through early next year. $1,000 bonuses are available to other staff and regional airline subsidiaries. Drunk airline pilot who nearly flew from UK to US was four times legal limit A 63-year-old United Airlines pilot was arrested after being found four times over the legal limit. After drinking whiskey at a Glasgow pub during a 2019 layover, the man became fall-over drunk. A concerned member of the public tipped off the airline with a Tweet. The pilot was sentenced to 10 months in jail. RISE Tech Plan Could Feed CFM Leap-1 Upgrades Through 2020s GE Aviation and Safran launched the Revolutionary Innovations for Sustainable Engines (RISE) initiative in 2021. This open-fan demonstrator program anticipates a mid-2030s application. It could also feed technologies to the LEAP-1 turbofan engine. The open rotor design features a second stage of fixed variable pitch stators, a fan-drive gear system, a compact high-pressure core for increased thermodynamic efficiency, waste exhaust heat used to preheat combustion air, and ceramic matrix composites in the hot section. Across the Pond Aviation from the European perspective with Pieter Johnson. A twin-engine training aircraft developed from the Vickers Valetta R.A.F. Varsity Aircraft (Unauthorised Flight) Aviation Safety Network Links to the Coastal Command series Two Vickers Varsity T Mk 1 aircraft – Copyright BAE Systems and Ron Smith Trusted Traveler Programs Our Main(e) Man Micah recently wrote a piece for Johnny Jet explaining the five Trusted Traveler Programs available in the USA through Homeland Security, and an announcement about NEXUS appointments: Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You? You Can Now Schedule a NEXUS Appointment Hosts this episode: Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, Max Trescott, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.