Episode 30 - America's Secret MiG-23s

An American MiG-23 pilot reveals long-held secrets in this in-depth conversation about a declassified program, Constant Peg.

On today's show, we’ll meet John Mann who flew in the first-of-its-kind adversary training program, Constant Peg, and take a deep dive into some of the most popular questions we got from you, our listeners. Established in 1977, this top-secret program aimed to train American pilots against the very same MiGs they may one day see in combat. Mann was an instructor who flew the MiG-21 and 23, and co-host John Barry flew in the program as a trainee. This one is going to be cool!

If you missed Part One, check that out on Wings Over the Rockies YouTube channel: America's Secret MiG-23s | Behind the Wings - YouTube.

Episode 30 marks the end of Season 3 of the Behind the Wings Podcast. We'll be taking a short break and will be back in the new year for Season 4.

Key Takeaways:

• John Mann served 24 years in the US Air Force where he had the opportunity to fly many aircraft, including the F-4, F-15, MiG-21, and MiG-23.
• Mann first flew as a trainee at Constant Peg and later flew the MiGs as a trainer.
• The MiG-23 was a very fast, beefy airplane, but it didn't turn well.
• Pilots would attend to overcome "Buck Fever", learn how the MiGs flew, and practice dogfighting.
• The maintainers at Constant Peg were the backbone of the program, facing specific challenges sourcing parts, with no maintenance book, and often receiving aircraft that were in a compromised condition.
• John Mann's advice: There are lots of opportunities in aviation. Go pursue your dreams!

Resources:

• Red Eagles: America’s Secret MiGs by Steve Davies
• CONSTANT PEG: Secret MiGs in the Desert > National Museum of the United States Air Force™ > Display (af.mil)
• Red Eagle Brief
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MLD "Flogger" | Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (wingsmuseum.org)
• Dark Eagles : a history of top secret U.S. aircraft programs
• AF Declassifies Elite Aggressor Program (archive.org)

What is Behind the Wings?

Wings Over the Rockies has a new podcast! Based on our hit YouTube and PBS series of the same name, the Behind the Wings podcast will cover everything from aviation history to the future of space exploration with thought leaders and experts in the industry. This one's going to be cool!