10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit
10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

Steve Davies

Overview
Episodes

Details

Interviews and anecdotes from military pilots and aircrew from across the globe. As the rule says, so long as it's 10 percent true, you're allowed to tell the story! Head over to the 10 Percent True YouTube channel to listen and watch at the same time.

Recent Episodes

The AC-130 Spectre Gunship at War
DEC 19, 2025
The AC-130 Spectre Gunship at War
Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list0:00 intro and welcome back Buck1:38 weapon school genesis and selection6:21 3 times through and a baby on board!7:57 standing up the school12:42 light grey snub comes full circle!16:17 fighting institutional resistance in AFSOC18:16 the value and the sanctity of the debrief19:16 bilat story - AFSOC resistance continued23:10 prefacing weapon effects videos and opening eyes on BDA29:23 continuing the development story (FARP mission), regaining lost skills32:08 a negative experience 33:28 a positive experience (Hind story)37:45 decompression after the WIC, follow on assignments before returning as commander including some good bad and ugly 47:45 the slow clap 3 star - how does someone fail their way to the top?51:14 AFSOC culture, question marks, continued tribalism? 55:51 working with spec-ops operators58:40 “taking Tonopah”1:01:50 protection from and integration of fast movers1:06:03 dates 1:06:50 weapons officers deployed and first combat?1:08:10 setting the stage1:10:25 early days of combat 1:12:55 mission story - briefing on a post it note1:22:05 taking stock and stopping counting1:23:55 accepting the risk of descending below cloud and being shot at? 1:24:58 debriefing and decompression 1:31:15 feedback from “customers” (operators)1:32:50 another mission story featuring close calls, pointed feedback and subsequent fallout1:50:10 summarising the aftermath of the mission - and the greatest feedback1:54:10 the investigative perspective?1:57:50 need to be pragmatic in the face of AF “integrity”?1:59:52 pre-visualisation vs “just send it” 2:02:30 trying to mitigate operator dismay at refusal to engage2:05:47 other coalition partners - working with Brits?2:07:54 liaison/exchange?2:09:20 2nd DFC?2:09:50 Air Commando Hall of Fame2:13:18 reviewing more video clips2:25:20 the boat one!2:30:20 Phantom lovers avert your eyes2:32:02 funny mission story (the Padré)2:37:20 changes and the future of gunship2:44:14 letting go difficult?2:48:05 potentially another episode and wrapping up
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171 MIN
Inside the AC-130 Gunship - Capabilities, Employment and Weapons
DEC 5, 2025
Inside the AC-130 Gunship - Capabilities, Employment and Weapons
Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list0:00 Support the channel0:33 welcome back Buck and episode outline2:59 an appeal and a thank you 5:28 AMA (Jim’s) question - division of labour among crew 10:43 Maintaining SA once engaged 13:20 journey to the Air Force and route to the Gunship17:10 route to AFSOC20:08 any lack of fulfilment having missed out on fighters?24:00 getting into AC-130 and history of the aircraft 26:31 getting mission qualified 30:43 explaining the orbit (and the finer details thereof) and managing the gun platform 35:51 details up front, HUD (geeks rejoice!)43:20 H model51:23 funny story time!53:23 returning to description including sensors, countermeasures, removal of M61s, getting “shovel qualified” and the smell of ‘Murica!1:01:36 Black Crow sensor1:03:28 40mm1:04:18 APQ-45 1:05:33 U model differences1:08:08 refuelling port and some refuelling tales and tanker bros1:11:53 shooting the guns - in detail1:19:44 aircraft movement from recoil?1:21:03 stories for perspective 1:26:08 Responsibility of satisfying ROE1:27:13 weapon effects, weapon selection etc1:29:43 shooting a Phantom story1:32:38 returning to the “crowd pleaser” (105) and teasing the “smiley face”1:35:43 permissive vs non permissive environments 1:41:45 theatre tasking/focus/knowledge?1:44:38 massive teaser and reminder for air to air story!1:45:45 handling qualities and eng fire tale1:52:45 no notice checkrides1:53:58 2 engines out on one side?2:00:21 the mission and the dangers2:01:48 returning to double engine failures2:04:03 130H instruments and elective engine shutdowns2:06:08 gear feather flap debriefing and debriefing in general2:10:05 wrap up
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129 MIN
Grease Panarisi 10PCT EP73 Part 5
NOV 21, 2025
Grease Panarisi 10PCT EP73 Part 5
Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/listGrease Panarisi, 10 Percent True Episode 73 Part 50:00: Support the channel3:10 Welcome back Grease - and ama question from Blair regarding maritime strike role for the Strike Eagle 7:18 discord follow up on “stand-in” weapon system 13:50 AIM-174 known to USAF? 14:10 Strike Eagle in maritime strike 20:03 fast forward to Quick Strike (mine) 31:13 Grease channels Barnes Wallis 35:53 proving the concept 38:33 carrying the mission forward “quick sink” 41:33 cat and mouse game of weapon evolution and counter weapon evolution 44:08 searching for Starbaby “dirt” 45:53 returning to the career timeline - back to Edwards as a Group Commander 52:19 surveying the command 58:47 the job and the frustration of risk avoidance/mitigation/transfer 1:03:23 any specific examples - APG-63… 1:08:08 PACS upgrade for Strike Eagle and “Raptor Alert” 1:10:18 most important task as group commander 1:13:34 the Global Hawk tale 1:39:01 memorial services and the darker days of group command 1:42:25 lighter times - A-10 emergency divert 1:48:33 how to recover from a week with no runway?! 1:49:41 F-16 spin training event 1:56:25 ejection considered? 1:59:44 Risk 2:06:46 returning to career and involvement in AESA for the Strike Eagle……. 2:15:38 and AIM-9X (“a missile that can turn up its own ass”) 2:18:08 no JHMCS for WSO discuss 2:20:08 IRST 2:23:53 the future, CCA/loyal wingman? 2:34:34 defining “game changing” and the “red air” project 2:42:13 modular airframe project 2:44:28 philosophically analysing China’s latest developments/revelations (intro teaser story) 2:49:13 “changing the mind of your adversary”, Gaza, Ukraine….. 2:50:43 thoughts on UAPs? 2:55:28 keeping enough SA to know when you’ve lost it…. 2:58:05 assessing the assessments from the Gulf War through to thoughts on China 3:02:23 debating Ukraine conflict 3:04:13 wrapping up, thanks Grease and teasing more!
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192 MIN
Alaskan Bear Hunters: Shamu Salcedo
NOV 7, 2025
Alaskan Bear Hunters: Shamu Salcedo
Subscribe to 10 Percent True for ad-free, early access to new episodes: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans10PCT EP77 Part 20:00 intro teaser (ejection story)0:49 welcome back Shamu1:55 bookending the instructor period, a shoutout, and the benefits of weapon school grads in the instructor cadre 8:17 to Alaska9:45 the mission(s)12:02 aircraft fit - cfts, 3 bags? 14:51 the bomber intercept mission17:52 JTIDS/FDL/AESA20:29 from APG-63 to AESA24:05 the user viewpoint/ergonomics25:40 minor frustration 26:58 basic skill atrophy?31:10 tactics development (still the same timeline requirements etc?)35:26 mixed formations?36:13 considering the technological overmatch on a peer conflict (China)?37:58 deployments?38:58 red/alaskan flags and AESA domination and 5th gen integration?41:18 IRST42:56 Alaskan survival aspects 45:15 Steve geeks out on NVGs for 5+ mins51:40 leaving Alaska - ACCIG for 9/11 and reinforcing the NORAD capability in its wake1:01:34 psychological considerations of potentially shooting an airliner 1:03:51 dealing with “doctors without a clue”1:05:20 Noble Eagle communication considerations 1:09:00 a Chinese balloons aide 1:11:58 a Canadian aside1:12:38 the atrophy of the NORAD capabilities 1:15:12 returning to Noble Eagle, major shift or just a step adjustment?1:18:08 Southern Watch/Noble Eagle a detriment to the Eagle community?1:23:52 weapon shelf life1:25:55 returning to career discussion 1:28:30 how does it feel to fly without being attached to a squadron?1:30:47 importance of rank?1:34:15 debriefing points?1:35:48 ORI expectations1:39:29 accident investigation1:49:20 Career Highlights incl Long Arrow and William Tell 1:56:45 WSEP?2:00:50 Constant Peg?2:02:35 Eagle fini flight2:06:11 is the “fighter pilot” still part of the identity/DNA and the right stuff2:08:50 a Viper flight with the 20th FW at Shaw….2:25:08 canopy/tank issues2:26:56 cross examination (psychological, physical, muscle memory aspects)2:33:44 last last question - life after Eagles2:37:47 Thanks Shamu and wrapping up
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160 MIN