Episodes

  • F-15E Combat and Test Pilot School — Grease Panarisi Part 3
    Jul 17 2025

    descriptionGrease Panarisi, 10 Percent True Episode 73 Part 3⸻0:00 intro teaser (pulling offensive - the man with 4 brains)4:30 welcome back Grease 6:55 impressions of a wing EWO in early days of Strike Eagle 12:57 ALQ-135/ALR-56 issues (from Desert Storm) addressed? 15:50 F-111 any better? 16:52 ALQ-131 endorsed!17:22 tasking and deployment reflections following Desert Storm -AEF concept23:26 deployments/learning?27:10 Viper stats and blowing motors30:00 Thoughts on CSAR in the wake of Desert Storm perceived shortcomings 31:50 employment/ROE/improv?33:50 on the job threat assessment?35:03 theatre ramifications of Blackhawk shoot down and a Strike Eagle guy’s view on it 43:08 Support the Channel!!43:38 Turkish hosts47:03 Balkan deployment 54:45 employing gbu-24 59:25 gbu-15 and agm-130?1:01:25 facing 2 weeks of war in Balkans with Desert Storm experience in the bag1:04:55 thoughts on the “stick monkeys”1:08:25 expanding upon “the man with 4 brains”1:14:50 how do you do that?!1:16:22 maxing out potential? 1:18:05 correlation between leadership and tactical prowess?1:24:58 Test Pilot School1:32:35 evaluating the Mig-15 as a personal (private) aircraft1:36:00 any knowledge at this point about existing Mig experts in the AF?1:40:40 most “useful” part of course?1:45:35 WSO skills in the mix, other students and A-101:50:15 Test pilot hates mathematics 1:55:20 “W+12” graduation guest speaker2:00:24 guest test at China Lake?2:02:30 rounding out and part 4 preview

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    2 hrs and 4 mins
  • From F-111F Combat to Ejection Over Wales — Grease Panarisi Part 2
    Jul 4 2025

    Grease Panarisi, 10 Percent True Episode 73 Part 2Mike “Grease” Panarisi tells of his journey flying the F-111F in combat to transitioning into the F-15E Strike Eagle. He recounts one of the most bizarre and incredible ejections in modern fighter aviation history — a high-speed bird strike at 200 feet that sent him parachuting into a Welsh field… and walking into a pub covered in glass and feathers.#F111F #F15E #USAF #EjectionStory #MilitaryAviation #10PercentTrue⸻0:00 intro teaser1:45 welcome back Grease2:55 Weapons - and Maverick specifically 7:10 GBU-1511:58 GBU-15 weaponeering/tactics13:50 secondary targets or second runs?15:10 other weapons? 17:20 organising missions with 24 CBU and the effect of weather 23:07 why not go low again?25:25 high order secondaries and BDA 30:35 GBU-10 to GBU-24 and dealing with a known bug43:30 CBU-AIM 743:43 BAOTD PT1 Ad44:15 Initial low profile with -24 and TF gave way to medium level 46:52 Pavetac anecdote 51:58 TACC - the plan and classification/dissemination 56:28 GBU-281:06:26 Desert Calm1:10:50 camouflage effectiveness review?1:13:05 returning to Lakenheath and onwards towards Strike Eagle and marriage!1:31:00 thoughts on where F-111F was with dawn of Strike Eagle1:40:12 wire chaffing and chasing bugs in software1:41:50 cooking P&W F100s and tanking teaser1:45:00 engine failure experiences1:46:10 approaching the APG-70 and new capabilities (air to air)1:53:15 F-4 vs F-111 dynamic in early days of Strike Eagle?1:59:10 adopting the air to air mission 2:00:15 How comfortable was the the Strike Eagle to “get used to” ergonomically 2:04:33 Ejection event2:31:30 1st mission back and aftermath2:41:15 psychological aftermath 2:53:00 roll on episode 3 or 1C?!

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    2 hrs and 54 mins
  • F-111F in Desert Storm with Mike “Grease” Panarisi
    Jun 20 2025

    Grease Panarisi, 10 Percent True Episode 73 Part 1In this episode, Mike “Grease” Panarisi tells his story of flying the F-111F in Europe and in Operation Desert Storm. From night-time laser-guided bomb runs over Iraq to hair-raising terrain-following flights through Scottish canyons, Grease shares what it was like to fly one of the war’s most effective but least celebrated strike aircraft.🎧 Listen to the podcast version on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share#F111F #DesertStorm #10PercentTrue0:00 intro teaser2:07 Welcome “Grease” and episode background 8:20 Grease’s background 14:14 frustration of being re designated to NAV track?16:10 F-111F, initial assignment, Callsign and weapons quals 27:40 PAVE TAC to the fore and just in time 29:25 buy BAOTD PT1! (Jim says: I’ve read it and it’s great!)29:55 community culture shift toward Pave Tac (let’s get our Nerd on!) 37:45 so low level training is perfect training for MEDIUM in Desert Storm?!39:08 TFR tales48:10 PAVE TAC as FLIR? - intro teaser revisited 52:20 debriefing that - “having enough SA to know you’ve lost SA”54:10 state of the community post Libya (fleet readiness logistics and system availability)1:00:10 The Special Mission (including the ultimate Special Mission Certification story)1:09:35 let’s talk Desert Storm1:22:40 mission capable rates1:25:15 how much of “the plan” was accessible 1:27:29 war story from night 1 1:35:18 first night target? One pass and haul ass? - hell no! 1:40:40 close SAM call1:43:00 constructive lies!1:44:10 “it’s clear over there”1:45:40 expected loss rates and no 111s lost? 1:49:00 except one in preparation 1:52:48 low level discussion 1:59:34 dynamic targeting? 2:04:20 human aspect and shifting view? (Highway of death etc)2:11:45 thoughts on Iraqi AF, potential escape/evade, staying with the plane and the capsule…2:24:50 that’s NOT all folks!!

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    2 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4,100 Hours in the T-38: “Fall behind, and it could kill you” — Spike Benyshek 10PCT EP72
    Jun 7 2025

    https://youtu.be/KcJi8RqK8t0


    10 Percent True Episode 72

    Retired USAF Colonel Spike Benyshek returns to 10 Percent True to talk about the jet that trained generations of American fighter pilots — the T-38 Talon.

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    2 hrs and 17 mins
  • MiG Killer: Muddy Watrous on His F-15 Kill Over Iraq
    May 16 2025

    Don "Muddy" Watrous discusses his 28 Jan 1991 MiG-23 kill with the 32d TFS, the Wolfhounds. Episode 71 Part 2.Buy merch and books today! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/baotdSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh0:00 “Hey Sir, mind if I take your picture?” (Teaser)2:28 Welcome back Muddy3:42 28th Jan 199129:30 diagnosing the unsuccessful Sparrow shots33:35 tanker crew were true to their word! 34:34 dissecting the timeline & engagement39:45 Bogey ID? 40:20 3’s story?44:22 a what if?46:20 drop tank jettison envelope? 48:00 temporal distortion? 49:20 feelings on the outcome? 51:20 human aspect?53:55 rest of the war1:00:38 other lessons learned1:06:02 why continual re-learning?1:11:22 who killed the o-club?1:14:55 the returning Mig killer1:19:12 in squadron curiosity 1:20:55 fighting East German Fulcrums (4 ship flight lead qual)1:23:53 lessons learned on the Fulcrum1:29:30 dealing with high off boresight capabilities 1:34:15 any psychological legacy of the kill?1:36:20 part 3!

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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • The Road to a MiG Kill. Muddy Watrous, EP71 Part 1
    May 9 2025

    Don "Muddy" Watrous discusses his route to the F-15 Eagle and the first 10 days of Operation Desert Storm leading up to his MiG-23 kill with the 32d TFS, the Wolfhounds. Buy merch and books today! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/baotdSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh0:00 intro teaser thirsty ‘winder1:55 Welcome Muddy and episode background 4:50 Muddy’s introduction8:50 did the feeling of flight live up to the expectations?10:40 refining the ambition, looking toward fighters12:05 UPT 17:20 FAIP’d before Eagles19:30 how the instructor gig set up later success?21:32 students providing scares?25:10 any IMC flying (preparing for European Theatre) and curtain take offs?30:45 dealing with not getting Eagles on first assignment 33:10 getting the Eagle assignment 35:20 FTU and walking up to the jet for the first time, adjustment after the Talon?40:40 systems assimilation 43:10 realising the dream/feeling like you’ve made it? 48:10 fighter culture/Eagle community 51:30 Wolfhounds mission at Soesterberg and a cross country to Germany 58:15 Intercept practice 1:00:37 Flogger threat/knowledge?1:03:48 MSIP?1:04:12 10percenttrue.com/shop 1:04:55 lead up to war, losing jets to Saudi, being sidelined, northern front in Iraq1:15:40 expectations upon arrival with just 4 jets?1:18:10 any study prep on Iraqi AF prior to deployment?1:23:15 arriving in Turkey and getting oriented in the composite wing1:28:00 is Intel from the southern forces and engagements filtering through? 1:32:12 objectives of the northern mission?1:35:35 not so smart/“adding to the war effort1:38:00 initial combat missions and compartmentalisation 1:43:35 NATO AWACS shortcomings 1:45:52 “EAGLEWACS”1:48:42 observed IAF behaviour in the initial 10 days?

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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • Inside the OA-1K Sky Raider II: Armed Overwatch Revealed
    Apr 25 2025

    Light Attack Story, Part 6 – OA-1K Skyraider II | Buck Walker | 10PCT EP70 Buy merch and books today! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/baotdSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh0:00 Intro teaser

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    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • Light Attack Story, Part 5. Buck Walker. 10PCT EP70.
    Apr 11 2025

    Buy merch and books today! https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/baotdSupport me with a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh0:00 Intro teaser1:13 Welcome Buck and episode background 3:55 Buck’s background 10:18 route to Light Attack and getting acquainted with the AT-622:35 command tour gets cut short - for school? - promotion?27:05 light attack paper leads to classified job 30:25 Timeframe and the potential benefits of light attack33:20 consequences of the paper34:50 arriving at irregular warfare36:35 perspective of an AC-130 guy used to supporting SOF moving to LA world 41:20 expectations for a partner country?43:30 OV-1046:20 organisational setup?49:10 U-28 Replacement needed 56:00 near frat anecdote 1:01:05 U-28 capabilities in more detail?1:03:20 Light Attack picture/DoD pushback/Ms Simmons fallout1:11:00 AF folds on AC-130 replacement but….nothing good happens in the Pentagon 1:14:40 why return to light attack in “retirement”? Textron Scorpion1:19:50 fighting (for Scorpion) with hands tied/Scorpion capability 1:23:45 further capabilities and software agility 1:26:40 mission capable rate/cost per hour?1:29:25 performance and complexity?1:32:57 jet vs turboprop employment? 1:35:10 weapons integration?1:37:14 further on agile software1:41:48 Scorpion today?1:43:00 dealing with the sour taste and moving to Skyraider II1:45:25 Boston Crème Donuts

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    1 hr and 52 mins