Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot · History

Fighter Pilot Podcast

The Fighter Pilot Podcast explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, the emerging technologies, and most importantly—the people. Most episodes feature a guest who helps explain military aviation topics such from Vietnam shoot down stories to how AI is changing air combat. If you love the roar of a high-speed flyby or are enamored by the poise and confidence of the brave men and women who fly, fix, and fight these amazing aircraft, then this show is for you!

Episodes

FPP210 - 600knots Through Chicago: From F-22 Raptor to Reinvention

06 Mar 2026

1h 11m

FPP209 - When (and Where) 5th Gen Simulation Meets Reality

20 Feb 2026

1h 6m

AI processed

The future of fighter pilot training is explored through a conversation with Douglas "Rosie" Rosenstock, a Marine fighter pilot, test pilot, and F-35 expert. Rosenstock emphasizes simulation as an augmentation to live flight, advocating for high-end sims to enhance training value. He recounts experiences testing the F-...

FPP208 - The Making of an Astronaut: From Fighter Test to the Edge of Space

06 Feb 2026

56m

FPP207 - Flying with the Algorithm: AI, Trust, and the F-35

23 Jan 2026

1h 19m

AI processed

The integration of AI and automation in aviation, particularly in fighter cockpits, is explored, questioning what it means to be a fighter pilot in an age of increasing technological augmentation. Lieutenant Colonel Raven LeClaire (callsign Rost) shares insights on balancing human ingenuity with complex technical data,...

FPP206 - Delivering the Future: Aviation Acquisition

09 Jan 2026

1h 13m

AI processed

The Fighter Pilot Podcast explores the intersection of airpower, technology acquisition, and the human element with guest Colonel Tim Ivey Spalding. Spalding, an active duty Air Force test pilot, shares insights on how his experience as a fighter pilot shapes his approach to military acquisitions, emphasizing the impor...

This Fighter Pilot Podcast episode commemorates the United States Marine Corps' 250th birthday by interviewing Doug Griffith, a former AH-1 Cobra pilot who served during Desert Storm. Griffith recounts his experiences in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, detailing the intense training regimen his unit underwent and their close ...