Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes to present a major regional airshow?  We talk to Barb Haluska, executive director of the Field of Flight Airshow and Balloon Festival in Battle Creek, Michigan.  It's February, but June 30 through July 4 are just around the corner for Barb and her intrepid staff.  Listen in as we talk to the people who bring in the Thunderbirds, the Snowbirds, and many others to fill the skies with thunder and beauty each summer.

Ever hear a media reporter tell you that an airplane accident involved an engine stall?  In our experience, most reporters and members of the public get this wrong.  We discuss aerodynamic stalls and explain how they have nothing at all to do with the engine. 

Disclaimer:  Nothing in this or any other epidsode of the Airspeed podcasts is flight instruction.  You should seek the counsel and instruction of a certified flight instructor if you ever plan to experience stalls - or fly an airplane - yourself.  The descriptions in the Airspeed podcasts are general descriptions based on FAA literature and the pilot's operating handbook for several popular training aircraft.  They don't apply to all aircraft or to all circumstances.  Always consult the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations and any supplemental type certificates or other applicable data for the specific aircraft in question.

USAF Maj. Glen Richards, an F-16 instructor pilot at Luke AFB, joins us to talk about Air Force Aviation.  Maj. Richards talks about what it takes to become an Air Force Pilot (all the way from commissioning to flying the F-16 and other Air Force aircraft).  We also talk about how the best practices in both military and general aviation are sometimes the same.

Can you name six people cool enough to stand in for Van Halen in the only music video the band made in support of its critical 5150 album?  Try the US Navy Blue Angels, the ambassadors of US Navy and Marine aviation.  Here's an energetic summary of the (blue and) gold standard in precision aviation.  Find out why the Blues don't wear g-suits and lots more.

Ever feel the urge to go hurtling through the underbrush on foot with a radio direction finder chasing an ELT signal?  Or fly a Cessna 172 into a soon-to-be-restricted area so that the authorities can practive intercepting you?  If so, the Civil Air Patrol may be for you.  CAP, the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, has something for almost everyone.  This episode will give you an overview of the organization, its history, what it can offer you, and how you can find more information about it.

Here's as much of the USAF Thunderbirds as you can fit into a six-minute podcast (including an F-16 fly-by).  The most-asked questions about the precision flight demonstration squadron that's now well into its sixth decade.  If you haven't made plans to see the Thunderbirds at an airshow near you this summer, visit http://events.airforce.com as soon as you can!