So There I Was

Naval aviation stories rarely go as planned. This episode of So There I Was features Matt “Taco” Bell sharing his wildest moments… This episode of So There I Was delivers multiple “wait, what?” moments from Matt “Taco” Bell, from getting in trouble over a low transition (yeah… that didn’t go well), to realizing just how terrifying it is to be the instructors’ instructor in Kingsville, to being “in the barrel” at night trying to get aboard the boat. And talk about a small world?!?! — The jumpseat story hits. Consequently, this is one of those episodes where every segment somehow tops the last.

Episode 203 Highlights

Low Transition Trouble: Taco shares a naval aviation story about a flight maneuver that went lower than expected and the debrief that followed.

Kingsville Instruction: Insights into the high-stakes environment of training the next generation of Navy pilots.

Night Carrier Landings: A firsthand account of being “in the barrel” and the precision required for night operations.

The Jumpseat Story: A unique connection that proves how small the aviation community really is.

If you enjoyed these naval aviation stories, check out our previous episodes featuring F-14, F-18, and A-6 Intruder pilots. Each episode of So There I Was brings you the raw, unscripted reality of life in the cockpit.

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#aviation #navalaviation #pilotstories

Nasty’s worst day Navy starts when a young Tomcat hopeful hears “you’re a qual” on the radio, then “you’re a disqual” at the ladder. Consequently, that gut punch on the Lex knocks his timeline off, pairs him with Bug Roach, and quietly sets the stage to help save two lives later. Actually, he walks from Key West heartbreak in a TA-4J Skyhawk to the bridge of Nimitz, with failures, promotions, and a near-buoy strike with an admiral watching. Furthermore, he digs into rules of engagement over Afghanistan, AI-driven factories that can out-build China, and why straight, honest leadership keeps people alive at sea and in combat. The “wait, what?” is how Nasty’s worst day Navy becomes the best thing that ever happened to his career, and to a couple of people who are still breathing because of it.

Adm Manazir Commanded the USS Nimitz
Adm. Manazir’s Leadership Maxims

This week we acknowledge the tragic loss of RS-2 Tyler Jaggers US Coast Guard. Please consider donating to help support his family in this difficult time: https://tinyurl.com/tylerjaggers

He Heard Me Go By pilot story comes from Navy pilot Stretch Curran, who flew the massive A-3 / EA-3 Skywarrior “Whale,” the largest jet routinely launched from aircraft carriers.

In Episode 201 of So There I Was, Stretch joins us for a wide-ranging hangar-talk conversation about flying the Whale from carriers, the realities of multi-crew naval aviation, and the kind of moments that make pilots stop talking for a second.

Furthermore, Stretch describes launching at night from USS Midway when an electrical fire and system failures suddenly complicate the mission. Consequently the crew must stabilize a very large jet in darkness and poor weather while troubleshooting failures in real time.

But that’s only one of the stories.

The episode also explores the unique world of EA-3 electronic warfare missions, life operating the largest aircraft ever routinely flown from carrier decks, and the culture of the Whale community.

Then comes the moment that gave the episode its title.

During one maneuver another pilot later reported he “heard me go by.”

Wait… what?

Consequently the conversation turns to close passes, crowded training airspace, and the kind of unexpected moments that become legendary sea stories.

If you enjoy naval aviation stories, carrier flying, and ridiculous pilot bar stories, Episode 201 delivers all of it.

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#navypilot #aviationpodcast #a3skywarrior #carrieraviation #navalaviation #militaryaviation #pilotstory #aviationstory #carrierlanding #aviationhistory #navyaviation #aviationlife #aviationgeek #fighterpilotstories #sothereiwas

Royce Williams Medal of Honor recipient joins the show to recount a legendary tale. Imagine bringing a knife to a gunfight. In this case, the knife is a subsonic F9F Panther. Furthermore, the guns are seven Soviet MiG-15s. This was just a typical Tuesday for Captain Royce Williams.  

In this episode, we unpack a 35-minute dogfight hidden for half a century. The government kept it secret to avoid a “diplomatic risk.” Consequently, we dive into how Royce used his underpowered jet like a ballerina. He dodged 760 rounds of Russian spite. Then, he limped back to the carrier in a jet that looked like Swiss cheese.  

Actually, this is the greatest naval aviation story you weren’t allowed to hear for fifty years. It finally features a new Medal of Honor and 73 years of “I told you so.” If you’ve ever wondered how a lone naval aviator survives a supersonic ambush, this is for you. We explore pure pilot skill and aggressive engine management.  

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#MedalOfHonor #KoreanWar #MiG15 #NavalAviation #Dogfight #F9FPanther #AviationHistory #PilotStories #AviationPodcast #RoyceWilliams #NavyHero #DogfightStories #MilitaryAviation #FlightTest #FighterPilot

This aviation podcast episode explores real pilot stories, flight safety lessons, and ATC coordination. We dive into the extreme demands of flying high-performance military aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird.  

SR-71 pilot stories don’t get much better than this. On this episode of So There I Was, we sit down with BC Thomas. As the highest-time SR-71 Blackbird pilot in history, BC discusses Mach-3 flying and flight test insanity. He shares the kind of aviation decision-making that only happens at 80,000 feet while moving faster than a rifle round.  

From WWII Inspiration to the Cold War Ready Room

BC’s journey began with early inspiration during WWII. His career spanned flying the KC-135, C-130, and F-104 before he eventually strapped into the legendary Blackbird. This episode offers a front-row seat to Cold War aviation history. We tell these SR-71 Blackbird test pilot stories the way they sounded in the ready room: honest, irreverent, and occasionally unbelievable.  

BC explains what it takes to earn a seat in the Blackbird. The process requires months of systems training and intense blindfold cockpit checks. He describes a safety culture where experts dissect mistakes with surgical precision.  

Surviving Mach-3 Unstarts and Hangar Mishaps

In this interview, you’ll hear about Mach-3 unstarts that try to swap ends with the airplane. BC also recounts his F-104 “zoom rocket” adventures and the intense pressure of test pilot school. These SR-71 Blackbird test pilot stories even cover why flying the world’s fastest jet can leave you mildly disappointed when nobody shoots at you.  

Surprisingly, BC’s closest call didn’t happen at high altitude. It happened while he was sliding sideways across a hangar floor at a walking pace. He found himself pointed directly at a blast fence in a multi-million dollar jet.  

Why You Should Listen to This Aviation Podcast

If you enjoy SR-71 Blackbird test pilot stories, this episode is packed with aviation storytelling and pilot lessons. It delivers the kind of safety wisdom that only comes from flying the most demanding aircraft ever built. Listen in to hear how BC survived these high-stakes missions long enough to laugh about them.

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#SR71 #blackbird #aviation