Over the past few years here on the fighter pilot podcast, we've talked about fourth and fifth generation fighters.

We've talked about air to air and surface terrain missiles. We've even touched on training concepts like augmented reality and the latest instrumentation pods.

Well, to really tie all this together, to train to the high end fight, as we call it, requires ingenuity.

After all, we can't just go out and buy the latest enemy aircraft or surface-tear missile and a lot of our training ranges just aren't physically large enough for every scenario.

Plus, you don't want to just shoot down real aircraft all day long.

Hello, everyone. My name is Vincent Iolo, call sign Jell-O, and today I want to introduce you to the team at the San Diego-based Cubic Corporation, who is working on a live virtual constructive solution to these daunting training challenges.

Joining me today is retired U.S. Navy Captain Paul Averna. How's it going, PK?

Awesome. Thanks for having me, Jell-O.

Oh, you're welcome. And also on the line is retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Tim Weldy. Welcome, Gofer.

Hello, Jell-O.

All right. Well, hey, before discussing current training paradigms, let's get to know you, Jell-O.

PK, we'll start with you. What did you do in the Navy?

Let's see. Earth-cooled dinosaurs came once they were able to catch me and then end up going through flight school down Pensacola, bevelled and up to Oceana for Tomkats.

Stayed with the community for about 10 years, finished up as the training officer over there at Swatsland, got a chance to be an instructor over at the WTI as well at MOTS.

And then went into the reserve side and ended up being a requirements guy up at the Pentagon for a while and then did a couple disassociated fun things retiring back in 2016 from the late.

Well, that's pretty impressive and thanks for your service. How long have you been a cubic?

This is actually today the anniversary of my third year cubic, so.

All right. Fantastic. Gofer, how about you? What did you do in the Air Force? What's your own, my mother?

Well, Jell, I was born into this trade, so I happened to be a third generation aviator. My grandfather was a B-17 pilot. He was a POW during World War II.

All three of his sons were fighter pilots, and so I grew into this trade. I had to. I was an F-15E Wizzo. I spent 22 years in the Air Force flying the strike eagle.

Probably the highlight of my career as I was able to command the first F-35 Tessenee Val Squadron. It was both Air Force and Navy, and it was responsible for all the Tessenee Val, the centrifusion on the mission data.

When I retired out of the Air Force, I joined cubic. It's the only other company I've worked for besides the Air Force that I've been with cubic now for six years.

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