10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

Steve Davies
  • 5.0 (24)
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Interviews and anecdotes from military pilots and aircrew from across the globe. As the rule says, so long as it's 10 percent true, you're allowed to tell the story! Head over to the 10 Percent True YouTube channel to listen and watch at the same time.

  1. From Germany to Korea: Cold War Life in the F-4E Phantom

    2D AGO

    From Germany to Korea: Cold War Life in the F-4E Phantom

    Get the full episode: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list Pinbag Shaw | 10 Percent True | EP83 Part 2 In Part Two of our conversation, Thomas “Pinbag” Shaw takes us operational. From Korea to Germany, this is life in a Cold War Phantom squadron — where Victor Alert was real, nuclear strike planning was routine, and NATO air defence timelines were measured in minutes. In this episode we discuss: • What sitting nuclear Victor Alert actually meant • How QRA posture worked in Europe and the Pacific • Intercept geometry against Warsaw Pact aircraft • NATO strike planning and readiness discipline • The psychology of Cold War aircrew culture • Transitioning from Phantom to the Strike Eagle era This is Tactical Air Command at its most serious — a force built around the assumption that the next launch might not be an exercise. If you enjoy long-form, technical conversations with the people who flew the jets, subscribe and join the conversation. 0:00 Intro teaser – North Korean MiG-21 intercept 3:52 Welcome back, Pinbag 4:28 The Nellis influence 9:28 Leaving MacDill – SERE school 20:28 Korea and PACAF disposition 27:15 36th Fighter Squadron 33:35 Introduction to Korea 38:00 Areas of responsibility, command structure, and settling in 44:20 Training, digesting the vault, and other in-theatre assets and threats 49:10 Equipment – F-4E variants 53:25 Radar presentation, trade-offs, and features (TISEO, Combat Tree, Pave Spike) 1:04:44 Turnover of airframes 1:06:02 Operation Paul Bunyan – the axe-handle murders and redeployment of assets (including GBU-15 / AGM-65) for possible engagement with a tree 1:11:35 One year later – the Army’s turn and the lost Chinook 1:15:38 North Korean Air Force and South Korean MiGs (and Beagle) 1:26:12 AN-2s and skunk boats 1:27:30 How a prospective war would have unfolded 1:32:05 North Koreans in Vietnam; Soviets and North Koreans flying with the Egyptians 1:34:24 GCI and bullseye intercepts 1:36:50 Integration, improvement, and the prospective order of battle 1:40:40 Evolution in war planning and the birth of Large Force Employment 1:46:30 Lakenheath leadership influence and differences from PACAF 1:54:40 Battles over the Taiwan Strait and ROKAF checkouts – similarities and rumours 1:57:30 Alert story – possible SA-2 site 2:01:12 Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Program (including intro teaser story) and alert scramble

    28 min
  2. "You're in TAC, Now!" Flying the F-4 Phantom after Vietnam

    MAR 6

    "You're in TAC, Now!" Flying the F-4 Phantom after Vietnam

    Get the full episode: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list Pinbag Shaw | 10 Percent True | EP83 Part 1 Thomas “Pinbag” Shaw flew the F-4E Phantom II at a pivotal moment in USAF history. Commissioned during the draft era, he entered Tactical Air Command just as the Air Force was absorbing the hard lessons of Vietnam and rebuilding its fighter culture from the ground up. In this first part of our conversation, Pinbag explains: • Why the J79 smoked — and how crews worked around it • What Red Baron reports actually taught young Phantom crews • How Fighter Lead-In training at Holloman reshaped post-Vietnam tactics • The reality of Sparrow employment before modern radar displays • AIMVAL/ACEVAL and what it revealed about missile combat • Combat Tree, radar geometry, and “hot” vs “cold” scope discipline • Nuclear delivery training in the F-4E • And how a loose ejection seat pin bag became a permanent callsign We also explore the cultural side of 1970s Tactical Air Command — from Aggressor briefings to the infamous “vulnerability period” at the O-Club — and how the Air Force transitioned from the Vietnam experience into the F-15/F-16 era. This episode is a deep dive into Phantom air-to-air tactics, radar intercept mechanics, and fighter culture in the years between Vietnam and the Eagle. Part Two will take us operational — Korea, Germany, Victor Alert, and real-world air defence. If you enjoy long-form, technical conversations with the people who flew the jets, subscribe and join the conversation. 0:00 Intro teaser – O-Club tale 2:32 Welcome Pinbag and episode outline 4:25 Matthew’s subscriber question – smoky J79s 8:03 Visual acquisition ranges 8:45 Pinbag’s background and route to the Phantom (nav school and dreamsheets) 23:30 Dual controls question 26:28 Back to Holloman and dreamsheets 35:00 Off to Holloman AFB 38:32 Uniform standards – TAC style 40:45 Mandatory formation – O-Club 43:10 The “Green Door” 45:15 Leaving Holloman 46:17 Osan → Hahn → Nellis → Clark → Taegu → Lakenheath (after staff job) 49:25 Learning from Red Baron reports (classified material?) 51:25 TAC rules, callsigns, naming ceremonies, and the Doofer Book 53:20 “Opinions are like assholes…” 55:00 Fridays at the O-Club – bell rules and intro story 1:01:00 McDill for the F-4 RTU – O-Club and games 1:07:43 F-4 “of the day” – equipment fit, avionics, etc. 1:15:01 Combat Tree 1:21:20 Back to the RTU and a callsign story 1:26:02 Through the training phases 1:29:49 Back to day one 1:36:32 Why the air-to-air preference? 1:44:50 Navy terminology – tough for WSOs 1:48:28 Nuclear strike? 1:50:15 What was going on in TAC 1:58:04 Pave Spike 2:00:20 USAFE realignment, Ready Eagle, and DOC taskings 2:06:30 Sparrow developments

    30 min
  3. Could You Land an F-35B? Test Pilot Says Yes

    MAR 1

    Could You Land an F-35B? Test Pilot Says Yes

    Jif Paines | 10 Percent True | EP82Chapters Get the full episode: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list In this episode, former RAF Harrier pilot and X-35B test pilot “Jif” Paines explains how the F-35B’s revolutionary STOVL flight control system was born. From early Harrier night attack operations to experimental fly-by-wire research on the VAAC Harrier, Jif traces the technical and philosophical battle that led to Unified Flight Control — the system that made the F-35B dramatically easier to fly. Along the way he discusses: • Auto-eject systems and pilot safety philosophy • The lift-fan mechanics behind the F-35B’s STOVL capability • The X-35 concept demonstrations and engineering decisions behind them • Why automation can “de-skill” pilots — and why that may be necessary • How test pilots and engineers negotiate control authority • And why automation forces a fundamental rethink of the human role in combat aviation This conversation provides rare insight into test pilot culture, engineering decision-making, and the future of autonomous airpower. 0:00 “A stupid question?” 1:15 Welcome Jif 1:38 Auto-eject subscriber question (Sedlo) 4:24 Thanks to Super for the introduction 4:48 Jif’s introduction 11:40 Transferring TPS knowledge and skills to testing in the X-35 14:00 What decisions had been made before joining the program? 17:12 VAAC Harrier control laws and pilot resistance to the concepts being developed 20:15 Unified Flight Control explained 25:15 Engineering the “feel” for the pilot — reversion and safety features, de-skilling 31:10 “A stupid question?” 32:16 Integration of the control laws into the X-35 34:19 Lift-fan dynamics and operating process 37:00 Differences between flying the VAAC Harrier and the F-35 38:10 STOVL initially implemented in Harrier style — why? 40:22 Flying characteristics and aircraft feel 43:16 Exciting? 44:40 Transferring expertise to the X and F variants and defending Unified Flight Control 49:40 The Farley climb 53:50 The future of the pilot in military aviation 57:30 Thanks Jif (please return!)

    31 min
  4. Inside the Secret Barn: Restoring Britain’s First Mach 2 Jet

    FEB 27

    Inside the Secret Barn: Restoring Britain’s First Mach 2 Jet

    EE Lightning P1B | 10 Percent True | EP84 – Part 1 In a secret barn in East Anglia, former RAF Lightning pilot Ian “Blackie” Black reveals the extraordinary story of the very first English Electric Lightning P1B — the first British aircraft to reach Mach 2.Built by English Electric and flown by Battle of Britain ace Roland Beamont, this hand-built prototype marked Britain’s leap into the supersonic age. Decades later, after museum life, near-scrapping, and years hidden away, the aircraft is being painstakingly restored — with plans to unveil it publicly for the first time in 30 years. Blackie shares Lightning combat stories, Cold War memories, flying with his father, and what it really felt like to strap into Britain’s only true Mach 2 fighter. This is about preserving heritage and history — one step at a time.

    19 min
  5. How the Tornado Survived the Modern Battlefield | Luftwaffe Weapons School Insider

    FEB 20

    How the Tornado Survived the Modern Battlefield | Luftwaffe Weapons School Insider

    Mattes Kries 10 Percent True EP81 Part 2Former Luftwaffe Tornado IDS pilot and weapons school instructor Mattes Kries returns to break down how a Cold War–era strike aircraft was pushed far beyond its original design. From low-level nuclear strike doctrine to medium-altitude workarounds, “dumb” HARM employment, Red Flag and Nellis weapons school, and the arrival of TAURUS, this episode explores how crews compensated for limited kit with tactics, maths, and judgement. It’s a rare, insider look at German Tornado operations, weapons school culture, and the real cost of keeping legacy jets relevant.0:00 intro teaser 1:35 welcome back Mattes2:55 recognition of the “different breed”6:30 The state of tactics in the prevailing atmosphere and “fooling” the weapons computer (the value of a good weatherman)18:25 shortcomings distilled19:31 targeting and low to medium altitude…..24:15 and then with GPS27:27 reversion mode targeting feasibility 29:28 a sense among crews that Luftwaffe is lagging behind peers?34:16 why?37:50 squadron re-roll43:30 flying rates? 47:15 competency levels as a result? 53:30 losses57:42 weapons school1:08:45 how to counter a 4-ship of Eagles1:10:40 electronic attack systems 1:13:10 BFM phase1:19:00 bomb in face and other survival tactics1:21:12 HARM 1:26:08 upgrades incl datalink and Marineflieger cross pollination 1:31:50 intelligence, access to information on other platforms?1:39:18 instructing at the weapons school and lessons in leadership1:47:20 TAURUS1:53:00 opinions on Ukraine - SCALP assessment?1:58:33 low level2:07:05 Thank you Mattes!

    2h 10m
  6. Before the Weapons School: The Making of a Tornado Pilot

    FEB 6

    Before the Weapons School: The Making of a Tornado Pilot

    Mattes Kries | 10 Percent True | EP81 – Part 1 In this episode, Mattes Kries—a former Luftwaffe Tornado IDS pilot and weapons instructor—traces his career from a hard-won start in NATO jet training through frontline Tornado operations, weapons school, and senior tactics leadership. He explains how Germany’s Tornado force evolved from Cold War low-level nuclear strike toward conventional, medium-altitude employment; how lessons from U.S. and NATO exercises reshaped German tactics; and why culture, risk tolerance, and bureaucracy matter as much as hardware. Along the way, Mattes offers rare, candid insight into weapons school innovation, COMAO command without Link 16, live weapons integration, and the realities of training for combat in a force defined by safety-first constraints—grounded in vivid anecdotes and hard-earned lessons. Timestamps 00:00 – The Greek instructor teaser 01:58 – Welcome Mattes & Phil’s subscriber questions: inspiration and most exhilarating mission 12:05 – Matthew’s subscriber question: history and pride in the modern Luftwaffe 23:40 – Attachment to the past among today’s Luftwaffe personnel 29:10 – Starting out in the Luftwaffe 34:02 – F-4 ambitions—and why fate had other (good) ideas 41:28 – T-37 challenges (and the Greek instructor) 49:00 – Turning early struggles into long-term success 51:15 – Arrival on the Tornado at Büchel 56:40 – Tornado IDS: roles, weapons, and mission sets 1:05:35 – SIOP and nuclear strike planning 1:10:40 – The MW-1 weapon system 1:20:19 – Why the MW-1 was never fitted for training—and the power of German accountants 1:29:30 – Staying on the boom: tanker planning as a weapons school student 1:35:08 – Avoiding the KC-135 by design? 1:36:35 – Responding to Starbaby’s criticism of ECR capabilities vs decision-maker mindset 1:54:25 – Part 2 incoming

    1h 56m
  7. Why “Test Is Test” Gets Pilots Killed

    JAN 23

    Why “Test Is Test” Gets Pilots Killed

    Super Harris 10 Percent True EP80 P1In Part Two of this conversation, retired USAF Major General “Super” Harris moves from diagnosis to consequence, explaining how the erosion of developmental testing has already led to real-world accidents, wasted lives, and broken programmes. Drawing on his role as Air Force Test Center Commander, Harris dissects the Light Attack experiment, the fatal risks of mixing developmental and operational test, and why “test is test” is a dangerous fallacy. He contrasts government cost-plus failures with SpaceX’s self-funded test-to-failure model, explains how data—not rhetoric—keeps aircrew alive, and offers blunt assessments of programmes like KC-46, T-7, F-35, and the emerging F-47. The episode ends with a sober warning: great powers don’t usually fall from enemy action alone—they hollow themselves out by accepting broken systems as normal.0:00 intro teaser SpaceX failure a success2:55 welcome back Super and episode roadmap5:24 Revisiting the Light Attack “experiment” (See Starbaby Light Attack episode) the dangers of combined OT/DT 33:00 “Costs Plus” contracts (Starliner debacle vs SpaceX “successful failure”)41:40 IRAD (internal research and development) Holloman range story59:20 Minimum Viable Product - how “finished” does it have to be to commence DT1:02:11 the issue with in house testing 1:05:10 go have a banana? 😅1:05:35 bearing in mind the tribulations with T-7 & KC-46 - are all current programs similarly afflicted?1:15:04 tension between DT and OT?consequences thereof? 1:28:33 resigning from TPS1:42:10 light at the end of the tunnel?1:43:15 smaller company innovation - resistance to buyout? 1:46:50 government approach?1:49:35 the one guy in the marching band who is in step!1:51:50 briefly on F-351:54:50 Airbus Tankers/Foreign competition?1:59:40 F-47?2:08:25 Thanks Super, (please come back)

    2h 11m
  8. "Just Send It" - The Cancer of Military Acquisition

    JAN 9

    "Just Send It" - The Cancer of Military Acquisition

    Super Harris 10 Percent True EP80 P1In this wide-ranging and unvarnished conversation, retired USAF two-star General “Super” Harris explains how U.S. military acquisition and flight-test culture has changed since the end of the Cold War—and why he believes those changes are dangerous. Drawing on decades as an electronic warfare officer, developmental tester, squadron commander, and instructor at Test Pilot School, Harris lays out a four-stage framework charting the consolidation of defence contractors, the erosion of developmental and operational testing, the rise of concurrency, and today’s push toward “DevOps at the front line.” Using real examples—from the F-22’s infamous International Date Line failure to bomber weapons integration and modern naval systems—he argues that skipping test and accepting immature systems risks lives, credibility, and deterrence itself. It’s a candid, insider warning about how great powers lose their edge, and why testing still matters0:00 Support the channel0:37 Intro teaser4:09 Welcome back Super – framing the episode – Developmental/Operational testing today11:36 The Military Industrial Complex and Eisenhower’s mic drop15:42 the F-111 gone so EF-111 suffers by association – TPS graduate with nowhere to go! So B-1……23:57 black hats and white hats25:55 B-1 qualled but only there to “put the new thing on”28:12 SQN CDR highlights29:17 80 bomb load DT Graduation story (smiley face)34:21 flying a B-52 mission while watching Dr Strangelove39:22 win big – bad things happen….40:43 a litany of stupid (not all innovation is good)44:52 “the last supper” and its fallout (consolidation of corporations/contractors)50:07 the 4 stages (preview of coming attractions – intro teaser)58:22 who is “Col Nicholson”? – when ethics slide1:03:27 the right reasons….1:08:27 “acquisition reform” is not the problem1:14:52 FORD class failures – tail wags the dog – “the testers are the problem”1:20:04 Raptors, Deficiency Reports and across the date line to Kadena1:35:07 4Stars “wanting it so bad” (why hasn’t Steve seen A Christmas Story!)1:41:07 the “last” last question – the solution?1:46:57 previewing next episode

    1h 48m
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Interviews and anecdotes from military pilots and aircrew from across the globe. As the rule says, so long as it's 10 percent true, you're allowed to tell the story! Head over to the 10 Percent True YouTube channel to listen and watch at the same time.

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