Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!
Will a former Army Aviator and CIA officer pass out or throw-up for his first flight in a jet?! This episode is best viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/RbyWbRWXky4 because it's all flying and exploring the L-39 jet and Patriots Jet Team hangar.
Strap in for a high-octane adventure with the Patriots Jet Team, the ONLY civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the United States!
Ryan is taking Combat Story on a thrilling journey in an L-39 Soviet Jet with the legendary pilot, Scott "Intake" Kartvedt. They're gearing up and rehearsing for a heart-pounding performance at the Sonoma NASCAR race, and you've got a front-row seat (well...it's a the backseat of the L-39 actually)! Before we take off, we get some insider tips from Ryan "Stinger" Fishel, Active Duty F-15 fighter pilot and former guest on the podcast (https://youtu.be/4jP3U2nHFUw - 400K views), on how to handle the intense G-forces during the flight and what to eat before getting in the cockpit.
Will Ryan keep his cool (and his lunch) as they pull 7-8 G's for 45 minutes? Fasten your seatbelts and find out!
We also hear from Kevin "K2" LaRosa Jr, a sought after Hollywood aerial coordinator and stunt pilot who was handpicked by Tom Cruise to choreograph Top Gun:Maverick (he was also behind the scenes and/or in the cockpit for Avengers, Iron Man, and over 100 other movies and TV shows)!
Next, we whisk you away on an exclusive tour of the Patriots Jet Team Hangar, a veritable Aladdin's cave of aviation wonders and also the world's greatest man cave! From sleek jets to Hollywood stunt aircraft, this hangar is a treasure trove. And the pièce de résistance? A bar made from a Russian Mig Wing or the "Help Me" sign used by Tom Cruise and James Corden when they go flying in Randy's aircraft (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1iZtBM23bY)?!
Enter Randy "Howler" Howell, the owner of the Patriots Jet Team. With decades of flying experience, Randy is more than a pilot; he's an aviation legend who taught his son to fly solo at the tender age of eight! When Tom Cruise need a stunt pilot for Top Gun:Maverick, he chose Randy Howell. Safety is paramount when you're flying with the Patriots Jet Team! We go through an awesome emergency procedure for a heart-stopping ejection process (I call it the turn and dump).
Then, it's time to take to the skies. Experience the adrenaline rush of formation flying, high-speed maneuvers, and the thrill of going inverted (many times!). Ryan even gets a chance to take the controls which is not unlike his days flying the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter!
Despite a bout of nausea (an occupational hazard!), Ryan revels in the exhilarating experience of getting back in the cockpit again. As we touch down from this wild ride, we invite you to become part of the Patriots Jet Team legacy through sponsorship opportunities. Plus, don't miss out on Combat Story's previous interviews with these legends (Randy, Kevin, Intake, and Stinger). So, are you ready to defy gravity with us? Tune in, hold tight, and enjoy the ride!
Special thanks to Joey Amtman for incredible editing and Four Winds Creative (filming). Find
Ryan Online:
Find Scott "Intake" Kartvedt Online:
Find Randy Howell Online:
Find Kevin LaRosa Online:
Patriots Jet Team Instagram: @rhowlerhowell, @scottKartvedt, @deanwright15, @epic_flying, @patriotsjetuprt, @lovell.cory, @mtemby, @rings_patriotsjet, @mamainiero, @aviatrixemmy, @minijetmojoh2o, @stellantsystems, @dragonfly.films, @flygoodyear, @concordebatterycorp, @pjt_foundation
Timeline: