Flying the F/A-18 Hornet - Chuck Magill (Part 1) 

The best part of this interview is when he talks about is mistakes, failures and the down times. Too often, videos like this only do the career high lights. I was a maintainer in the Navy. When young people watch videos like this it is important to see that your career in the military will not just be a series of highlight videos.

All, please do join to hear Chuck tell the story of his early Marine Corps fighter pilot career. I'll be recording Part 2 with him imminently, and we'll focus on his time at TOPGUN and WTI, and his time as an exchange officer flying the F-15C. Crucially, we'll also discuss his MiG-29 kill on 17 Jan 1991, to include him talking us through the original mission planning map he used for that mission - it's a treat as he's never shared it publically before.

I know Chuck Magill from OCS...I was one of his roommates from flight school. I was one of the guys who punched out. Chuck is telling it straight. Let's get together with Rickadee and Pete. Dog

I'm surprised he had time to become such an accomplished pilot and officer considering he was the greatest legal mind I ever knew

i really love the level of detail in these interviews. i learn more here than anywhere else.

Semper Fidelis Marine! Can't wait to hear the story of the Mig kill.

The best pilots always buy beer and assist in the over-G panel parties. I had a little interaction with F-18 guys when they would come to Holloman for fair weather flying. They showed off the glass cockpits and self diagnostic capabilities of the Hornets (that our F-15 A/B models didn’t have), and it was impressive. I recall we went to El Toro for a couple weeks back around 1990. Perhaps by that time, the USAF pilots had figured some things out, as they claimed they were kicking USMC butt. Who knows. Two of my clearest memories of that TDY: An F-18 sitting in the hangar we were working out of was 90% disassembled with all of its guts strewn across the floor in piles. No tags. I wondered how they were going to put it back together. Also, the dorm they put us up in had not one piece of unbroken furniture in it. 😁

Brilliant interview. Brilliant stories throughout. 6'1 to 5'11 in one easy step. Beers for the boys checking the jet afterwards - it's what you do. Buttonless blouses - brilliant Can't wait for part 2. Gonna be epic! Is there a part 3?............

As always, great interview, and Magill does not disappoint. The best of the best. Interesting to hear him talk about the early days of the F/A-18. The plane was actually getting a bad wrap, mostly by the F-14 folks. On a side note, I worked at an advertising agency that did all the ads for McDonnell Douglas, when we interviewed the crew, they went on and on about the plane, so we did an ad campaign called "Hornet Tails".

Really glad you were able to land this interview. Sly is someone I’ve wanted to hear from for a long time.

Great interview again! Fun to compare USMC to my USAF experiences. I always find the naval air perspective interesting - seems so much less structured and way more free than our system that shared too much with our Army heritage. Always loved flying against the Marines, did a great short deployment working with Hornets at MATS-1 in Yuma. Good stuff!

I wish we could go back and hear more stories from his first two squadrons. Can't wait for part 2,

I was most surprised to hear the Canadian and Aussi pilots went to the boar in the FRS.

Great interview.

yes!

Great interview, looking forward to part 2!

Great video. Thank you. Video has been liked and commented in. Keep em coming!

As always Steve wonderful and insightful episode, many thanks

Great video. I really enjoy the subtlety and depth of your questions.

Best podcast

Brilliant, thanks so much for sharing, great video

Wow, what a chill guy. Awesome stories and just tells it how he sees it. I really appreciate your interview style, not just a list of questions, you engage with people and draw out some real insight! ❤️👍

Incredible interview. One of the best, by the best. Can’t wait for the follow up.

Superb. What a wonderful channel. Extremely well presented, always thoroughly absorbing. What a way to learn.

A great podcast as usual, looking forward for the 2nd part and the Mig shotdown story.

Amazing Interview. I just finished your book on Constant peg and the red eagles and loved it…with your contacts and talent, would you consider another book on a specific operation such as El Dorado canyon?

The coolest interview you've done

Shoot, haven't even listened to it all yet and and I threw in a 👍 Been wondering if we'd ever hear from Mr. "Sly" (and the other "Gorilla's" - I think that was his outfit in '91).

So did the Hornet actually break when he pulled 10.5? what broke on it

Has a superhornet shot down any enemy aircraft in actual combat ?

How old is he now ?

His degrees are worthless because they came from ASU!