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The Aerospace AdvantageAuthor: The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is proud to present The Aerospace Advantage, with Heather Lucky Penney as the host. Every week, Lucky takes listeners into the world of aerospace power and help the audience understand what it takes to fly and fight in the sky, while also protecting Americas interests in space. Whether talking to top generals, standing on a flight line full of combat aircraft, looking at a rocket being prepared for launch, or hearing from those who have laid it all on the line in defense of the nationthis podcast will afford unprecedented access and insight into where the combat aerospace community is going and why. Language: en Genres: Aviation, Government, Leisure Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Innovate to Survive: Vietnam Air Combat Perspectives Part 1 — Ep. 286
Episode 286
Saturday, 18 April, 2026
Episode Summary: The air war over Vietnam represents one of the most dynamic, evolutionary periods of airpower innovation. The U.S. entered the conflict optimized to execute strikes against the Soviet Union, defend the homeland as part of Air Defense Command, and a host of other roles. Few of these missions matched the operational demands of what unfolded over Vietnam. Airmen had to rapidly adapt and innovate. This impacted tactics, operational concepts, training, and technological developments. Some of the most important lessons from Vietnam didn’t take hold in the Air Force until the conflict’s conclusion, when a generation of combat-proven airmen pushed for enhanced training via concepts like an enhanced Fighter Weapons School, Red Flag, and the Adversary prorgam. They also pushed for an entirely new generation of aircraft that took form in types like the F-15, F-16, A-10, E-3, KC-10, B-1, F-117, and more. This episode seeks to learn more about this era by speaking to two legendary Vietnam veteran airmen: Col. Leonard “Lucky” Ekman, USAF (Ret.) and ace Col. Chuck DeBellevue, USAF (Ret.). Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Col. Leonard “Lucky” Ekman, USAF (Ret.) Guest: Col. Charles DeBellevue, USAF (Ret.) Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior Fellow for Airpower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Links: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #launch #ula
