Go inside Constant Peg, the once-secret Cold War program that gave American fighter pilots the rare opportunity to train against real Soviet MiG aircraft.
In this special bonus episode, get a full-length lecture from former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot John Mann. A veteran of the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and Operation Desert Storm, Mann flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s with the Red Eagles during Constant Peg. He shares an extraordinary firsthand account of the aircraft, people and training program that transformed American air combat preparation.
What you'll hear:
- Lessons from Vietnam: Why the U.S. Air Force reexamined its aircraft, weapons and fighter training
- The origins of Constant Peg: How real Soviet aircraft became part of a highly classified adversary program
- Meeting the MiGs: Mann’s first encounter with MiG-17 and MiG-21 aircraft during training
- Flying the MiG-21: Its impressive turning ability, unforgiving handling and unconventional cockpit systems
- Inside the MiG-23: Tremendous speed, variable-sweep wings and dangerous flight characteristics
- Training against the real threat: How Constant Peg taught American pilots to recognize and counter Soviet aircraft
- The maintenance heroes: How crews kept unfamiliar MiGs flying without factory support, technical manuals or standard replacement parts
- Risk and secrecy: The strict security rules, hazardous test flights and sacrifices behind the Red Eagles program
- Preparing for Desert Storm: How realistic adversary training helped give American aircrews a decisive advantage
- See the aircraft: Learn more about the MiG-23 on display at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
Learn More:
- Visit Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum to see the MiG-23
- Donate to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
- Subscribe and leave a review to support the show
This episode is supported in part by United Airlines.