Behind the Wings Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum™

In 1996, astronaut Tom Henricks became the first Space Shuttle pilot/commander to log 1,000 hours in space.
 
Tom tells us about his time as an F-4 pilot and F-16 test pilot, astronaut training, flying four Space Shuttle missions including two as a commander, and the challenges of landing at Mach 25. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:
Tom's love of aviation started when he bought an airplane ride near his family's farm.Tom graduated number one in his weapons and test pilot school. After applying four times, Tom was selected to be a NASA astronaut in 1985.Tom flew to space four times on missions STS-44, 55, 70, and 78. They ran experiments, deployed satellites, and did some early testing that later would help build the International Space Station.The Space Shuttle reenters the atmosphere at Mach 25, making it very complicated to land successfully. Tom landed the Shuttle on his last two missions.At the time, STS-78 was the longest space mission to date at 405 hours. Later that same year, STS-80 broke its record by 19 hours.Tom is excited about the future of Artemis and hopes someday he may even step on the Moon.Resources:
Tom Henricks NASA Bio Tom Henricks Wiki Page 

From aggressor training to the F-15, the United States military addressed several shortcomings after the Vietnam War.
Today, we are excited to speak with a retired F-4 and F-15 fighter pilot, Colonel Dick Anderegg. In this episode, Dick tells us about his time in Vietnam, the mistakes the US air military made during the war, the lessons learned along the way, and the changes that sprung from them. There is a lot to learn in this episode!
Key Takeaways:
Dick joined the Air Force to train to be a commercial airline pilot. He quickly caught the fighter bug and chose to fly the F-4 Phantom instead.Dick's book Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Decade After Vietnam talks about the major changes the United States military made after the Vietnam War.During the Vietnam War, the United States changed the F-4 training program in an effort to acquire more pilots.Dick tells about his first interaction with laser-guided bombs and how it changed air warfare.The Vietnam era is often attributed with inadequate pilot training. Trainings would leave out several exercises due to aircraft loss concerns. Veterans from the Vietnam War later changed some of the training shortfalls by creating exercises like the Red Flag program.The F-15 was a vast improvement from the F-4. Dick wrote in his book that "As soon as an F-4 pilot sat in the cockpit, he noticed its efficient design." Regardless of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, Dick thinks there is a future for human fighter pilots.Resources:
Dick Anderegg Air Force Bio Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Decade After Vietnam 

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we explore the critical challenges pilots face while suffering from mental health issues and discuss possible individual and organizational solutions.
Our guests are United Airlines Pilot, Troy Merritt, and Neurologist and Aircrew Brain Health Researcher, Dr. William "Billy" Hoffman. Troy discusses his personal experience of grounding himself due to mental health issues and explains the pilot mental health paradox. Dr. Hoffman draws on his research and medical experience with mental health in aviation to help us understand the efforts being made by researchers and the broader aviation community to bridge the gap for pilots and the industry as a whole. There is a lot to learn in this episode!
Key Takeaways:
Pilots have two options; disclose their mental health issues to the FAA and become grounded or keep them secret and continue flying while untreated. Many pilots will face this paradox at some point in their flying career.Troy suffered from anxiety and depression and chose to ground himself in 2022. He found a doctor who prescribed SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and is already on the application pathway to fly again.Special Issuances are given to pilots who are approved to fly, despite their current health problems.Troy encourages all who are suffering from mental illness to seek treatment. Even talking to a therapist as a "life coach" is a great first step that doesn't alert the FAA.Billy continues to research with pilots and participate in conversations on how to better approach mental health problems in aviation.This paradox isn't limited to mental health. Many pilots also keep physical ailments to themselves or seek treatment without alerting the FAA.The FAA has set up a mental health rules committee to research and possibly change some regulations.Resources:
Pilots say they're afraid to seek mental health care. The FAA says it's listening - NPR The Pilot’s Pandemic Podcast Pilots hide mental health issues so they don’t ‘lose their wings’ - Washington Post 

Explore the evolution of cabin safety and learn how it could save your life.
 
Today, we are excited to talk with retired Cabin Safety Specialist, and Wings Over the Rockies Volunteer, Denisekaren "DK" Deaderick. DK has been in this field for over 40 years and was the first Black woman to hold the position of FAA Cabin Safety Inspector. In this episode, we learn what exactly cabin safety is, how it has changed alongside advancements in technology, and how new regulations and rules are shaping the industry today. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
DK got her start in aviation as a flight attendant for North Central Airlines.Throughout her career, she has written a flight attendant manual, had multiple programs approved by the FAA, and even has her own rule enforced by the FAA that allows passengers to bring portable oxygen concentrators onboard.Cabin safety personnel support the operation of the aircraft by monitoring cabin hazards and risks.DK encourages all passengers to read every safety card as each airplane model has different emergency procedures.Despite the technical errors that Boeing aircraft have been facing, DK believes that they are working hard to fix the problems. In general, commercial airplanes are still the safest form of travel.Commercial space travel is right around the corner, and with it, a whole new set of cabin safety rules and regulations. DK hopes there is a future for flight attendants onboard space flights.Cabin safety jobs will always be relevant and necessary, and DK encourages listeners to pursue a career in this field.Resources:
DK’s Website FAA Cabin Safety Website IATA Cabin Safety Website 

Today, in celebration of National Volunteer Month, we are excited to speak with Wings Over the Rockies volunteer, Phil Mentesana. Phil shares personal stories about his time as an Electronic Warfare Officer on the B-52, flying the F-4 in Vietnam, and his time as a captain for United Airlines. He has many firsts in his career including being a part of the first B-52 missions to engage in combat during Operation Arc Light in Vietnam, leading Operation Linebacker I in the F-4, and so much more. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
Phil wanted to be a pilot but elected to go to Navigation training first, earning a spot as an Electronic Warfare Officer onboard the B-52 Stratofortress.While stationed on the B-52, he was a part of the first B-52 combat missions in Vietnam, flying in Operation Arc Light. On the first mission, two B-52s collided in the middle of a storm when trying to refuel.Phil finally got his chance to fly when he was reaching the age limit for pilot training. After training, his fighter pick was the F-4 Phantom.Phil went back to combat in Vietnam, this time flying the F-4. While there, he led the F-4 squadrons in Operation Linebacker I and had 14 SAMs shot at him in less than 15 minutes.After he retired from the Air Force, he went on to pilot for United Airlines. He flew every plane model they had at the time.Phil came to volunteer at Wings Over the Rockies to give back to the aviation career that treated him so well.Resources:
Operation Linebacker Operation Arc Light 

A first-of-its-kind virtual reality spacewalk experience. 
 
Space Explorers: THE INFINITE is a captivating immersive journey inspired by NASA missions aboard the International Space Station. Join us as we hear from creator Félix Lajeunesse who tells us how THE INFINITE project got started, how they filmed and created this experience, working with astronauts, and the unique challenges they faced making virtual reality content on the International Space Station. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
THE INFINITE experience gives audiences breathtaking 360-degree views of Earth, displays scenes from life aboard the ISS, and allows guests to perform their very own spacewalk, all through virtual reality technology.This project is the first virtual reality experience filmed in space onboard the ISS.THE INFINITE faced many challenges while filming, needing to consider camera temperatures, radiation, and so much more.In this experience, you can interact with astronauts who helped film such as spacewalking, experimenting, and even having dinner.The Overview Effect is a common experience among astronauts when traveling to space. The term, first coined by author Frank White, describes a cognitive shift commonly experienced when someone sees the Earth from space for the first time. People often describe feeling a sense of one-ness, that the Earth is precious, and sheer awe in the Earth’s beauty, all of which can be experienced in THE INFINITE.Félix Lajeunesse aims to continue filming with NASA to document and create more experiences on the Moon and beyond.You can visit Space Explorers: THE INFINITE in Denver until May 5th, 2024!Resources:
Félix Lajeunesse: What it’s like to film VR on the ISS ‘The Infinite’ Virtual Reality Exhibit Offers a Taste of Life in Outer Space THE INFINITE Experience Denver