Rephonic
Artwork for Aircrew Interview

Aircrew Interview

Mike Young
RAF
Mental Health
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
F-16
Tornado
US Air Force
Buccaneer
Air Force
Aviation
Tornado F3
F-14 Tomcat
S-3b Viking
Veterans Affairs
International Test Pilot School
Hawker Hunter
F-15
F-15a
Air National Guard
Naval Aviation

Interviews with past and present aircrew of both military and civilian types. © Aircrew Interview, all rights reserved

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes419Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureAviation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Aircrew Interview

Latest Episodes

Send us Fan Mail

Former USN Tomcat pilot, Brent shares what life was like in a F-14A fleet squadron with plenty of detail for all you Tomcat and Navy fans out there!

*Pick up one of our patches -  ebay.us/m/B0gs3i

Help to keep the channel go... more

Send us Fan Mail

Rob "Z-Man" Zettel shares what it was like to fly the MiG-23 Flogger with the "Red Eagles" with plenty of good stories throughout!

We also chat about his book "American MiG Pilot" which you can pick up via the link below.

Pick up Z-... more

Send us Fan Mail

Former USAF F-4 Phantom and F-5 aggressor pilot, Rob "Z-Man" Zettel shares how he came to fly the MiG-21 in the very secret programme for the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron aka the "Red Eagles" which includes some great insight... more

Send us Fan Mail

Former Harrier and C-17 pilot, Matt Doncaster shares what it was like to be a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) at the Empire Test Pilot School flying the Tucano, Hawk T1, Alpha Jet, Andover and more!

Check out the Harrier GR7 proje... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Afterburn Podcast
The Afterburn PodcastJohn "Rain" Waters
Fighter Pilot Podcast
Fighter Pilot PodcastE. Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, Retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot
Combat Story
Combat StoryAJ Pasciuti

Recent Guests

Rob Zettel
Author and former USAF pilot who flew the MiG-23 in the Red Eagles program
Author of American MiG Pilot; former USAF pilot
Episode: AI # 418 : USAF Pilot Flies The MiG-23 Flogger | Rob “Z-Man” Zettel *PART 2*
Matt Doncaster
Former RAF C-17 pilot and interview guest
Royal Air Force
Episode: AI # 415 : Harrier GR7 to C-17 Globemaster | Matt Doncaster *PART 1*
Manolis "Lou" Lourakis
Former F-16 pilot with experience in the Hellenic Air Force
Hellenic Air Force
Episode: AI # 348 : Flying the Greek Viper | Manolis "LOU" Lourakis *PART 2*
Mal Craghill
Former Tornado GR1 and GR4 Nav, and F-15E Strike Eagle WSO
Episode: AI # 307 : "That's Mental" | Mal Craghill (Tornado GR1/4 Nav & F-15E WSO)

Hosts

Mike
Primary host; long-running interviewer of aircrew from military and civilian sectors.
Dave Lobdell
Former naval aviator commonly known as Beaker; recurring guest and host figure in many episodes.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 295 ratings
  • OG

    Among the best military aviation podcast out there, thank you to the host and guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stuka Afabant
    United States8 months ago
  • Fab

    Amazing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prouddaughtertime31895
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great conversational style

    As an aviation buff I love the tone, style and of course content. And it’s mainly UK based which offers a different perspective from other (also good) pods. The recent F-4 ejection episode was particularly fascinating.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hhhhhjhhhjhhdjdjdjdd
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Brilliant !

    This was the first podcast I got into and it consistently delivers. The content varies from military to civilian and occasionally Mike will do an interview with a guest at an aviation museum. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wild Hog
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Great show.

    Great show mike. Keep it up. Really enjoy your interview style.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    speedcloud6
    New Zealand3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A subset of feedback notes opportunities for deeper questioning or more exhaustive exploration of topics.
Guest diversity and production quality are frequently highlighted as strengths, with appreciation for international perspectives in some episodes.
Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with many noting high value for aviation professionals and enthusiasts.
Listeners consistently praise the host's ability to let guests tell their stories and share detailed, technically rich insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AI # 418 : USAF Pilot Flies The MiG-23 Flogger | Rob “Z-Man” Zettel *PART 2*
Q: Did the MiG-23 feel like a step back from the MiG-21 in terms of handling?
Yes, it required much more careful flying and attentiveness to wing sweep, angle of attack, and center of gravity; it was fast and stable on deck but less forgiving in low-speed regimes, making it feel like a significant shift from the MiG-21.
AI # 417 : USAF Pilot Flies The Secret MiG-21 | Rob "Z-Man" Zettel *PART 1*
Q: What was your first experience like flying the MiG-21 compared to Western jets?
The MiG-21 cockpit was radically different with Cyrillic labels, a lack of training simulators, and a demanding air-to-air dynamic. The transition from an F-5/Phantom background to the MiG-21 highlighted its exceptional rudder control, its lightweight feel at high angle of attack, and its surprising capability at very slow speeds, which challenged pilots used to Western fighters.
AI # 417 : USAF Pilot Flies The Secret MiG-21 | Rob "Z-Man" Zettel *PART 1*
Q: How did you become involved in the Red Eagles program?
The program was tightly controlled and secret; you didn't apply, and only those briefed into the program were considered. A squadron operations officer suggested to Z-Man that air-to-air excellence could be a path, and after an initial interview, he learned decades later that his name was seriously considered and eventually he was selected and assigned after many years of being in the right place at the right time.
AI # 414 : F-14 Pilot Flies the F-117 Nighthawk | Dave “Beaker” Lobdell *PART 2*
Q: Can we find you online and do you have any books in the works?
No books in the work yet, but it is in the back of my mind and I am on LinkedIn.
AI # 414 : F-14 Pilot Flies the F-117 Nighthawk | Dave “Beaker” Lobdell *PART 2*
Q: Is there an aircraft you would like to fly, either past or present?
I always thought the F-8 Crusader looked really cool.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Aircrew Interview

What is Aircrew Interview about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Aviation-focused interview series that centers on aircrew from military and civilian sectors, with a strong emphasis on personal journeys, aircraft specifics, and real-world operations. Conversations frequently explore training, mission profiles, crew dynamics, and the human side of flying—from carrier landings and stealth aircraft to air mobility and humanitarian missions. Listeners often praise the relaxed, story-driven interviewing style that lets guests share detailed anecdotes and technical insights, while production quality and guest diversity are highlighted as standout strengths. The show appears to attract aviation enthusiasts, current and aspiring pilots, and defense professionals, with a notable appreciation for niche aircraft hi... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Aircrew Interview?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Aircrew Interview. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Aircrew Interview and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Aircrew Interview get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Aircrew Interview, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Aircrew Interview?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Aircrew Interview, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Aircrew Interview have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Aircrew Interview has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Aircrew Interview?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Aircrew Interview:

1. 10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit
2. The Afterburn Podcast
3. Fighter Pilot Podcast
4. Cold War Conversations Podcast
5. Combat Story

How many episodes of Aircrew Interview are there?

Aircrew Interview launched 9 years ago and published 419 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Aircrew Interview?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Aircrew Interview?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Aircrew Interview from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Aircrew Interview?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Aircrew Interview. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Aircrew Interview?

Recent guests on Aircrew Interview include:

1. Rob Zettel
2. Matt Doncaster
3. Manolis "Lou" Lourakis
4. Mal Craghill

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days