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Mike Drop

Top Gun Fighter Pilot Instructor Jack Stewart Part One | Mike Ritland Podcast Episode 166

Mike Drop

Mike Ritland

Society & Culture, Documentary, Politics, News

4.96.3K Ratings

🗓️ 24 December 2023

⏱️ 99 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jack Stewart always wanted to fly. Following in his pilot father's footsteps, he pursued a career in aviation at the U.S. Naval Academy before serving 23 years as a fighter pilot, flying combat missions from three different aircraft carriers and deploying to Afghanistan as a member of an Air Force Tactical Air Control Party. He's also a graduate of the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN, both for it's esteemed reputation of bringing up the finest dogfighters in the country, as well as the film series starring Tom Cruise, of course. When you tell people you graduated from TOPGUN, it doesn't take long for the conversation to wander from real-life situations to whimsical Hollywood schlock, because c'mon - who doesn't want to know more about TOPGUN? Is the real program anything like what's in the movies? What kind of flight risks are people not aware of, and how does new technology help make dogfighting safer in modern warfare? And most importantly - did Jack ever buzz the tower, or is that just Hollywood bunk? ---------- Get Your Copy of Jack's Book, 'Unknown Rider' on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/t33vbtyy Support Jack Stewart - Website: https://jackstewartbooks.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackstewartbooks X: https://twitter.com/JackStewartBook ---------- Sponsors: Contingency Medical Don't Wait! Go to https://www.contingencymedical.com/mikedrop now and enter promo code MIKEDROP for $20 off any pack! That's $20 off ANY pack at https://www.contingencymedical.com/mikedrop with promo code MIKEDROP! ---------- ZBiotics This holiday season, give your friends and family a gift they will actually want and use with ZBiotics. Go to zbiotics.com/MIKEDROP to get 15% off your first order when you use MIKEDROP at checkout. ZBiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee so if you’re unsatisfied for any reason, they’ll refund your money, no questions asked. Remember to head to https://www.zbiotics.com/mikedrop and use the code MIKEDROP at checkout for 15% off. Thank you ZBiotics for sponsoring this episode and our good times. ---------- WileyX Whether it is the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, shooting, working around the house, or putting in an honest day’s work on the job, Wiley X has you covered. Protect what matters… Stock up this Holiday season at https://www.wileyx.com ---------- Beam Take advantage of Beam's biggest sale of the year and get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to https://www.shopbeam.com/MIKEDROP and use promo code MIKEDROP at checkout! ---------- BUBS Naturals The BUBS namesake derives from Glen ‘BUB’ Doherty, who was heroically killed in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure seeking life that Glen lived. BUBS Naturals products are rooted in sustainably sourced ingredients and controlled consistency to provide our customers with the highest quality Collagen Protein & MCT Oil Powder that help you feel amazing and live a fuller life. Our mission is simple. FEEL GREAT. DO GOOD. 10% always goes back to charity, helping military men and women transition back into civilian life. Go to https://www.bubsnaturals.com and use code MIKEDROP for 20% off your order. ---------- Fueled by TeamDog | www.mikeritlandco.com | @Teamdog.pet ALL THINGS MIKE RITLAND: SHOP for Fueled By Team Dog Performance Dog Food, Treats, Apparel, Accessories, and Protection dogs - MikeRitlandCo.com - https://www.MikeRitlandCo.com Team Dog Online dog training - TeamDog.pet - https://www.TeamDog.pet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Mike Drop listeners, I want to take a quick second to just say thank you as we wrap this year up.

0:05.9

I want to say Merry Christmas. Happy holidays and happy new year. I hope everybody had a fruitful year and have a successful 2024. Most importantly I just want to thank you guys for

0:16.6

tuning in show after show and giving me an ability to bring you the amazing stories that these

0:22.2

incredible guests that come on this show have.

0:25.2

So from all of us here at the team at Mike Drop to all about all of you out there listeners.

0:31.7

Thank you. Merry, there, listeners.

0:32.6

Thank you.

0:33.6

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy new year.

0:37.9

And they looked at being like,

0:38.7

Stuart, you ready to go in the morning?

0:40.4

I was like, wait a second, the guy just just died but that was like my introduction to

0:44.4

naval aviation and you know combat aviation you don't stop because someone dies. I think flying is one of those things that some people treat like a science and some people treat like an art and for me it was an art. I mean I grew up around aviation.

0:59.4

Dad was a recreational pilot and so I'd always go flying with him it was just in my blood.

1:03.8

The number one reason is I just wanted to fly. I just wanted to fly fighter jets.

1:07.6

We would fly what's called combat spread which is about a mile apart. Having to look at your

1:11.3

airspeed, you're having to look at how much geez you're putting on the jet because it all affects the bomb's trajectory.

1:17.0

You pickle too early, you know, the bomb's not getting this target. You pickle too late.

1:20.0

You know, you can be caught in a frag pattern when you pull off. I remember looking around thinking

1:24.8

and I am in a jet on a boat in the middle of the ocean. This is the craziest thing I've ever done.

1:29.7

Still today I put our pilots against theirs and that's what it's going to come down to is the main in the cockpit. Welcome to Mike Drop, the podcast where relevancy is irrelevant and we don't give a

1:48.9

shit about your feelings. Ladies and gentlemen as always it's both an honor and a pleasure to welcome my next

1:55.9

guest to the podcast. We spent 11 years on active duty as an F-18 Hornet pilot 12

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