"Paco" Geisler - 500 MiG-21 Sorties - CONSTANT PEG Q&A
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2024
- Paco Geisler flew 500 CONSTANT PEG MiG-21 sorties during his time as a 4477th TES Red Eagle.
To celebrate the impending release of the the "Constant Peg" campaign for DCS - a collaboration between Rob McCray and Steve Davies (Bunyap Simulations and 10 Percent True, respectively), join me as I talk to Paco about his experiences flying the MiG-21 as an elite RED AIR tactician on more sorties than any other Red Eagle.
Paco features heavily in the book Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs (see link below) and knows how to tell a cracking yarm. This could be interesting!
Discussion on Discord: / discord
Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs
![Libya Raider - Flying on El Dorado Canyon. Jim Jimenez [Full]](/img/1.gif)
Flew w Paco at 59th @ Eglin after he left Tonopah. One of the funniest MoFo's and best aviators on the planet...certainly the best Eagle BFMer I ever saw...great guy
Dick, he and I will be recording another session soon. You got any questions I should put to him ;)?
There is no way to adequately express how amazing it to keep coming back to 10 percent true and have it exceed your expectations EVERY TIME. Thank you Steve.
Thanks, Jim!
How very interesting he said that a well flown A4 was the toughest opponent and this from a man who clearly has a shed load of experience.
I really don't understand how this channel doesn't have at least a million subs. It's actually quite mind-blowing that this isn't the most popular military aviation podcase. The absolute gold standard in my opinion.
People would rather listen to some kid in an adult body pontificating about things they know nothing of, with polished filming and effects, background music, and weird accents or speech impediments for some reason.
34:33 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’m dying over here!!!!! Paco is one of the best story-tellers of all time. Hilarious! “You speak perfect English."
I want to hear more about Paco, this is one of the best interviews you've done. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Paco’s coming back on the channel. Expect something in April this year.
I'm with Paco's kids, I'm sure he did more!! Jajaja I'm now thinking he did go go the Moon, come on, one of the apex pilots in the world!!
My old man Capt Dana “Smudge” Potts, as a young LTJG had a hydraulic failure in a Tomcat A, he landed at Tonopah and was THE FIRST CREW not to get “Bagged”. Still got questioned but the 4477Th guys were really cool with him!
He later went back and graduated TopGun meeting the same guys again!
I hope and pray our pilots are still trained this way at this level.
Thank you for your service.
From what Ive heard they just stole a Su57, its now in dreamland.
That was AWESOME! Classic Paco! thanks Boss and Steve for sharing your time and stories.
Kluso, thanks for watching and thanks for the kind words!
this is such a great interview. Working my way through all your videos now. Great work.
Was an absolutely incredible experience. Was there from 81-85 as GCI flight commander. Paco was one of many unique "characters" in this program.
Billy, thanks for dropping by the livestream and for giving Paco the appropriate amount of shit!
Incredible experience indeed. BillyBear was a character himself, and a helluva a flight commander. As the youngest officer ever selected for this assignment it was an honor & a burden, as my mistress became Las Vegas NOT Nellis or the 4477th. Left soon after Billy's departure.. Thanks for the memories, Paco & BillyBear. PS: Do you remember this crazy Lieutenant? Smilin... Been an incredible journey since. Thanks for the memories, Paco & BillyBear...
@@RobertFitzpatrick-ck1ty Mongo of course I remember you, been a minute. Hope your "incredible journey" has been a positive one.
@@williambayer5387 Billy Bear, thank you for your kind reply. It has been a while, indeed. Found this random video, couple of days ago. Made me smile, then read the comments, couldn't help but reply. The journey has been a blessed one. Realized early in this tour. Great bunch of men, however the AF, is for pilots. So I moved on... Living at the beach on the beautiful Hidden Coast of Washington State, retarded or retired (can't figure out which, some things never change). Where are you, today? How is your family? Was nice to see your reply. Thank you.
I was a Bunyap (7th Fighter Sqdn, 49th Fighter Wing) in the late ‘80’s with the F-15’s at Holloman AFB. Later, I moved over to the Flying Knights (9th FS) just before the F-117’s arrived, when they deactivated and then reactivated the Tonopah squadrons (9th became the 415th). Then later again, they reverted back to the 7th, 8th, and 9th. For some reason, they changed Flying Knights to Iron Knights. I did a custom Bunyap poster for the 7th, which was on the wall at the squadron. Somebody “claimed” it for themselves when they deactivated. Wish I knew were it was.
Awesome interview, Paco entertaining as always. Really wished I'd been up fo the live feed. I'd have been dissapointed if I didn't hear the "Hat full" quip, but there were so many other "Paco-isms". In my 4 ops tours in the Eagle, with 11 different commanders, some great (Jumbo Wray, Bubba New, Gork Gorenc, Turk Hess), my time in the Gorillas with Paco as the commander, and the assmeblage of tactical prowess in that squadron was seminal. And he got us out to Nellis for the final Constant Peg! Should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the 58EFS, and the Crows and Lions that contributed in Desert Shield/Storm, was the Fighter Squadron that Paco built. Probably not so politically correct today, but Paco embodied the fighter pilot ethos and the weapons officer creedo that influenced all members of the Gorillas, and I think ultimately led to the sucess of the squadron in Desert Storm. It was a pleasure and a privelige to serve with Paco.
Not sure whether he monitors this chat, but I'll make sure he sees this. Thanks, Barney.
I was at TTR 85-88, on the black jets. I saw the FINI flight that came from behind the VIP's between the hangars from the runway side of the 117 hangars, I tell everyone about that! Awesome! The sonic booms were relentless, but it prepared me for my next assignment at Edwards, I hardly noticed them. When I was an Air Force Brat in the 60's at March AFB, they broke the sound barrier over public areas all the time, I was missing it.
Have not read all the comments but I think you should do a Mig-23/ 27 pilot interview. Love your podcasts. Thanks
This was fantastic, Paco is such a good interviewee.
Great interview, really fun to listen to these stories
About the best Interview out the hundred I have listened to. Informative, funny, great interview and interviewee... Thanks for your time making these videos....
He sounds just like a truck driver talkin ‘bout moving a big ol’ rig around, but that’s a great interview on air combat!
Yeah. Totally incongruous.
This is really fascinating. Thanks again, Steve & Paco.
Our pleasure :)
What another cool episode! Very well done to both of you! Had a good laugh on the intruder handling, fine flights and line badge fun! Interesting info on the satellite overflights as well. Somewhat a repeat of your book but boy, it's so great to hear it first hand. You need get more Eagles interviewed...another vote for Tom Morgenfeld to combine the Migs, Senior Trend, YF-22 crash etc.
Very interesting interview. What a character.
The Lt. perfect english story might be the funniest thing ever! Paco needs to write a book
How did I not find this video until now? So going to buy this campaign - I read two books on the Red Eagles, one is called Red Eagles (surprise) the other one is called Mig Squadron.....the guys who went out and flew these Migs (some of which had quite qustionable ejections seats) had balls the size of small moons! Luckily in DCS our ejection seats work!
Edit: I hope Paco does not play DCS multiplayer as I think he would crush me in my F-5E (not very interesting, but at an online event a squadron mate and I shot down 2 F-16s, we had a human GCI, and were very very low down south in Syria and were vectored towards 2 F-16s, they were on a ground attach mission and they made a big turn right in front of us and presented their tails, our AA-2s said - "yes please". I am sure the F-16 pilots were angry! But overall I die whenever I get in a dogfight with the Mig-21.
Terrific interview, Paco is such a character. I've watched or listened to nearly every video/podcast that 10 Percent True has done, and they are all excellent. Thank you for giving such enjoyment to a fascinating topic.
Thanks for listening, Mike. Paco will be back on the channel in a couple of months.
@@10percenttrue I agree great interviews but your volume is too low 10 % in almost all your vids. The interviewee's volume is fine.
Great episode. Never met Paco, but he was a legend in the F-15 world.
So excited to fly this campaign !
Great job as usual Steve. PM me as I’d like to discuss Bunyap’s DCS program and how to possibly re-create a few Red Eagle engagements from both sides. Awesome job. Thanks Paco.
Z! Thanks for tuning in. Message sent.
Another amazing oral history with another airpower legend. Thanks Steve!
Marco, thank you!
I was Intelligence Liaison for 3 of the Aggressor Squadrons from '80-84, and involved in the Constant Peg program. The highlights of my 23 years in the USAF! He mentioned Jack Manclark. I knew Jack Manclark when we were with the Aggressors.
That must have been a very demanding but rewarding job.
Fastest 2hrs ever. Awesome interview
By the way, I was a Bunyap at Holloman in the AT-38 after the Eagles left and before the 117s took over the lower numbers. Loved the Devil Bunnys!
I knew some clown that flew with the 7th, went by “Marco”, you know that guy?
I was in the CoonAss and got to fly against the Eglin guys in the F100 and the F4. Some great memories, and some terrific fights in Eagle G.
Great subject and interview
Thank you, Marco.
Enjoyed this, thanks guys
Glad you enjoyed it!
I served with Paco in the 405th Tac Training Wing at Luke AFB years ago. A great guy and a great American!
Fantastic show!!
Thank you, Joe.
Great interview, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it, George. Thanks for posting a comment.
@1:58:00 Paco's badass story of turning upside down his Mig-21, nose pointed to the ground and just going 750 knots! Steve, can you please ask Paco next time he's around, if he could go a little more in depth as to how exactly he felt and was going on in his mind as he flipped that MiG, nose pointed to the ground and just SPEED. Damn.. thanks for these conversations Steve
Will do!
This is the 2nd time I listened to this.
Just fantastic!! Thank You!
I saw PLENTY of those 21s at PS-66 from 85-87 and the 23s would IFE in ALL the time! Lots of Sonic Booms and ALWAYS a 38 chasing them! I was a 117 crew chief and flew at night and they would ONLY fly during the day! They could go home every day and we stayed at least Monday- Friday morning!
MiG21 we called F5's, 23's were referred to as F4's. 23's were leaky bruisers given to biting crew chiefs due to their low profile. The ejection systems in both were dicey.
Great show
Cheers, Joe.
very entertaining , better then watching top gun. reality always better then fiction.
Better than TopGun? Win!
Steve, I really wish you would have asked Paco if he ever had an engagement (in the Mig) in which he had his ass handed to him by one of the visiting pilots. He only alluded that the A-4M and Hornet were tough.
I'll put it on my list of follow up questions for next time :)
Another outstanding interview. It’s a crying shame that Paco didn’t get to lead the 58th into battle. Military place and time, but just damn. Judging by their performance, he had them honed to a very sharp edge. Very much looking forward to flying the DCS campaign.
35:35 sooooooooooooo funny ,I couldn't stop laughing ,amazing story from first person view ! Greetings from Poland ,love your channel...
Glad you enjoyed it!
I do have the patch of Red Eagles 4477 from a friend.
Please more of Paco
outstanding yet again.. Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs was a great book as well. when will there be an audio version?
Bill, thanks for taking the time to watch and share your kind feedback.
Oh, I forgot to answer the question about the audio version. Unhelpfully, the answer is: "I don't know!". Petition Osprey Publishing for one. They might oblige. My only condition would be that the narrator should be Paco.
I just wonder what Paco would have thought of the EEL. If the Mig 21 was a toy Hot Rod the EEL was a fully aerobatic capable Hot Rod.
Really enjoyed that some great stories I take it he wasn’t a fan of the Mig 23 😆
Yeah, I got that impression, too :D
@@10percenttrue I'm just curious to what extent Red Eagles pilots were aware that the MiG-23 that they were flying was a very limited export version, and had none of the capabilities of the Soviet/Warsaw Pact version?
@@user-lw8vn7zx2b I think that they were very aware of the limitations of what they had. The Aggressors, FTD, CIA et al all had subject matter experts dedicated to individual threat types, so they would be well versed on how a FISHBED C/E differed from a FISHBED J, and they would spend hours poring over images, defector interviews, COMMINT and so on developing a deep understanding of this stuff. Then there's the fact that the Red Hats were certainly operating more advanced versions of both the FLOGGER and FISHED, and the Red Eagles were given the chance to pop over to Groom to fly them ;)
Old school " real man " type fighter pilot .
Hi Steve, is there a reason this brilliant episode isn’t available on the Podcast channel? Is it because it was a live-stream? Cheers.
Hey, Cat. Exactly right - I don't have an mp3 version to upload to the podcast channels.
42:03 LOL
I can just imagine the language over the airwaves from Paco's cockpit after having his ass handed to him by a Buccaneer pilot at Red Flag !
LOL on the Flogger comments. Old School Fighter pilot right there - drinking a martini during the interview!
He is also totally unassuming in person. Expect him back on the channel in March.
I don't know what he means by "F7" versus "Mig21" is F7 a varient of Mig21? which variant is that? Great interview.
I found it :Chengdu J-7
That's the one!
Good Show Paco ! DrJ...Todd Zejdlik 65thAS
Dr J!! Been a long time my friend. How's your hockey game?! Still playing like an All-American?!
If Paco was a B-52 guy he'd be like Maj Kong.... cheers.
He tells quite a good story about telling his IP that he wanted to go to the B-52 out of pilot training ;)
Rob Zettel ! Wow. We should chat
Dr J! Good hearing from you even though virtually.
Todd, let’s hook up and catch up. Got something I’ve been working on that I think you’ll find interesting and I could use your help on.
What wrong with the MU-2?
Does it have a pointy nose? Is it powered by jet engines? Can it shoot stuff? 'Nuff said!
@@10percenttrue -_-
@@Z1PP00 that was the fighter pilot reply 😜
@@10percenttrue Yeah IKN. It's just that some of us can only look at the pointy ones from afar...
Paco comes off as a dumb jock which can be limiting career wise. Maybe not needed for the top pentagon job, but absolutely needed as the point of the spear. Fighter pilots need to be aggressive Type A but not reckless.. As an egg-head sometimes he sort of grates me but If war ever came to pass I'd want him leading and hope that his subordinates mirror his personality.