Interview with Wild Weasel Pilot

"I'M A FIGHTER PILOT!"

"Wow, how many air to air engagements have you been in?"

"Well ... uh... none ... but one time I almost shot down this plane full of diplomats!"

"So ... you're a bomber pilot?"

"COME AT ME BRAH!!!"
 
The whole story he tells with the Egyptian F-16s involving getting in a quick tussle with Israeli jets is kind of confusing me... Or, just wanting to know more about the whole thing (I guess that's how you sell books). Was he in an Egyptian jet? Or was he the only american in a flight of Egyptian planes and he broke off and the others just... kept going home? WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE?!?! Sorry... This is bothering me way more than it should.
 
DubyaDawg said:
The whole story he tells with the Egyptian F-16s involving getting in a quick tussle with Israeli jets is kind of confusing me... Or, just wanting to know more about the whole thing (I guess that's how you sell books). Was he in an Egyptian jet? Or was he the only american in a flight of Egyptian planes and he broke off and the others just... kept going home? WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE?!?! Sorry... This is bothering me way more than it should.
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Americans fighter pilots can do exchange tours with some foreign air forces -- having not read the book, my guess is that he was on exchange with the Egyptians (ergo, flying in an Egyptian jet and leading their formation), possibly even just for a short stint during something like Operation Bright Star.
 
Hacker15e said:
Americans fighter pilots can do exchange tours with some foreign air forces -- having not read the book, my guess is that he was on exchange with the Egyptians (ergo, flying in an Egyptian jet and leading their formation), possibly even just for a short stint during something like Operation Bright Star.
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You're exactly who I was hoping would chime in when I was posting that, haha. Alright that makes a bit more sense. I honestly didn't even know the Egyptians had American aircraft until this.
 
Hacker15e said:
I stopped reading at the "chicks dig guys in flight suits" part.
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The bagness seems high with this guy. Is his attitude typical in your community, or would you guess that he's trying to sell his book and play into the fighter pilot stereotype?

I'd assume the later.
 
Fwiw I have spoke with more than one fighter pilot who does not like that guy and/or disagrees with some of his "stories". Some think he embellished for the sake of entertainment. Someone I worked with closely on a project whose word I trust had some choice words to say about him that I will not repeat here.
 
jtrain609 said:
The bagness seems high with this guy. Is his attitude typical in your community, or would you guess that he's trying to sell his book and play into the fighter pilot stereotype?

I'd assume the later.
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IMHO you are correct with the latter. As @chrisreedrules noted, there are a number of Viper pilots I know who don't see events, and his participation in them, the same way as Mr Hampton has recorded them in his book and in interviews.

That being said, just like in the broader pilot community, there are plenty of fighter pilots who think very highly of themselves.

In addition, that writer for FoxtrotAlpha has written a number of articles that I find a little overly fanboy-ishly enthusiastic. Kind of surprising writing for someone who bills themself as a "journalist" (and, I believe, calls himself "Aviation Intel"), but whose journalism seems more just like that of an eager blogger. He seems to be a pretty good photographer, though.

Seems to me that Tyler's article doesn't do Dan Hampton a whole lot of favor in terms of how he is presented.
 
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I'm a big Jalopnik follower but I seem to enjoy FoxtrotAlpha quite a bit. I wouldn't consider it real journalism, and until now I didn't really know that's what it was claiming to be. I see it more of an enthusiast website. It's a bit nerdy I feel, and I question some of Tyler's opinions on Military technology, but I never viewed them as anything more than a better written a.net-type post. That said I tend to nerd out when it comes to military equipment as well, I'm sure I would see if differently if I was actually in the military.
 
Murdoughnut said:
"I'M A FIGHTER PILOT!"

"Wow, how many air to air engagements have you been in?"

"Well ... uh... none ... but one time I almost shot down this plane full of diplomats!"

"So ... you're a bomber pilot?"

"COME AT ME BRAH!!!"
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Right? Blah, blah, testosterone, blah, blah, babes, blah...
Look there, bro. That's a boat down there pitching in the darkness. Let's see you land.
 
Crop Duster said:
Right? Blah, blah, testosterone, blah, blah, babes, blah...
Look there, bro. That's a boat down there pitching in the darkness. Let's see you land.
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The next time the winner of a war is determined by how well you can land on a boat, the US Navy is going to totally kick ass.
 
Hacker15e said:
The next time the winner of a war is determined by how well you can land on a boat, the US Navy is going to totally kick ass.
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The next time they deign to leave the golf courses and engage expediently, the USAF is going to kick ass. ;)
 
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I'm not from a fighter community, but this article made me vomit inside my mouth just a little bit.

I'm even a Navy guy, but my idea of the kind of men that have lived the experiences that this guy seems to equate his to are -
Fighter pilot:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_Day
Fighter pilot:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Olds

I've worked as a defense contractor too, but "Mercenary"?! Really?! GTFO here! I will not be reading this book, but allow me to convey my own personal executive summary:

First thing every morning, Dan Hampton wakes up and pisses excellence. Blah blah, hot chicks and stuff, blah blah, fighter jets, booze, and pew pew pew, blah blah blah, mercenary, 5.11, Murica!.....(insert sound of mic dropping here)
 
ElihuSmails said:
I'm not from a fighter community, but this article made me vomit inside my mouth just a little bit.

I'm even a Navy guy, but my idea of the kind of men that have lived the experiences that this guy seems to equate his to are -
Fighter pilot:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_Day
Fighter pilot:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Olds

I've worked as a defense contractor too, but "Mercenary"?! Really?! GTFO here! I will not be reading this book, but allow me to convey my own personal executive summary:

First thing every morning, Dan Hampton wakes up and pisses excellence. Blah blah, hot chicks and stuff, blah blah, fighter jets, booze, and pew pew pew, blah blah blah, mercenary, 5.11, Murica!.....(insert sound of mic dropping here)
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Agree. Funny that our "deadliest fighter pilot" has never been in a real air-to-air combat situation. As I posted on Gawker, go find an old F-4 crew and report back.
 
Murdoughnut said:
Agree. Funny that our "deadliest fighter pilot" has never been in a real air-to-air combat situation. As I posted on Gawker, go find an old F-4 crew and report back.
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And the air-to-air conflict he cites is between the Israelis and the Egyptians?

It sounds like his Egyptian hosts were playing a joke on their guest. Egyptian pilots and their Israeli counter-parts are damn well on a first-name basis.

Until we helped depose Mubarek, the Israelis and Egyptians were damn close to being allies for the last 30 years.

In order to prevent incidents and accidents, the militaries of the two nations have dedicated communications links.

Why would a decorated combat pilot with some great stories to tell spin this yarn?
 
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