So There I Was . . .

In this episode, we speak with Bart, a retired two-star general and Harrier pilot, as he shares his incredible journey from discovering his passion for aviation through ROTC to his experiences in the Gulf War, where he was shot down and taken prisoner. Bart recounts humorous anecdotes from flight school, the challenges of flying Harriers, and the camaraderie of military life. He reflects on the impact of his service, advocacy […]

This week on So There I Was, we continue our conversation with retired Marine Colonel and aviator extraordinaire, Baron. He shares how his career progressed after his initial experiences in the Iranian desert, covering his involvement in the development of the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor program. Baron recounts his journey back to Yuma, where he eventually became the commanding officer of HMM-361. He also discusses his time as […]

Baron joins us to tell of a harrowing story of survival during his first tour in Vietnam. After an engine exploded mid-flight, shrapnel tore through the aircraft, leaving the crew struggling to maintain altitude. With one engine failing and the other insufficient to keep them airborne, they made an emergency landing at Camp Eagle, narrowly avoiding disaster. The episode then explores how this veteran’s career in aviation began in high […]

Dominique Prinet, author and legendary bush pilot, recounts his harrowing experiences navigating the remote and unforgiving Canadian Arctic. Born in France just prior to World War II, Prinet’s passion for aviation began as a child watching aerial dogfights overhead. He shares captivating stories of his bush flying career, where he faced life-threatening situations, including flying overloaded planes, navigating without reliable instruments near the North Pole, and surviving plane crashes in […]

We’re thrilled to have Beef join us to share his incredible journey. From his formative days at Annapolis, where his roommate ‘Swede’ (featured in episode 115) introduced him to his sister, to his passion for motocross racing, and his impressive flying career with the S-3 and the Hornet. We’ll also dive into his experience as the Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels. This motivational speaker has some fantastic stories to […]

This week features guest S.A.M., a Marine F-18 pilot with an impressive and unconventional career. ‘Sam’ shares stories from his time in the Marine Corps, including his journey from having a ground contract to aviator; the unexpected challenges of military aviation; and a memorable deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He discusses the intricacies of flying combat missions, the challenges of carrier operations, and his eventual transition from an NFO to […]

We’re Baaack! So There I Was—the podcast where the stories are real, and sometimes, the lessons come from unlikely sources. Like this week’s gem: ever been told that even a monkey could do your job? Our guest, LoJack, sure has. When he was scrambling to get his private pilot’s license in just two months, his flight instructor looked him dead in the eye and said, “I could teach a monkey […]

So There I Was – It’s how ALL Great Aviation Tales Begin… This is a replay of episode 28: The Boss is HAM’N – Listen to Lawman and learn what it’s like to be a Blue Angel – from the camaraderie to the pranks they played on each other to the unbelievably close bonds they formed as they trusted each other with their very lives multiple times daily for years. […]

So There I Was – It’s how ALL Great Aviation Tales Begin… This is episode 119. This is a replay of episode 64 – You’re Going to Have to Talk Me Out. This tells the tale of how ‘One-Eye’ extricated himself and 10 other wounded Marines from a scalding hot LZ (Landing Zone) in Vietnam. Not only should he not have been able to fly, none of those Marines should […]