ABOUT THE SHOW
The Fighter Pilot Podcast is the internet show that explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, and—most importantly—the people.
New episodes air about weekly and feature expert guests who help explain a variety of military aviation-themed topics, such as how ejection seats work, the theories involved in hypersonic flight, and what it’s like to land a high performance jet fighter on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
FPP episodes and related videos can be found on our YouTube channel and audio-only versions are available on most podcast players.
The show is active on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Exclusive content and early access is available to those who help financially support the show on Patreon.
To learn more, partner with us, or leave a question to be answered on an upcoming episode, email questions@fighterpilotpodcast.com.
ABOUT THE Host
Colonel (ret.) Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton is an experimental fighter test pilot, national security expert, and internationally recognized leader in artificial intelligence and autonomy. He most recently served as the inaugural Chief of AI Test and Operations for the Department of the Air Force, helping to guide the safe integration of artificial intelligence into operational military systems.
Hamilton is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with more than 20 years of service and over 2,200 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft, including all three variants of the F-35. His operational career began as an F-15C pilot, where he supported multiple Red Flag exercises and real-world Operation Noble Eagle missions defending the homeland — at times escorting Air Force One and protecting the President of the United States.
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Following his combat tour, Hamilton attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, where he participated in the initial testing of the Automatic Air Collision Avoidance System (Auto-ACAS). After graduation, he served as an F-15C and F-15E Instructor Experimental Test Pilot before moving to the Pentagon as a Program Manager for the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35). In that role, he oversaw the flight test enterprise for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, managing an 18-aircraft fleet of specially instrumented F-35s across multiple operating locations.​
Colonel (ret.) Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton
​​Hamilton later commanded the F-35 Integrated Test Force, the largest flight test organization in modern aviation, responsible for the developmental flight test of all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. He subsequently commanded the 96th Operations Group at Eglin Air Force Base, overseeing the flight test of 18 additional platforms, including next-generation hypersonic weapons and the first AI-enabled high-performance uncrewed systems.
He went on to serve as Director of the Department of the Air Force–MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator in Cambridge, Massachusetts — the Air Force’s first dedicated AI unit — helping bridge the gap between advanced machine learning research and operational military capability. Through his leadership, the Department advanced the integration of autonomous systems across mission sets ranging from small uncrewed aircraft to next-generation weapons and decision-support technologies. He also flew on the wing of a high-performance uncrewed aircraft when, for the first time in aviation history, an AI agent took control of a high-performance drone in flight.
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Today, Hamilton advises emerging technology companies working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, autonomy, and national security, and serves as Advisory Board Chair for Gravity Industries, the world’s only operational Jet Suit company, where he is also among the first American pilots qualified to fly the system.
In addition to his work in technology and national security, Hamilton is the founder of STEM-ED, a nonprofit organization that runs the National Aerospace Robotics Competition — connecting students with engineers, pilots, and technologists to inspire the next generation of innovators in aviation and autonomy.
A high school dropout turned fighter test pilot, Hamilton now speaks globally on leadership, human–machine teaming, and how individuals and organizations can perform at their best in environments defined by complexity, risk, and rapid technological change.
ABOUT THE Founder
Hello! My name is Vincent Aiello, callsign “Jell-O” (more on callsigns in episode 2), and I am the founder and host of this show and the author of Through the Yellow Visor.
My infatuation with military jets began when I attended an airshow at 8 years old and quickly became my life calling. After college I was fortunate to spend nearly a quarter century as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot flying aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and A-4 Skyhawk. I deployed overseas on aircraft carriers numerous times and was selected to attend and instruct at the prestigious U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN.
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Throughout my career I frequently met people who reminded me of the public’s more-than-passing interest in military aviation. Responses to learning what I did were typically, “that’s so cool!” or, “man, I wanted to do that, but….” Circumstances permitting, the new acquaintance and I would frequently spend the next several minutes (or sometimes hours) discussing what it was like to fly a high-performance jet fighter, pull G’s, or land on an aircraft carrier at night.
This fascination with my profession was humbling and not unique to me—most of my fighter pilot friends report similar interactions.
​Before retiring from the Navy in early 2017 I knew it was important to find a way to stay connected to the profession that so indelibly shaped my life. I also realized there must be many people out there who would love to know more about the world of combat aviation but might never have an opportunity to find out, short of a chance encounter with a military pilot.
The Fighter Pilot Podcast seeks to satisfy both.
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