F-14 Tomcat Pilot's Wild Flat Spin Story 

Nasty is comfortable enough in his abilities and persona to admit fault, and also poke fun at himself. That’s not necessarily the case with all people or aviators who pride themselves on perfection which is unattainable. That’s a personal characteristic that we should all aspire to achieve if we want to keep learning and enjoying life. My .2 cents. Keep the interviews coming Mooch.

Keep up the interview series alive. It's a pleasure to have aviators tell their stories.

I was a junior enlisted member of VF-31 when then Cdr. Manazir was my CO. He was well liked and respected by everyone in the squadron. Thanks Ward for this interview!

Hey Ward, my brother Bryan got me started watching you with your tribute to Payne Stewart. I am the Martini of Nasty’s story so it was a great pleasure to watch you interview Mike. In March of ‘87 I gave a Marine TA-4F back to the taxpayers on an adversary hop. Nasty called me and one of the things he said was ‘now you’ve done something I haven’t done!’ I remember looking at the phone and then saying ‘Mike, don’t say that!’ Within a few months it was Nasty’s turn…. Nasty is a great guy and a true friend, he should have been the CNO. When he had the Nimitz he invited my family out for a Dependents day cruise and though he had billions of dollars and thousands of lives on his shoulders, he took the time with my kids to answer questions and show them around. My father Bill Matheny USNA’54 took us on a DDCruise when his classmate RADM Jim Austin had the Enterprise back in the late 70’s. It was on that day I knew I wanted to fly Tomcats off carriers. Being a Marine, I did the next best: Phantoms off the Midway where one of my shipmates and BK 10 roommates was Slapshot whom you just interviewed. Keep up the excellent work! Semper Fi, Martini

I feel Nasty so far has been one of your best guests and I don't say that lightly, because of all the great guests before him.

I was a plane captain in VF-31 when Nasty was CO. And at his charge of command party on the boat (we were deployed) he told me a rather different (classified I guess) story as to how he got/kept that call sign. But I was sworn to secrecy on it so it will remain my memory.

Mr. Manazir is a great story teller. I bet he’s a blast after a few cold ones.

What impressed me the most in the account of the flat spin incident is the deeply integrated mindset, in the pilot's mentality, between the possible rift between the perception of reality and reality itself.

Pilots are obviously the sharp end of the stick but design and procurement make that stick. Good to have someone in those processes who seems to have a clear vision of what needs to be done and what the obstacles are for getting it done.

Tomcats forever! Thanks for keeping the Tomcat alive with the stories.

Love these conversations. The fact that I can sit in with you two Tomcat experts and completely follow along in your conversation makes me feel like I’m not nearly as much as an outsider and amatuer as I know I am. Thank you.👏👏👏 Great conversation!

While I was an A-7 guy and there’s never any slack in Light Attack we all marveled in the Hornet. Nothing would replace the amazing Tomcat in my mind, she was such an amazing aircraft I loved seeing her flying and blessed to see VF-11 and VF-31 while I was in VA-37

All I know is Bryan Cranston needs to play this dude in a movie ASAP!

Ward, love your interview style. You let your interviewees speak fully without too frequent interjections. Just right! 💛🙏🏽

It sounds like we need the Super Tomcat.

Well that was a harrowing experience! Lost a very good friend in one of the initial flat spin episodes. Pat Kilcline was a great classmate and the guy we wanted to be. He went off to flight school and I went off to East Coast Destroyers. Best thing about our aviation community is their self analysis and honesty.

Thanks guys, As a Marine A-6, A-4 pilot , I smiled all the way thru this great video. 👍

That's a great story! You guys break it down to where non-aviators like me can understand it. Plus it also helps when you grow up watching The Final Countdown and Top Gun. I was riveted. Better than watching a movie. Nasty, I have just cracked open a Friday afternoon beer and am toasting to you and all the Naval Aviators protecting this country.

Who wouldn't want to work around guys like Nasty and Slammer.

Wow had me locked in, just the knowledge, perspectives and the ability to convey them is great. Glad you guys are working for us.

Deja vu all over again. Ward one of the reasons I like your videos is I knew most of the guys named. I was a flight instructor in VT 21 in '83 and knew "Nasty", "Martini" and most of the others. Always good to know they went on and excelled!

Nasty wad renowned as well a tremendous SHB breaking the deck pilot. He was one the finest sheet hot breakers of the fleet. You could tell “nasty” was doing some AB on the levers at the same time he was pulling hard into the SHB braking the deck. A top aviator.

This is one of the best stories I've ever heard, by one of the best aviators to ever do it... I come back every few months to hear this story...

To hear the story from both crew members is real awesome. Glad these guys were OK. Amazing stories.

Great interview. Really appreciate Rear Admiral Manazir showing that even when we suffer terrible events in life we can get through it and recover with the proper attitude and help from those around us.

I sincerely love these conversations... Technical flying info, fun stories, government insights, etc.. You guys have BIG brains, and I feel lucky to hear and see you. Thank you, Ward!

Loved the episode Ward and the conversation with RADAM Manazir. What a story and an experience he had with the ejection! It was really interesting that you were able to capture the event in different episodes from the perspective of both of the air crew that thankfully survived. You consistently impress with the quality of your content and the subject matter itself. Looking forward to the next one!

Man you two guys are fascinating and I thank you for the stories. What a life!

Love hearing from these old school pilots. Great interview!

Really loved this for a couple of reasons. I was a test engineer designing, programming and checking out the Test Equipment for the Receiver Exciter RF modules of the F14D. I really enjoyed the program and it was my third program after Roland, and F15E. It was so sad when it was cancelled. I liked Mr. Manazir's perspective on it and what the F14 brought to the table. His discussion of the flat spin was amazing along with the smile on his face.

What an amazing conversation to listen in on, just incredible, thank you !

“Cool chat”, I never got to see the big fighter in the Air but I have spent hours studying 103 in Hawaii & 211 at Pima. The thing I appreciate the most is the Tomcat community, the love for the jet is so apparent & I really enjoy the banter & story’s.

The admiral is a cool guy !! Can laugh and make fun of himself :)

Wow awesome discussion. I admit I know nothing here, but the takeaway I got was the F14 is still sorely missed in terms of capability range, loitering, speed …..the D version was badass and pilots are badass having to depart the airplane as part of training…that takes guts.

Absolutely great interview! I’m very thankful for pilots and servicemen like Nasty and Mooch. We need devoted, honest and hard hitting tell-it-like it-is people in our armed forces now more than ever. Thank you both for your service and continuing contributions in support of our country!

Fantastic Interview.. From a YG 71 O3 who made Med Deployment with VF84(F4J)CVA42 and wound up in subs..I wish I had served with this guy! He is ten years younger than I and I hope that he leads the Financial squareheads at Boing to see the Light!

I'd heard Slammer's version of this, but it was great to hear more detail about this event. Glad they both got out safely and went on to have fantastic careers in the Navy - great Americans of course. Tomcat story of legend for sure.

That last section talking about future conflicts and the requirements for fighting them is very interesting. Fantastic interview Mooch, look forward to seeing more

Wow what an amazing interview with Nasty. Such an articulate humble and intelligent man. Ward too just listened, he didn't feel the need to justify or top him with his own experiences.

Lt Manazir was my Division Officer in 1984 with VF-51. He was the coolest dude. He's the same guy 30 years later. He's a navy fighter pilot first and a navy officer second. That's how naval pilots are. They are just cool dudes. Tom Cruises wishes he were as cool. Im not surprised one bit, that he made Admiral, and was a carrier skipper. Hoo Yah Mike Manazir, you're an inspiration to all.

Outstanding sit-down with Mooch & Nasty. Honest badassery! Hollywood has zero on our Naval aviators.

Another great episode! Fantastic stories!!! Love it!! Tomcats Forever!!!!

That was a blast. Thanks, Ward. Nasty, sir, legend, thanks for sharing that fantastic story. I'm with the backseat, that was AWSOME! Take care, gentlemen, keep safe.

Enjoyed this video a lot. Appreciate the captions for the terminology. Not being a pilot myself(just an enthusiast)I know SOME of the lingo, but not all of it. Glad you made it digestable for the layman. Would LOVE to see a printed transcript of this (still have the Punks War trilogy on my amazon wish list). Great stuff.

Wow! Great episode! It explains a lot about requirements and procurement. As a former Air Force flyer, a lot of the decisions we saw at our level didn't make sense as it was flowed down to us. The episode explains a lot...oh, there's something about flying a F-14 in the episode too. ;) 😀

This shows what a man Rear Admiral Manazir is, that he could talk so openly about a failure/mistake accident like that ejection.

I was a plane captain and had Nasty as an xo and a co in vf-31. None better.

Thank you for your service NASTY. And Semper Fi from one Marine that was lucky enough to be stationed in the Beaufort area.

Not only did Nasty manage a top level career in the USN, he also managed to star in the blockbuster series Breaking Bad! What a legend! 👍

This guy pours leadership and awesomeness! In a flight suit as a pilot or even put him in full battle rattle as an infantry officer. I don’t know this guy, he just comes across as a true leader. We need more people like him.

Love these interviews. Now imagine the current costs of keeping the B-52H operational! They're all over 60 years old now!

my only experience with the F-14 was as a gamer over many years and many platforms. Harpoon was one of my favorite games and the F-14D with tankers was my main fleet defense and often strike asset. F-18s of all versions drove me nuts because of the range limitations, speed and weapons loadouts. You simply couldn't intercept the main air threats like Soviet Backfires, Badgers and Bears with F-18s like you could with the F-14. Or engage any ASMs when they were launched with the same efficiency. The combination of speed, long range, sensors and the AIM-54s with the F-14 was incredible in the virtual as well as the real world. Cost is a consideration, but if the Soviets ever had tried to take us on and especially take out the NATO fleets and carriers in the Atlantic and we didn't have the F-14 we very well could have lost.

Oustanding. Thanks, Admiral!

In the SWO community, the same thing happened that Nasty describes about the Pentagram making poor decisions. We had OHPs (Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates) and they were very capable multi-mission platforms. Then they removed the missile launcher and eventually decommissioned them all. The LCS replaced them but they were built all wrong, with minimal crews, rotating crews, this idea that a ship could have these "mission modules" for ASW, USW, SW, and MIW. The whole concept failed. The right answer would have been to restart OHP production and modernize the design, have the same crew size (the OHPs were designed for minimal crew manning in the 1970s, and we probably need large ships like this to have a large enough crew for maintenance, painting, etc.). These Fincaterri designs we're getting soon (the FFG 62 class) have been in service with allies and partners for a couple decades now. But the OHP hull would've been fine for modernizing. The silver lining is that we are actually doing well with indepently-deployed LCS doing the maritime interdiction (the narcotics thing in the SOUTHCOM AOR) and even moving toward forward-deploying them for counterpiracy missions around Africa. So these new frigates should be deploying in a few years with a carrier strike group like we did during the Cold War, because China is our next Cold War.

Awesome stories. He was my XO on CARL VINSON when I was the Air Bos'n there 2002-2005. As stated below, very well liked and respected! I remember my North Star talk too... Stay safe.

I am happy just to live in the same country as you guys, thanks.

My son Cmdr. Marc 'Oral' Stirtons (Ret) first call sign in VT-7 was 'Milfer'. He was daiting a older woman at the time. It was changed later in the Prowler VAQ-129 RAG to 'Oral' after 'Over Rotating at Landing' and stuck for the next 15 years. His story from me his father a Nam Marine Grunt. Mooch thanks for another great interview! Semper Fi!

Outstanding interview right there

That was a great segment Ward. Again, very informative. Aside from the interview with your father, this is the 2nd best segment in my opinion. Thank you sir!!!!

Fascinating.. what a story on the Tomcat and its unfortunate demise..

Awesome interview, Admiral Manazir is a pretty amazing guy.

Great story. His ego ejected well before his body did. It came down to survival and that was flawless.

Wow! A senior Officer who understands and is willing to talk about how the Hornets screwed up the carrier air wing's ability to reach out 1000 miles in a strike mission.

What an amazing humble account.

One of if not the best to date Vlog.

MAN! Mooch & Nasty are BOTH excellent storytellers! It helps that I grew up around pilots, and military people, so I was hanging with almost all of the acronyms and jargon, the entire time. But the way Nasty told his stories, I felt like I was in the cockpit watching it happen! Wow these guys have lived amazing lives!

Thinking the floating/sinking F-14 was a giant shark...now that was funny. Good story and well told sir, glad you came out unscathed.

I just click the "like" button automatically before actually watching the video. it never fails me.

What a great interview. Cheers Mooch and Nasty

One such example in which one service applied logical and sensible procurement decisions was the UH-1N problem; the Marines decided to opt for re-engining their Huey’s with Cobra engines and transmissions (after a lengthening frame plug and replacement of all rivets that would render the airframe zero-time) at a cost of $1,000,000 per aircraft (plus the additional cobra parts). The other service basically is riding them for another ten years (and how long the Y variant has been out?!?!) facing issues all along. I believe that big decisions made by folks who will not be around when they become effective is hurting us more than helping because sometimes the turn over is so aggressive that the picture is lost on these critical system. Great interview!

At the Pentagon, and based on experience.........Nasty is exactly the type of person you want helping to make these decisions. It's someone with boots on the ground who can say without a shadow of doubt, what will and won't work. Fantastic interview Mooch, and it was great to hear the flat spin from his perspective, and humility does play a role when he says that what I did was the wrong thing to do. The Aviation sector is unique in the 'we aren't here to blame anyone' - we just want the facts - we need the facts, to learn from the experience and try to ensure that it doesn't happen again. I really love these interviews Mooch; it is a side of proceedings that without this, we would probably never hear about. Love it. Cheers mate.

What an excellent interview. Such insight from Nasty. Thanks to both of you.

These are the best humans, ever. Thanks for everything, Mooch.

What amazes me is how much time it takes to tell the story vs. how fast he completed those actions in real time.

One of the VERY Best vlogs ever!

Correct me if I misunderstand. A carrier equipped with the F-14D and A6 is more capable than one with F-18s. This is due both decreased combat radius and a reduction in the amount of ordnance carrying ability. I hope the F-35 brings back the legs that our air wings had two decades ago.

Love to hear Nasty's stories

Im running out of popcorn for all these great stories.

Thank you Ward for letting us civilians a look behind the curtains. VERY INTERESTING STUFF!!

these interviews are great, endless stories. would love to see more interviews from other naval aviators as well!

I met Admiral William Sizemore II. in Washington DC. Come to realize we had mutual friends. “Jethro” and “Satan”. Of which we wrestled on the same team in our younger years. Great story!

Love hearing discussions like this. Thanks!

Nasty is such great guy!

Man this is awesome!! Cool story!

Awesome interview. The stories are great but the procurement side of the conversation was extremely interesting. I juggle issues and requirements all day long as well. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Mooch & Nasty, that was great!

Best one yet.

I love the explicit honesty of this gentleman.

Outstanding interview!

Great story. Annotations were very helpful.

Such great insite on the back workings on how stuff gets done!

What an INTERESTING gentleman. The design/engineering/cost benefit analysis of Pentagon thinking was FASCINATING. THIS is a gent that you need to have on more often. You didn't throw him any softballs, and he didn't duck an cover. GREAT interview

Fantastic episode. Thanks Ward.

My Uncle was one of the GE execs that developed the F110 for the F14 and always said that it was the most capable weapon system out there. We were also sad to see the fleet upgrade cut short but I think it was driven more by what stock the politicians owned.

What a pleasure to listen to! Thanks for the chat, very interesting

I love how the Admiral accepts responsibility for this. That’s the mark of a great leader in my opinion

Nasty is awesome !

What a great guy!

Now there's a guy that needs to run for President. Item 1: green light updated Tomcat 21 program

Great conversation, I enjoyed both of your perspectives on platform procurement and how the DOD "misses" on bridging from one type of aircraft platform to the newer one. Thanks for the great content gentleman, and thank you for yourservice.