Episode 30 - America's Secret MiG-23s

Behind the Wings

An American MiG-23 pilot reveals long-held secrets in this in-depth conversation about a declassified program, Constant Peg.

On today's show, we’ll meet John Mann who flew in the first-of-its-kind adversary training program, Constant Peg, and take a deep dive into some of the most popular questions we got from you, our listeners. Established in 1977, this top-secret program aimed to train American pilots against the very same MiGs they may one day see in combat. Mann was an instructor who flew the MiG-21 and 23, and co-host John Barry flew in the program as a trainee. This one is going to be cool!

If you missed Part One, check that out on Wings Over the Rockies YouTube channel: America's Secret MiG-23s | Behind the Wings - YouTube.

Episode 30 marks the end of Season 3 of the Behind the Wings Podcast. We'll be taking a short break and will be back in the new year for Season 4.

Key Takeaways:

• John Mann served 24 years in the US Air Force where he had the opportunity to fly many aircraft, including the F-4, F-15, MiG-21, and MiG-23.
• Mann first flew as a trainee at Constant Peg and later flew the MiGs as a trainer.
• The MiG-23 was a very fast, beefy airplane, but it didn't turn well.
• Pilots would attend to overcome "Buck Fever", learn how the MiGs flew, and practice dogfighting.
• The maintainers at Constant Peg were the backbone of the program, facing specific challenges sourcing parts, with no maintenance book, and often receiving aircraft that were in a compromised condition.
• John Mann's advice: There are lots of opportunities in aviation. Go pursue your dreams!

Resources:

• Red Eagles: America’s Secret MiGs by Steve Davies
• CONSTANT PEG: Secret MiGs in the Desert > National Museum of the United States Air Force™ > Display (af.mil)
• Red Eagle Brief
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MLD "Flogger" | Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (wingsmuseum.org)
• Dark Eagles : a history of top secret U.S. aircraft programs
• AF Declassifies Elite Aggressor Program (archive.org)