Sat, Dec 19, 2020
As a Tomcat RIO Ward is very aware the circumstances of Goose's death in 'Tomgun'. He explains in detail how a Tomcat can enter a flat spin and the ejection process concluding that the events shown are possible. In fact, a similar incident occurred and ejection procedures were modified to prevent it.
Tue, Dec 22, 2020
Ward shares his experience with exams from his year as a cadet at the US Naval Academy. By intent a cadet cannot complete all the study time necessary for his course load so he must learn to prioritize. He also needs to learn how to study efficiently which generally leads to reviewing tests used in classes in prior years known as the 'gouge files'. In some cases the professors my use the same exams year after year which presents cadets with a gray area as to whether it is cheating to study using those tests.
Mon, Apr 19, 2021
Right or wrong, Hollywood is great at creating teachable moments and the move "Tomgun" is a great example. Here Ward reviews 'Topgun' for technical errors involving tactics, procedures, flight dynamics and the aircraft to give his viewers a closer look at what it's like to fly a Tomcat.
Sun, May 9, 2021
There is more to aerial combat that just dog-fighting. There is physical conditioning that a pilot needs to maintain. It is critical to have a detailed understanding of the performance characteristics of your aircraft and really helpful to know the bandit's aircraft and it's performance characteristics so you know what maneuvers are favorable to you. And you're not done after an engagement. You need to take notes and prepare for a debriefing.
Mon, May 31, 2021
In the 1980s Ward participated in Projet Contant Peg at Tonopah air field in Nevada. There the Air Force had accumulated several MiG-17s, MiG-21s and MiG-23s for fighter crews to train against. Ward explains some of the surprising tactics he learned there. Needless to say this was a highly secret program. Years later it was revealed that it was also a cover for an even more secret program; pilot training for the F-117 stealth fighter.
Sun, Jun 20, 2021
This sequel to Ward's '21 Cringeworthy Errors in the Movie TOP GUN' might be re-titled how to lose your wings. Here are several things you do not want to do as a pilot if you don't want to be grounded. And for the pilot that can't make up his mind there are missiles transmuting into a different missile in flight and a tail hook that disappears at an inconvenient time.
Mon, Jul 5, 2021
In combat, and everywhere else, fighter pilots are referred to by their call signs. Limited to two syllable for quick verbalization in aerial combat, they are informally assigned by other aviators often in jest. Ward shares the stories of how he and some of his buddies received their call signs.
Sat, Jul 10, 2021
Ward discusses a 1944 film entitled "The Fighting Lady." This academy award documentary was created for the home front to demonstrate the war fighting abilities of the US Navy in the Pacific. It features the exploits of the USS Yorktown from it's launch up to the decisive Battle of the Philipine Sea with actual combat footage.
Wed, Oct 27, 2021
Ward is concerned that the habitually slow DoD acquisition process cannot keep up with the Russian and Chinese threats since it is already falling behind on some critical technologies. He discusses the details of the Next Generation Air Dominance program in depth and questions how it will be implemented.
Wed, Jan 5, 2022
Ward shares the supersonic experience starting with a detailed explanation of what it means and how it's achieved. His explanation is supplemented with several videos of fighter jets flying at transonic and supersonic speeds and finally his descriptions of the most dramatic supersonic demonstrations he's ever seen.
Fri, Jan 13, 2023
Russia's aircraft carrier Kuznetsov is technically an aircraft carrying heavy cruiser with a dozen anti-ship missile launch tubes and a take off ramp for low speed fighter jet launches. Renamed four times before becoming operational it was destined for trouble according to maritime superstition. In this case superstition proved true.
Thu, Nov 23, 2023
Dr. Justin Bronk shares some observations flying with various NATO air forces in recent months. In his view all the air forces are very professional and proficient in the fundamentals. The challenges he sees are largely due to their political environment training space limitations and ambitions scope of mission responsibilities that impact depth of training and thereby depth of skills.