NFL Alum and Pilot Jimmy Graham shares stories about stunt flying and how it helped him relax when off the field.

In this episode, we discuss how Jimmy earned his pilot certificates during his football career, airshow aerobatics, and his restored Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey and 1957 Army Beaver. We also explore Jimmy's role as Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, and his commitment to inspiring future aviators. From the discipline of professional football to the focus required in the cockpit, this one is going to be cool!

Resources:

• Jimmy Graham Bio
• EAA Bio
• Young Eagles
• Bell UH-1H Iroquois Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)
• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Fact Sheet (Wikipedia)

Chapters:

• (00:00) - – Welcome to Behind the Wings
• (01:04) - – Meet Jimmy Graham: NFL Star, Pilot & Aviation Advocate
• (01:29) - – Football vs Flying: Discipline, Checklists & Preparation
• (04:18) - – Early Aviation Inspiration: Top Gun, Military Roots & the A-10
• (05:52) - – College Years: Miami, Academics & Life Choices
• (07:25) - – Bernie Kosar & the Unexpected Path to the NFL
• (08:55) - – From Fourth-String to Draft Day
• (09:44) - – First Huddle with Drew Brees
• (10:29) - – Career Highlights: Seattle, Green Bay & Chicago
• (11:04) - – Motivation Shift: From Survival to Serving Others
• (12:11) - – Why Start Flight School During an NFL Career
• (14:00) - – Ten Offseasons, Ten Licenses
• (15:12) - – The Reality of Flight Training & Checkrides
• (17:01) - – Aviation as a Lifelong Education
• (19:20) - – Decision-Making Under Pressure: Cockpit vs Game Day
• (20:30) - – First Aerobatic Flight: “Inverted Over an Island”
• (21:16) - – Young Eagles: Sparking a Love of Flight
• (23:08) - – Aviation as Therapy After Football
• (25:44) - – Seaplanes, the Beaver & the Vietnam-Era Huey
• (28:36) - – Growing Young Eagles & Creating Possibility
• (32:31) - – Airshows, Aerobatics & What’s Next
• (35:33) - - Advice
• (37:33) - - Outro

Retired Fighter Pilot Lt. Col. Tammy Barlette shares how flying the A-10 prepared her for operating UAVs like the MQ-1.

In this episode, she discusses the Warthog's capabilities, combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, controlling the Predator and Reaper drones, returning to jets after a spinal injury, and how she now shares lessons from the flight deck as a mental performance trainer. As air superiority continues to shift from cockpits to control rooms, we get an inside look at why the pilot's role is more complex than ever before. This one is going to be cool!

Resources:

• Athena’s Voice (Tammy's Speaking Website)
• Crosscheck Mental Performance (Tammy's Training Website)
• A-10 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)
• MQ-1 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)
• MQ-9 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:21) - Balancing Perfectionism
• (02:26) - Aviation Beginnings
• (03:44) - Tammy's Pilot Journey
• (05:15) - Flying the T-37
• (06:53) - Selecting the Warthog
• (08:22) - From ROTC to the Cockpit
• (09:26) - Flying the Thunderbolt II
• (10:13) - Favorite Stories
• (12:17) - A-10 Capabilities
• (13:28) - Close Air Support Training
• (14:18) - Transitioning to UAVs
• (15:59) - Flying the Predator
• (17:58) - MQ-1 Capabilities
• (19:09) - Separating Missions and Personal Life
• (20:15) - Combat in Iraq and Afghanistan
• (22:24) - Weapons School and the MQ-9
• (26:03) - Changing Policies
• (26:59) - From Jets to Drones to Jets Again
• (27:54) - Flying Mistakes
• (29:52) - Aircraft Performances
• (30:36) - The Future of Uncrewed Aircraft
• (31:22) - Mental Performance Training
• (35:50) - Tammy's Advice
• (36:45) - Outro

Retired Test Pilot Rogers E. Smith recalls flying the final SR-71 Blackbird flight and how a fuel leak grounded the aircraft forever.

In this episode, we discuss his Canadian and American military careers, flying experimental aircraft for NASA, and piloting a MiG-25 at 80,000 feet in Russia. From first to fourth-generation fighters, Rogers has flown nearly every U.S. jet and then some, all without ever attending a formal test pilot school. This one is going to be cool!

Resources:

• Rogers' Website
• Rogers Smith's Bio (Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame)
• Rogers' SR-71 Career Synopsis (NASA)
• SR-71 Fact Sheet (National Museum of the US Air Force)
• Bell X-22 (Wikipedia)
• X-29 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Aircraft (NASA)

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:20) - Aviation Beginnings
• (02:47) - Flying the F-86
• (04:32) - From First to Fourth Generation Fighters
• (05:06) - How Jet Capabilities Evolved
• (08:58) - Becoming a Test Pilot
• (09:56) - Favorite Airplane
• (11:04) - The Bell X-22
• (12:34) - The Grumman X-29
• (15:16) - Joining NASA
• (18:37) - Flying at 85,000 Feet
• (22:16) - The Cockpit View
• (23:40) - SR-71 Research and Testing
• (27:44) - The Last Blackbird Flight
• (29:40) - The Russian‑American Flight Exchange
• (36:52) - Flying the MiG-25
• (37:34) - Rogers' Advice
• (40:32) - Outro