Behind the Wings
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum™
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Top 10 Behind the Wings Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Behind the Wings episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Behind the Wings for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Behind the Wings episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Spying From 70,000 Feet - Episode 55
Behind the Wings
06/02/25 • 38 min
Retired Lt. Col. Josh Cadice shares his story of going to the edge of space in one of the most iconic spy planes ever built.
In this episode, Josh discusses flying the KC-135, wearing the pressure suit, piloting the mysterious U-2 at 70,000 feet, and its aerial reconnaissance capabilities. From Cold War origins to modern missions, this aircraft’s legacy is as fascinating as it is classified. This one is going to be cool!
Resources:
Chapters:
AI's Military Future with the USAF Secretary - Episode 47
Behind the Wings
12/30/24 • 23 min
Secretary of the United States Air Force Frank Kendall discusses AI's impact on modern air warfare.
In this episode, we're switching things up and going to the Pentagon to bring you a special in-depth conversation on artificial intelligence in military aviation. Secretary Kendall discusses AI’s evolving role in U.S. air power, collaborative combat aircraft, technology breakthroughs, and ethical concerns. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
- Secretary Kendall discusses the history of AI in the U.S. military and how it has helped transform Air Force operations.
- Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are uncrewed aircraft flown by artificial intelligence. They are currently being tested alongside fighter jets to become loyal wingmen.
- The ethics of artificial intelligence in warfare remains at the forefront of AI integration. Secretary Kendall wants to ensure that the U.S. complies with the laws of war and maintains human accountability for lethal decision-making.
- CCA's can be both budget-friendly and help save time when testing new technologies.
- AI advancement aims to help the U.S. maintain technological superiority over its global adversaries.
- By integrating CCAs in the frontlines of combat, they could help save fighter pilot lives by taking on more risky missions or diverting enemy fire.
- Secretary Kendall stresses the importance of enhancing AI operations quickly while ensuring that ethics are not left behind.
Resources:
How Eileen Collins Blazed a Trail in Space - Episode 12
Behind the Wings
12/19/22 • 37 min
Strap in folks, we are going to Space with a very special guest who blazed her own trail, defying the grip of Earth’s gravity, and breaking a glass ceiling into the cosmos. Our Guest today is Retired NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins.
Col. Collins has lived an amazing life, and though she has retired from the NASA astronaut program, her mission to share her story and inspire the next generation of explorers is far from over. Many of us can only dream of a career like hers - from her achievements as the first woman to command an American space mission and the first to pilot the space shuttle to her early years as one of the Air Force’s first female pilots.
Eileen is one of those pioneers who forever changed the trajectory of space exploration - this one's going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
- Eileen Collins was born in 1956 in Elmira, New York.
- She received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978.
- Collins joined the Air Force in 1979 and became a pilot.
- She was selected for the astronaut program in 1990.
- Collins made her first trip to space in 1995 as a member of the STS-63 crew.
- In 1999, Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle when she led the STS-93 mission.
- She commanded two more space shuttle missions: STS-114 in 2005 and STS-121 in 2006.
- Collins retired from NASA and the Air Force in 2006.
- After her retirement, she worked as a consultant and public speaker.
- Collins has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to space exploration, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Resources:
- The official NASA website has a page dedicated to Eileen Collins that provides biographical information, photos, and details about her missions: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/eileen-m-collins/biography
- The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has an interview with Collins on their website, where she discusses her career and experiences in space: https://astronautscholarship.org/eileen-collin
- The National Air and Space Museum has a page about Collins on their website, which includes information about her career and achievements: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/eileen-collin
- The Encyclopedia Britannica has an entry about Collins that provides an overview of her life and career: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eileen-Collins
- The Women in Aviation International organization has a profile of Collins on their website, which includes information about her achievements and contributions to the field of aviation: https://www.wai.org/pioneers/eileen-collins
Hap Arnold “The Father of the Air Force” - Episode 7
Behind the Wings
09/05/22 • 29 min
Today’s show is a conversation with Robert Arnold, the grandson of Hap Arnold – the Father of the air force. Arnold urged an independent air arm which he lived to see authorized in 1947 – he started flying with the Signal Crops in what could be described as a ‘wild west’ era in aviation - setting altitude records, and in WWI was the first aerial observer to report his observations using Radio.
In WWII, he directed air activities for the nation's global war against Germany and Japan. Under him the air arm grew from 22,000 officers and men with 3,900 planes to nearly 2,500,000 men and 75,000 aircraft. An amazing accomplishment that shows how much was changing during this time, and Arnold’s influence on the development of air power.
Key Takeaways:
- Hap learned to fly in the Wright Brothers ground school and became one of the first military pilots worldwide.
- Hap grounds himself after a near death experience in a Wright Model C flying the first ever aerial spotting of artillery during an accelerated stall.
- After testifying for Billy Mitchell and leaking information to the press, Hap and his family are forced to decamp for Fort Riley Kansas after Mason Patrick refuses Haps own request to court marshal himself after getting caught.
- He directed the expansion of the US Air Force upon entry into WWII to create the most powerful air force in the world.
- Hap Arnold was the only officer to hold a five-star rank in two different US military services, the United States Army Air Forces and the United States Air Force.
References:
- HENRY. H. ARNOLD > Air Force > Biography Display (af.mil)
- Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold > National Museum of the United States Air ForceTM > Display (af.mil)
- Here’s why Hap Arnold, a practical visionary, became the ‘father of the Air Force’ (airforcetimes.com)
- Become A Member | Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (wingsmuseum.org)
The D-Day Air Campaign - Episode 46
Behind the Wings
12/16/24 • 28 min
National Museum of WWII Aviation Curator Gene Pfeffer discusses why winning the air war was pivotal to D-Day's success.
In this episode, we’ll dive into the planning and execution of air operations, the aircraft that supported the massive assault, the continued aerial support for troops after Operation Overlord, and its lasting legacy and impact on aviation. June 6, 2024, marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and gave us the opportunity to learn more about one of the most important battles of WWII. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
- Gene takes us through the evolution of aircraft spurred by World War II, from biplanes to jets.
- Although America hadn't yet entered the war, planning for D-Day began in 1940, outlining what exactly would be required for the invasion.
- In 1943, it was decided that the Allies could not win the invasion without air superiority. Leading up to D-Day, the Allies focused heavily on eliminating the German Air Force as a factor, and on June 6, the German Air Force had 300 sorties while the Allies had 13,000.
- The day before Operation Overlord, the Allies painted invasion stripes on their airplanes under the cover of darkness. Due to the massive amount of aircraft, the paint scheme helped mitigate friendly fire.
- Multiple kinds of aircraft participated in the invasion and each had specific roles. To name a few, the C-47s towed gliders or dropped paratroopers, B-17s, 24s, and 26s dropped bombs, P-47s acted as flying artillery, and P-38s flew cover over the ships.
- After D-Day, the Allies used their air power to aid troops with strategic bombings like Operation Cobra, targeting German oil and V-2 centers, and providing medical aid.
- Gene encourages anyone interested in aerospace to visit your local museum and get involved.
Resources:
Red Tails and Blue Skies: Tuskegee Today - Episode 28
Behind the Wings
10/24/23 • 22 min
The Tuskegee Airmen were an experiment by the US Army Air Corps to determine whether Black pilots could handle military flying. It turns out they could! But the Tuskegee Airmen fought a second battle – one against racial discrimination.
With an impressive combat record and war accomplishments, the success of the Tuskegee Airmen helped influence then-President Harry Truman's decision to desegregate the armed forces in 1948.
Our Guests today are Bill Shepard and Col. James Harvey. Bill is the former Vice President of Education for the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), and former CAF Red Tail Squadron Leader. On today’s show, he explores with us the path that led him to proudly fly the P-51C Mustang for the CAF Red Tail Squadron. We will also hear from Col. James Harvey who was a Tuskegee Airman, and his personal journey as one of the first Black Aviators in the US military.
From Bill's journey with aviation to the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, there’s a lot to explore in this one!
Key Takeaways:
- Bill earned his US private pilot’s license at age 16 while still in high school
- The 6 Tuskegee principles are: Aim High, Believe in Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready to Go, Never Quit and Expect to Win
- The Tuskegee Airmen helped influence President Harry Truman to sign Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, mandating the desegregation of the U.S. military.
- Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III was a pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He later piloted on the team that won the military’s first ‘Top Gun’ contest in 1949.
- The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was a U.S. Army Air Forces program that tasked some 1,100 civilian women with noncombat military flight duties during World War II.
- Bill's advice: Dream big, work hard, and never give up!
Resources:
The First VR Spacewalk - Episode 34
Behind the Wings
04/01/24 • 30 min
A first-of-its-kind virtual reality spacewalk experience.
Space Explorers: THE INFINITE is a captivating immersive journey inspired by NASA missions aboard the International Space Station. Join us as we hear from creator Félix Lajeunesse who tells us how THE INFINITE project got started, how they filmed and created this experience, working with astronauts, and the unique challenges they faced making virtual reality content on the International Space Station. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
- THE INFINITE experience gives audiences breathtaking 360-degree views of Earth, displays scenes from life aboard the ISS, and allows guests to perform their very own spacewalk, all through virtual reality technology.
- This project is the first virtual reality experience filmed in space onboard the ISS.
- THE INFINITE faced many challenges while filming, needing to consider camera temperatures, radiation, and so much more.
- In this experience, you can interact with astronauts who helped film such as spacewalking, experimenting, and even having dinner.
- The Overview Effect is a common experience among astronauts when traveling to space. The term, first coined by author Frank White, describes a cognitive shift commonly experienced when someone sees the Earth from space for the first time. People often describe feeling a sense of one-ness, that the Earth is precious, and sheer awe in the Earth’s beauty, all of which can be experienced in THE INFINITE.
- Félix Lajeunesse aims to continue filming with NASA to document and create more experiences on the Moon and beyond.
- You can visit Space Explorers: THE INFINITE in Denver until May 5th, 2024!
Resources:
The World's First Astronomers - Episode 29
Behind the Wings
11/06/23 • 32 min
This episode will dive into the history of some of the world’s first astronomers, exploring how their knowledge has been passed down for more than 60,000 years. We are going to the southern hemisphere to learn about Australia’s Indigenous astronomy and the impact it has on our world today.
Our guest today is Peter Swanton! Peter is a Gamilaraay man from Mackay, Queensland, an astrophysics graduate, and cultural astronomer. He is actively involved in Indigenous astronomy, outreach, and research, and has a passion for the challenging yet critical subject of dark sky preservation. Peter will highlight the scientific importance of Indigenous star knowledge and the challenges and opportunities in preserving that history.
Join us as we hear the stories of Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, why constellations and star clusters are so impactful, and how issues like light pollution threaten the very field of astronomy itself. There is a lot to learn in this episode!
Key Takeaways:
- The Indigenous Peoples of Australia didn’t have a written language, they were only able to pass along information via spoken word, song, dance, and stories. There are an estimated 273 different language groups across Australia.
- While not all stars can be viewed from both hemispheres, all the zodiac constellations are viewable from either. Although, they will be upside down depending on which hemisphere you are familiar with.
- The Emu in the Sky is a popular example of how astronomy was used practically by the Indigenous Peoples. Depending on what direction the Emu was facing, it helped give insight towards Emu life patterns.
- Creation stories are stories that are passed down that talk about the physical existence as well as store important information. A popular story about Australia’s constellation the Southern Cross tells the story of the first person to die on Earth.
- A songline is one of many paths across the land (or sometimes the sky). Embedded within traditional song cycles, dance rituals, stories, and artistic expressions, these pathways enable individuals to traverse vast distances while reciting the songs that describe landmarks, water sources, natural features, and sometimes stars and constellations. These routes serve as crucial connections between Native group ancestral lands, carrying intricate geographical, mythological, and cultural information giving directions on how to travel across Australia to visit other Indigenous groups.
- Light pollution is quickly starting to impact our dark skies. Due to light from cities and satellites, it is harder than ever before to see the stars and galaxies with the naked eye. Light pollution is not only affecting dark sky preservation, but is also adversely affecting our vision, bird migration patterns, and newborn sea turtles.
- Peter's message to younger generations is to pursue what makes you happy.
Resources:
Manufacturing the New Artemis Lunar Drill - Episode 26
Behind the Wings
09/25/23 • 27 min
On today’s show we’re getting an inside look at the design, testing and manufacturing processes at Honeybee Robotics, as they build a key component for the Orion Spacecraft, and a new lunar drill.
Don your bunny suits, because we are excited to bring you inside a clean-room and experience first-hand how space hardware is made from prototype through manufacturing! Tune in to hear from Andrew Maurer and Isabel King of Honeybee, as we get a behind the scenes tour at their production facility in Longmont, CO. THIS is going to be cool!
We’ve explored the Artemis program on the show before, if you missed those episodes go back and give a listen to episode 10 to hear from an Orion spacecraft engineer, and episode 21 as we compare Apollo and Artemis with former NASA Astronaut Harrison Schmitt, and historian Dr. Teasel Harmony-Muir.
Key Takeaways:
- The Artemis Project aims to land near the southern pole of the Moon so that we can investigate and bring back samples of lunar ice. We can then test it and see how it got there and if it’s drinkable!
- Orion is the name of the spacecraft that will take astronauts to space, and Artemis is the name of the overall mission.
- Honeybee’s products are rigorously tested before being sent to NASA. Vibration, thermal, and human testing are just a few that help ensure safety and efficiency. They even have astronauts test and give their input!
- The lunar drill that Honeybee is creating will enable astronauts to drill about 3 meters into the Lunar Surface and collect several rock and ice samples.
Resources:
The Pilot Changing Hollywood Filmmaking - Episode 52
Behind the Wings
04/21/25 • 37 min
Aerial Coordinator and Stunt Pilot Kevin “K2” LaRosa shares how he brought some of the most complex aviation movie scenes to life.
In this episode, Kevin discusses designing and flying the modified L-39 CineJet, filming iconic movies like "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Devotion", and training A-list Hollywood actors. If you’ve seen aerial cinematography on the big screen lately, it’s likely Kevin had a hand in it. Be sure to tune in because there's an exclusive announcement this episode! This one is going to be cool!
Want to hear more "Top Gun" stories? Check out Episode 40 with "Maverick" Stunt Pilot Scott "Intake" Kartvedt!
Resources:
- Kevin LaRosa's Website
- Interview: Kevin LaRosa II, aerial coordinator and lead camera pilot for ‘Devotion,’ on those high-flying sequences (Awards Watch)
- The Aero L-39 Albatros (Wikipedia)
Chapters:
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Podcast Q&A
Why did you start this show?
To inspire, educate, and excite the next generation of aerospace leaders by telling the best stories.
What do you hope listeners gain from listening to your show?
There is a lot to learn! Hear stories and science from astronauts, fighter pilots, STEM professionals, and so much more.
Which episode should someone start with?
Are you interested in space? Check out episode 41 "What Does Space Smell Like?" with NASA astronaut Tom Jones! Or if you're interested in aviation, check out episode 44 "Electronic Warfare on the EA-6B."
Which have been your favourite episodes so far?
Our personal favorite is Episode 30 "America's Secret MiG-23s" where you'll hear from CONSTANT PEG pilot John Mann and his experience flying the MiGs.
Which episode are you most proud of?
Ep 47 "AI's Military Future with the USAF Secretary" where we hear from retired United States Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and his thoughts on AI in military aviation.
What is your vision for your show?
To continue telling the best aerospace stories.
What is your favourite other podcast that isn't yours?
We like the Fighter Pilot Podcast.
How did you come up with the name for your podcast?
It's time to go Behind the Wings!
Tell us a bit about yourself
Based on our hit YouTube and PBS series of the same name, the Behind the Wings podcast will cover everything from aviation history to the future of space exploration with thought leaders and experts in the industry.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Behind the Wings have?
Behind the Wings currently has 66 episodes available.
What topics does Behind the Wings cover?
The podcast is about Leisure, Space, History, Museum, Aviation and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Behind the Wings?
The episode title 'The World's First Astronomers - Episode 29' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Behind the Wings?
The average episode length on Behind the Wings is 28 minutes.
How often are episodes of Behind the Wings released?
Episodes of Behind the Wings are typically released every 13 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Behind the Wings?
The first episode of Behind the Wings was released on Jun 4, 2022.
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