From F-16 to MiG-23: Gabby Drake

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:21 Callsigns and names
00:03:22 Assignment to F-16s at Nellis AFB in 1981
00:03:59 Tactics development of the F-16A – influenced by the F-4
00:04:30 Brief description of low-level tactics of the F-4
00:05:02 INS and INS updates in the F-16A, speed management and TOT information
00:06:12 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-4
00:07:02 Air to Ground deliveries in the F-16A
00:10:27 Air to Air radar in the F-16A and the F-4
00:12:40 Thoughts on going from a dual seat to a single seat fighter
00:15:18 F-4 Air to Air radar in the visual arena
00:16:01 F-16A Air to Air radar in the visual arena
00:17:25 What was the intended role of the F-16A in the early 1980s?
00:19:53 Gabby’s thoughts on the early F-16A radar
00:22:57 Air to Air and Air to Ground radar modes in the F-16
00:25:14 F-16A Maneuverability
00:27:10 The F-16 reclined seat, pulling g and neck injuries
00:28:17 Methods of dealing with high-g forces in the F-16A
00:28:59 Electrical Issues and flight control problems
00:30:52 Story of an F-16 pilot’s flight control issue and subsequent ejection
00:31:50 Story of a fatal F-16 accident due to flight control issues
00:32:20 Changes to F-16 EPU and flight control computer logic and the performance changes
00:32:52 Changes to the F-16 leading edge flap program due to structural damage
00:33:38 AoA Limits of the F-16A
00:34:35 G-LOC propensity of the F-16, and how it was recognized and addressed in the USAF
00:38:34 Gabby describes the physiological effects of G-forces
00:40:55 Auto-GCAS 
00:41:17 How tactics evolved in the USAF as the F-16’s advanced avionics were understood
00:42:17 Gabby describes how BFM/ACM in the F-16 differs from fighting in the F-4
00:43:25 Walkthrough of engaging in 3 v 1 ACM
00:45:15 Development of multi-fighter tactics for the F-16
00:46:15 Walkthrough of fighting Eagles with radar-missile capability
00:47:27 Discussion of the Exploding Cantaloupe maneuver
00:48:32 Steve questions how USAF safety culture affected training
00:51:06 Gabby describes an early F-16 mishap
00:53:58 Employment of the F-16 for strike/bombing, and how the F-16 fares when configured with a heavy air to ground loadout if bounced by enemy fighters
00:57:35 How aggressors of the time had to evolve to provide quality training to F-16 aviators
00:59:15 Gabby’s transition from the F-16A into the MiG-21 Fishbed as a Red Eagle and Aggressor, contrasting the MiG-21 and F-16
01:02:02 Gabby’s experience flying against Constant Peg as an F-16 pilot
01:04:03 How to defeat the MiG-21 in BFM
01:05:52 Steve references Gabby’s time as the Red Eagles’ MiG-23 high-time pilot
01:06:19 The process of Gabby transitioning from small, maneuverable fighters (F-16, MiG-21) into the MiG-23
01:09:52 Which Soviet missiles the Red Eagles simulated
01:10:27 Instructing at Luke AFB after the Red Eagles
1:12:30 Transitioning from Mig23 to F-16C was it a culture shock?
1:13:45 Viper radar mode 3/wartime
1:15:42 Russians in Winnebegos stalking the Nellis ranges
1:17:29 AMRAAM for the Viper
1:19:10 What did AMRAAM mean in terms of how you operate the Viper?
1:21:30 HOTAS geek out
1:23:05 Viper RHAW and "New guy audio" and workarounds
1:27:10 Scary Stories?
1:28:00 Spinning the Mig-23 Twice!
1:31:30 Recovering from "half" a compressor stall in the Mig-23
1:33:05 Flogger birdstrike
1:33:50 Flogger mishaps
1:40:30 Origins of "Gabby" and MiG-21 checkout
1:46:40 Final question - F-4 shutdown checklist

50 second plug for Red Eagles

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