Author: Xtended

Bryan Wheelz is an Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic who has worked across multiple aircraft types. He has worked in aviation maintenance supervisory and management positions and is passionate about aircraft safety. He is also the host of the podcast ‘The Good the Bad and the Ugly: The Aviation Maintenance Industry – Raw’!

Michael Napier is an experienced author with multiple published titles to his name. An ex-RAF Tornado pilot with combat experience over Iraq, he is thorough in his research and, because of his knowledge of air warfare, is highly qualified to write on the subject. His latest book Flash Points – Air Warfare in the Cold War is the focus for discussion in this episode.

Graeme Rendall is an aviation and unidentified aerial phenomena historian, researcher and author who is a frequent guest on UAP-related podcasts. He has written books on Northumberland aviation history, a trip around north-east Siberian airfields and two titles dealing with UAP (UFOs) – one on the “Foo Fighters” of World War 2 and another concentrating on pilot and aircrew sightings between 1950 and 1952.

Gerry Humphreys is a former RAF Wing Commander with over 2500 hrs on the Harrier. With over 10,000 total flying hours on everything from fast jets, general aviation, aerobatic, sport, land, sea, utility and training aircraft, he is now an organic beef farmer living in Limerick.

With limited funding available to the South Africa Air Force, we talk to Darren Olivier from African Defence Review about why their Saab Gripens are all grounded and what impact this is having on both flying training and operational readiness. On a wider front we discuss rotary wing and heavily lift capability and how this too is hindering SAAF operations.