F-14D in Iraqi Freedom - Hanky Cunningham

Special thanks to Jim for his indexing:

EP#62 Full

0:00 Intro, “Hanky’s” background and a taste of things to come
2:55 The training pipeline
6:12 Analogue training aids - learning the hard way
9:25 In the back of the T-39 Saberliner
10:10 Starting with the Tomcat but looking over the horizon to the Super Hornet
12:55 The D
18:45 Maturity of the platform in 2003
20:18 A word from our sponsor
21:00 Fleet defense is over CAS/Strike is now but BFM remains
27:15 CRM & Pilot RIO contract
33:05 “Hard crewing?”
34:15 Coming aboard the Boat, in the backseat
37:55 Pilot competency?
39:40 F-14D in combat circa 2003/4
42:25 CAS - mission, training and tools
52:05 Rover
58:55 Combat deployment and memorable moments
1:05:45 Threat levels in theatre
1:08:07 Job satisfaction from asymmetric warfare?
1:11:35 Weaponeering
1:16:30 Is the knowledge and learning carried forward through deployments?
1:20:25 Super Hornet when?
1:21:45 Hornets by Mandate, Tomcats by choice?
1:26:42 The “FNG” experience?
1:29:25 The Muscle car vs the Minivan a comparison
1:35:50 Mission capable rates
1:40:00 IRST
1:43:45 TOPGUN WSO experience
1:47:20 the LAST last question….

[JeremyD]

So glad these episodes are rolling again! Thanks to you and your guest taking the time to inform us and enrich our dreams of aviation! Cheers

[laMoort]

Wonderful questions and equally wonderful answers, probably the best tomcat specific episode anywhere on the net!
Thank you very much for your time ❤

[sviking]

That part about the line of code for the Radar was very interesting.

[eicjc]

Great stuff again Steve. Hope to see Hanky on the channel again soon.

[richskinns]

Another excellent episode- thank you Hanky and Steve.

[airplane]

A great shame that the Tomcat is no more in the USN. The SuperHornet doesnt have the range, endurance, climb rate and payload of the F14. I only hope this doesn't prove disasterous in a future war!

[jackstheraptor]

Enjoyed the new episode! Great stuff about the mighty F-14D. Still on the Puck side. F-14D is superior to this tiny Hornets with all those fancy software codes n stuff :))

[stretch]

Call sign "Hanky"🫢
The mind boggles 🤔

[robertpace]

I'm with Hanky, no to Top Gun 3. The sequel had amazing flight cinematography, third act was great because Tomcat, but that is it.

[elnach]

What a letdown to go from the SuperTomcat to the SuperHornet.

[DarkOmenX]

Great interview and NO to TG3 with what?? Drone pukes and Amys Nitendo jets? I'll pass.