In Episode 160 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, “There I was!”: Stories from the Cockpit and Space with the Mitchell Institute, our team members recount some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years.

This week, we hear from Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Mark Gunzinger, Charles Galbreath, and Air Force Fellow Lt Col Max “Efes” Cover. So, this episode is for you if you want to know what it’s like to experience a catastrophic emergency in an F-15 during your second solo flight in the aircraft; what happens when your B-52 won’t rotate at takeoff; when you depart controlled flight in an F-16 and struggle to recover; or discovering a surprising family connection that will make you smile.