EE Lightning P1B | 10 Percent True | EP84 – Part 1 In a secret barn in East Anglia, former RAF Lightning pilot Ian “Blackie” Black reveals the extraordinary story of the very first English Electric Lightning P1B — the first British aircraft to reach Mach 2. Built by English Electric and flown by Battle of Britain ace Roland Beamont, this hand-built prototype marked Britain’s leap into the supersonic age. Decades later, after museum life, near-scrapping, and years hidden away, the aircraft is being painstakingly restored — with plans to unveil it publicly for the first time in 30 years. Blackie shares Lightning combat stories, Cold War memories, flying with his father, and what it really felt like to strap into Britain’s only true Mach 2 fighter. This is about preserving heritage and history — one step at a time.

Mattes Kries | 10 Percent True | EP81 – Part 2 Former Luftwaffe Tornado IDS pilot and weapons school instructor Mattes Kries returns to break down how a Cold War–era strike aircraft was pushed far beyond its original design. From low-level nuclear strike doctrine to medium-altitude workarounds, “dumb” HARM employment, Red Flag and Nellis weapons school, and the arrival of TAURUS, this episode explores how crews compensated for limited kit with tactics, maths, and judgement. It’s a rare, insider look at German Tornado operations, weapons school culture, and the real cost of keeping legacy jets relevant. 0:00 intro teaser 1:35 welcome back Mattes 2:55 recognition of the “different breed” 6:30 The state of tactics in the prevailing atmosphere and “fooling” the weapons computer (the value of a good weatherman) 18:25 shortcomings distilled 19:31 targeting and low to medium altitude….. 24:15 and then with GPS 27:27 reversion mode targeting feasibility 29:28 a sense among crews that Luftwaffe is lagging behind peers? 34:16 why? 37:50 squadron re-roll 43:30 flying rates? 47:15 competency levels as a result? 53:30 losses 57:42 weapons school 1:08:45 how to counter a 4-ship of Eagles 1:10:40 electronic attack systems 1:13:10 BFM phase 1:19:00 bomb in face and other survival tactics 1:21:12 HARM 1:26:08 upgrades incl datalink and Marineflieger cross pollination 1:31:50 intelligence, access to information on other platforms? 1:39:18 instructing at the weapons school and lessons in leadership 1:47:20 TAURUS 1:53:00 opinions on Ukraine - SCALP assessment? 1:58:33 low level 2:07:05 Thank you Mattes!

Jif Paines | 10 Percent True | EP82 In this episode, former RAF Harrier pilot and X-35B test pilot Jif Paines explains how the F-35B’s revolutionary STOVL flight control system was born. From early Harrier night attack operations to experimental fly-by-wire research on the VAAC Harrier, Jif traces the technical and philosophical battle that led to Unified Flight Control — the system that made the F-35B dramatically easier to fly. He discusses auto-eject, lift fan mechanics, X-35 concept demonstrations, pilot de-skilling, and why automation forces a fundamental rethink of the human role in combat aviation. Along the way, he offers rare insight into test pilot culture, engineering decision-making, and the future of autonomous airpower. 0:00 “A stupid question?” 1:15 Welcome Jif 1:38 auto eject subscriber question (Sedlo) 4:24 thanks to Super for the introduction 4:48 Jif’s introduction 11:40 the transference of TPS knowledge/skills to testing in X-35? 14:00 what decisions had been made before joining the program ? 17:12 VAAC Harrier control laws to be incorporated into the later x-35? and pilot resistance to the concepts being developed 20:15 unified control system explained 25:15 engineering the “feel” for the pilot? engineering reversion/safety features? De-skilling 31:10 “a stupid question?” 32:16 integration of these laws into X-35? 34:19 describing lift fan dynamics and process 37:00 differences between how you fly VAAC Harrier and F-35? 38:10 STOVL initially implemented Harrier style - why? 40:22 flying characteristics- feel? 43:16 Exciting? 44:40 transference of expertise to X and F variants and standing firm on the emotive subject of unified control system 49:40 the Farley climb 53:50 the future of “the pilot” in military aviation 57:30 thanks Jif (please return!!)

Mattes Kries | 10 Percent True | EP81 – Part 1 In this episode, Mattes Kries—a former Luftwaffe Tornado IDS pilot and weapons instructor—traces his career from a hard-won start in NATO jet training through frontline Tornado operations, weapons school, and senior tactics leadership. He explains how Germany’s Tornado force evolved from Cold War low-level nuclear strike toward conventional, medium-altitude employment; how lessons from U.S. and NATO exercises reshaped German tactics; and why culture, risk tolerance, and bureaucracy matter as much as hardware. Along the way, Mattes offers rare, candid insight into weapons school innovation, COMAO command without Link 16, live weapons integration, and the realities of training for combat in a force defined by safety-first constraints—grounded in vivid anecdotes and hard-earned lessons. Timestamps 00:00 – The Greek instructor teaser 01:58 – Welcome Mattes & Phil’s subscriber questions: inspiration and most exhilarating mission 12:05 – Matthew’s subscriber question: history and pride in the modern Luftwaffe 23:40 – Attachment to the past among today’s Luftwaffe personnel 29:10 – Starting out in the Luftwaffe 34:02 – F-4 ambitions—and why fate had other (good) ideas 41:28 – T-37 challenges (and the Greek instructor) 49:00 – Turning early struggles into long-term success 51:15 – Arrival on the Tornado at Büchel 56:40 – Tornado IDS: roles, weapons, and mission sets 1:05:35 – SIOP and nuclear strike planning 1:10:40 – The MW-1 weapon system 1:20:19 – Why the MW-1 was never fitted for training—and the power of German accountants 1:29:30 – Staying on the boom: tanker planning as a weapons school student 1:35:08 – Avoiding the KC-135 by design? 1:36:35 – Responding to Starbaby’s criticism of ECR capabilities vs decision-maker mindset 1:54:25 – Part 2 incoming

Super Harris 10 Percent True EP80 P2 In Part Two of this conversation, retired USAF Major General “Super” Harris moves from diagnosis to consequence, explaining how the erosion of developmental testing has already led to real-world accidents, wasted lives, and broken programmes. Drawing on his role as Air Force Test Center Commander, Harris dissects the Light Attack experiment, the fatal risks of mixing developmental and operational test, and why “test is test” is a dangerous fallacy. He contrasts government cost-plus failures with SpaceX’s self-funded test-to-failure model, explains how data—not rhetoric—keeps aircrew alive, and offers blunt assessments of programmes like KC-46, T-7, F-35, and the emerging F-47. The episode ends with a sober warning: great powers don’t usually fall from enemy action alone—they hollow themselves out by accepting broken systems as normal. 0:00 intro 0:33 SpaceX failure a success 3:28 welcome back Super and episode roadmap 5:57 Revisiting the Light Attack “experiment” (See Starbaby Light Attack episode) the dangers of combined OT/DT 33:33 “Costs Plus” contracts (Starliner debacle vs SpaceX “successful failure”) 42:13 IRAD (internal research and development) Holloman range story 59:53 Minimum Viable Product - how “finished” does it have to be to commence DT 1:02:44 the issue with in house testing 1:05:43 go have a banana? 😅 1:06:08 bearing in mind the tribulations with T-7 & KC-46 - are all current programs similarly afflicted? 1:15:37 tension between DT and OT? consequences thereof? 1:29:06 resigning from TPS 1:42:43 light at the end of the tunnel? 1:43:48 smaller company innovation - resistance to buyout? 1:47:23 government approach? 1:50:08 the one guy in the marching band who is in step! 1:52:23 briefly on F-35 1:55:23 Airbus Tankers/Foreign competition? 2:00:13 F-47? 2:08:58 Thanks Super, (please come back)

Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list Super Harris 10 Percent True EP80 Part 1 In this wide-ranging and unvarnished conversation, retired USAF two-star General “Super” Harris explains how U.S. military acquisition and flight-test culture has changed since the end of the Cold War—and why he believes those changes are dangerous. Drawing on decades as an electronic warfare officer, developmental tester, squadron commander, and instructor at Test Pilot School, Harris lays out a four-stage framework charting the consolidation of defence contractors, the erosion of developmental and operational testing, the rise of concurrency, and today’s push toward “DevOps at the front line.” Using real examples—from the F-22’s infamous International Date Line failure to bomber weapons integration and modern naval systems—he argues that skipping test and accepting immature systems risks lives, credibility, and deterrence itself. It’s a candid, insider warning about how great powers lose their edge, and why testing still matters 0:00 Support the channel 0:37 Intro teaser 4:09 Welcome back Super – framing the episode – Developmental/Operational testing today 11:36 The Military Industrial Complex and Eisenhower’s mic drop 15:42 the F-111 gone so EF-111 suffers by association – TPS graduate with nowhere to go! So B-1…… 23:57 black hats and white hats 25:55 B-1 qualled but only there to “put the new thing on” 28:12 SQN CDR highlights 29:17 80 bomb load DT Graduation story (smiley face) 34:21 flying a B-52 mission while watching Dr Strangelove 39:22 win big – bad things happen…. 40:43 a litany of stupid (not all innovation is good) 44:52 “the last supper” and its fallout (consolidation of corporations/contractors) 50:07 the 4 stages (preview of coming attractions – intro teaser) 58:22 who is “Col Nicholson”? – when ethics slide 1:03:27 the right reasons…. 1:08:27 “acquisition reform” is not the problem 1:14:52 FORD class failures – tail wags the dog – “the testers are the problem” 1:20:04 Raptors, Deficiency Reports and across the date line to Kadena 1:35:07 4Stars “wanting it so bad” (why hasn’t Steve seen A Christmas Story!) 1:41:07 the “last” last question – the solution? 1:46:57 previewing next episode

Get Mike's book: https://amzn.eu/d/b2lcwQt Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list Pig Penn, 10 Percent True Episode 79. In this extraordinary episode of 10 Percent True, Mike “Pig” Penn—US Navy A-7 Corsair II pilot, Iron Hand aviator, and Vietnam POW—walks through a life defined by combat, captivity, survival, and purpose. Pig recounts flying alpha strikes and Iron Hand missions over North Vietnam, dodging SAMs at night, being shot down near Hanoi in 1972, and surviving an ejection, capture, and eight months inside the Hanoi Hilton. He describes the brutal realities of captivity, the tap code, the psychological battle to retain hope, and the moment B-52 strikes signalled that the war—and his imprisonment—was nearing its end. The conversation then shifts to Pig’s post-war life: returning to flight, confronting PTSD and alcoholism, and ultimately finding a new mission—helping others survive their darkest moments. It’s a raw, unfiltered account of air combat, resilience, and why hope is not abstract, but essential to survival. 0:33 intro teaser 1:20 welcome “Pig” 2:55 ama question from Sedlo regarding Alpha Strikes 6:18 Route to Naval Aviation and background 9:07 Training pipeline and experiences 11:23 Buckeye at the boat 14:50 Hope and Courage 15:55 the reality of landing in the boat, scary, exhilarating? 18:40 going into combat knowing a night trap awaits afterwards 20:33 The SLUF 24:37 SAMS and dodging them 30:37 Iron Hand 32:53 finding SAMs and target prosecution by Shrike 39:13 validating success? BDA? 40:33 any tactic change through experience - when iron hand turns into RESCAP 43:08 psychological load? 45:08 shootdown 49:21 on the ground and to the Hanoi Hilton 53:23 cheating death 54:03 coming to terms with initial stages of the ordeal 56:33 any preconceptions/intel on the “Hilton” before arriving 58:23 initial phase at the Hilton 1:02:33 Heartbreak hotel, making (unexpected) acquaintances, eventually starting to eat 1:07:43 low down via tap code before leaving solitary and meeting fellow POWs 1:10:19 why group you together? 1:11:45 information flow, long sideburns and air raid drills preface December 18th (Linebacker II) 1:19:53 mindgames and release order hang ups 1:21:58 release day story 1:26:50 3 days in Clark and learning to sleep in a bed again 1:28:06 to Travis AFB and reuniting with family and friends 1:29:11 resentment? Return? 1:32:17 flight gear on display in Hanoi 1:32:43 what comes next? Returning to normality? Coming full circle on an incredible story. 1:35:58 F-4 orders turn sour so back to Lemoore and the A-7 RAG 1:38:38 getting out and into Continental 1:38:45 meeting Kissinger 1:40:06 psychological and emotional journey and the genesis of the book - Hope and Courage 1:47:48 meeting Marcus Luttrel and guesting on his podcast 1:51:44 how to find Pig on tour/find out more 1:53:03 philosophising on the experiences 1:55:17 Share this please