Marriage!!! Right On Lefty!!! My wife learned to fly as a young woman 50 + years ago. Several years ago I was pondering about something I could do as some short of gift. It came to mind she had a pilots license. I started proposing she take some lessons just to see if she still could fly. That lead to her renewing her license and then buying a 172. I lost my wife to a 172. I also lost her to snow skiing and scuba. Wife and Family first!!!
I really enjoy hearing this stuff. I never learned to fly but I’ve always loved military aviation. My dad was a B-25 instructor pilot in WWII. I have heat respect for him. He had the highest score in ground school. Had many aviation stories. Some funny. Some crazy. I grew up blocks from Gulfport Field on the Mississippi Gulf Coast watching ANG squadrons from F-84s as a young kid, through the century series as a teenager, later F-4s to F-16s as an adult. I am not there any more. Now I watch RUclips channels on aviation and really enjoy stories and pilot talk. I love fighters, read books about them as a kid and Aviation Week years later at the library. I read articles online and follow developments as much as I can. But there’s nothing like these stories of tall life experiences over a whole career. It’s very entertaining and relatable as we all have our ups and downs in whatever we do. It’s just great as an interested person without having ever been part of a flying community to be allowed in with you guys sharing this stuff. I really enjoy it!
I was fortunate to know Lefty, having followed him in VA94 and VA127. Still the same genuine great guy, and truly a family man. All the best shipmate. TD
As a guy that was a green shirt on the America I was one of the guys that ran out from under the plane just before the cat shot. The bridle was attached to a long brass strip with nylon lanyards. The brass strip was part of the Van Zelm machine, that’s what kept the bridle from going into the water. The Van Zelm machine retracted the bridle for the next shot.
Great interview Jell-O! Just like so many of your guests, Lefty is such a great personality and a humble guy. It’s also great to see the show growing continually and consistently reaching new heights. All the best FPP team and thank you for the quality content!
Ejected 3 times..my bet your talking J Reddish. Went thru VA122 with him. Great guy. We called him the 9 million dollar man (since the A7 was 3 Mill a copy). Luckiest guy I knew. Always wondered what happened to him
I grew up and went to school just a mile south of Lambert Field and would spend many summer days watching F-4s & F-15s taking off from the park nearby you could watch them go vertical after take off mainly F-15s going vertical also F-18s & AV8s
I'm a former F14 AE. What is that mode called that on the Cat makes the rudders point inward on the Hornet? Is it activated by WOW and throttles at full power? Lefty is a great guest, enjoyed it very much, thanks.
Purely entertaining. However, every pilot I know has the same number of landings as takeoffs. It's just some of them didn't bring the aircraft back with them.
Marriage!!! Right On Lefty!!! My wife learned to fly as a young woman 50 + years ago. Several years ago I was pondering about something I could do as some short of gift. It came to mind she had a pilots license. I started proposing she take some lessons just to see if she still could fly. That lead to her renewing her license and then buying a 172. I lost my wife to a 172. I also lost her to snow skiing and scuba. Wife and Family first!!!
Lefty's the best. I have a feeling he undersold his abilities as an aviator by a wide margin. Humble to the T. Well done Jell-O.
I really enjoy hearing this stuff. I never learned to fly but I’ve always loved military aviation. My dad was a B-25 instructor pilot in WWII. I have heat respect for him. He had the highest score in ground school. Had many aviation stories. Some funny. Some crazy. I grew up blocks from Gulfport Field on the Mississippi Gulf Coast watching ANG squadrons from F-84s as a young kid, through the century series as a teenager, later F-4s to F-16s as an adult. I am not there any more. Now I watch RUclips channels on aviation and really enjoy stories and pilot talk. I love fighters, read books about them as a kid and Aviation Week years later at the library. I read articles online and follow developments as much as I can. But there’s nothing like these stories of tall life experiences over a whole career. It’s very entertaining and relatable as we all have our ups and downs in whatever we do. It’s just great as an interested person without having ever been part of a flying community to be allowed in with you guys sharing this stuff. I really enjoy it!
This whole thing is very enjoyable. Not just a man being interviewed the one conducting it. Thank you
Appreciate the realness of this episode. There’s a lot of family separation and real world pucker factor.
Jell-O 1 Arrival hahaha . Thanks great episode !
🤪
I was fortunate to know Lefty, having followed him in VA94 and VA127. Still the same genuine great guy, and truly a family man.
All the best shipmate. TD
As a guy that was a green shirt on the America I was one of the guys that ran out from under the plane just before the cat shot. The bridle was attached to a long brass strip with nylon lanyards. The brass strip was part of the Van Zelm machine, that’s what kept the bridle from going into the water. The Van Zelm machine retracted the bridle for the next shot.
Good to know! Was I crazy about how many deckhands ran out from under while in tension? Seemed like a lot.
Ty fellas! Awesome my grandfather was a 3 gen pilot. So cool. I really appreciate it Vincent! You are a natural.
The video format is fantastic, Jell-O. Am watching this while, coincidentally, wearing my VFA-25 t-shirt. Lol. “Lefty” is a great interview. Cheers!
Thanks, Matt!
Great interview. Lefty has enjoyed a great career.
Lefty, you're the man!! Junior
Great Episode, Vincent. A terrific personality and wonderful storyteller.
Agreed, thanks!
I really enjoyed this interview. With a career that long and a show this short I bet he has more to tell. Hope to see him again.
Well put!
Great show guys. It was always great listening to my dad and his Air Force buddies talk about their flight incidents.
Your dad is quite the storyteller!
Thank you for the discussion and for sharing your experiences. I appreciated Lefty's down-to-earth approach, very relatable.
He's quite a guy and a better representation of a typical fighter pilot than anything Hollywood depicts.
Great interview Jell-O! Just like so many of your guests, Lefty is such a great personality and a humble guy. It’s also great to see the show growing continually and consistently reaching new heights. All the best FPP team and thank you for the quality content!
Thank you, Manjot! 🙏
Another excellent cast. Thanks
Fantastic stuff once again Jello!
His personality is great for this kind of interview. Enjoyed it!
Great conversation Jell-o..Thank you as always!
Very good episode for naval aviation nuts..
It’s great to see you guys doing this staff.. for us, it’s like a master class. Respect!…Congrats for this, and thanks a lot.
Outstanding, Jell-o!! Thanks.
"A lesser man would have died... but a better pilot would have fewer stories."
_Nice._
I am pretty sure we have only heard the tip of the iceberg of Lefty's stories. Let's hear part two!
That was a great chat👍
Thanks.
A great interview. Lefty is full of wisdom.
Great stories❤
Great interview
Thanks
Congrats on reaching the 100K mark!
Thanks! 🎉
Ejected 3 times..my bet your talking J Reddish. Went thru VA122 with him. Great guy. We called him the 9 million dollar man (since the A7 was 3 Mill a copy). Luckiest guy I knew. Always wondered what happened to him
I grew up and went to school just a mile south of Lambert Field and would spend many summer days watching F-4s & F-15s taking off from the park nearby you could watch them go vertical after take off mainly F-15s going vertical also F-18s & AV8s
💪
I'm a former F14 AE. What is that mode called that on the Cat makes the rudders point inward on the Hornet? Is it activated by WOW and throttles at full power? Lefty is a great guest, enjoyed it very much, thanks.
Hey I'm Jerry from St.louis too.
Small world!
...wait, your profile says "Luke"
@@FighterPilotPodcast yeah Luke the drifter is an old inside joke stage name of my brothers 🤣🤣🤣
Purely entertaining.
However, every pilot I know has the same number of landings as takeoffs. It's just some of them didn't bring the aircraft back with them.
🤔
Stolen A4?..ha,, did not know that...I recall the stolen A10 that disappear and was later found crashed into the mountain...
theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-the-marine-mechanic-who-stole-an-a-4m-skyhawk-for-a-joyride/
"Pigpen" vs Grubbo!
Can you explain?
Being a lesser, I concur!
Hah--nothing personal!
@@FighterPilotPodcast 😅
YCBAR
But you can beat it red 😉
I got to see that airshow crash while stationed at El Toro. Embarrassing is a good way to describe it. I was there when the A-4 got stolen as well.
😳