EPISODE TWENTY
Welcome to “Safe on Deck”. My name is Antonio Gemma More'. In the fleet I flew the MH-53E “Sea Dragon” helicopter, and these days I instruct the next generation of Naval Flight Officers in the T-6A “Texan II”. Throughout my incredibly short time in aviation I have been fortunate to meet a wide cross-section of aviators. Along the way I have done my best to document each and every flying memory, but eventually I came to realize that even the sharpest photo or the highest-quality video can only really capture so much.. Everyone I have met has a unique story to tell, and “Safe on Deck” is my humble attempt to capture as many of those exciting and inspiring aviation stories as possible.
Episode twenty is part two of my interview with CW4 Brandon Stites. Brandon enlisted into the United States Army in December of 1991 as an Electronics Warfare/ Intercept Aviation Systems Repairer. After applying to Army flight school no less than four times (7 boards), Brandon earned his wings at Fort Rucker, Alabama and was selected to fly the CH-47D “Chinook” heavy-lift helicopter. Next, Brandon crossed over into the world of Army fixed-wing flying where he flew the RC-12N/P/X “Guardrail” and C-12U/J/V “Huron” flying in combat over Afghanistan and Iraq. During his career in the cockpit Brandon served in a wide variety of jobs including as a flight lead, operations officer, unit trainer, electronic warfare officer, training officer, senior instructor pilot, standardization instructor pilot, instrument flight examiner, maintenance test pilot, and maintenance officer. On the heels of a distinguished active-duty Army career spanning twenty years and two months, Brandon transitioned into the civilian aviation sector where he flew as a helicopter EMS pilot, base manager, and regional aviation manager for the Med-Trans Corporation. Brandon currently serves as chief pilot for “Sherpa 6”, a veteran-owned defense contractor specializing in ISR, logistics, and sustainment operations in support of the United States Government.
Thank you for taking the time to listen. In the future, I plan to continue to share similar interviews with both current and retired military aviators. If you have a question or a suggestion for a future interview please leave it as a comment below. “Safe on Deck” episode twenty, part two, with CW4 Brandon Stites. Enjoy!
Podcast timestamps:
1:51 - "Turn your TV on: we aren't flying tonight.." - 9/11
25:01 - Transitioning (back) into the world of Army fixed-wing ISR flying
39:31 - "The most advanced piece of navigation equipment on the plane was a Garmin 396.."
1:03:56 - Flying DVs to and from the "Glass House" in Iraq aboard the C-12 "Huron"
1:29:10 - Near-midair collision over Balad
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** The views and opinions presented on “Safe on Deck” are my own and those of my guests and do not represent the official policy or position of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or its components. **
6 сен 2024
