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10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit

By: Steve Davies
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About this listen

 Interviews and anecdotes from military pilots and aircrew from across the globe. As the rule says, so long as it's 10 percent true, you're allowed to tell the story! Head over to the 10 Percent True YouTube channel to listen and watch at the same time.Steve Davies Science World
Episodes
  • Why I Chose Mirage F1 over Rafale | Benji Prefontaine

    Why I Chose Mirage F1 over Rafale | Benji Prefontaine
    Apr 4 2026

    10PCT EP86 P1 – Benji Prefontaine


    Chapters


    0:00 Intro Teaser – M1.3 Corner Speed, Avoiding the Merge, Low Level

    3:00 Welcome, Benji

    4:15 Subscriber Question (T-Stoff) – Super Étendard Carrier Ops

    10:35 The Hardest Flying of His Career?

    13:44 Route to the Air Force

    16:15 Initial Flying & Training Curriculum

    19:04 Early Impressions & Developing Mission Focus

    23:48 Choosing a Platform & Mission

    27:10 Explaining Career Choices

    29:15 The Mirage 2000N Mission

    31:32 Revisiting the Training Accident & Its Repercussions

    36:14 Ready for That Conversation?

    38:44 The Reward for That Risk

    40:22 Alpha Jet

    46:36 Air-to-Air Phase – How Formative?

    49:18 Armée de l’Air Culture

    56:00 Parents’ Opinions

    57:37 Mirage F1CT – Introduction, Impressions & Capabilities

    1:06:05 Electronic Warfare Suite

    1:07:40 MATRA 530 – Fox 1 Capability

    1:13:53 Were Export F1 Variants Better?

    1:17:00 Diving Deeper into EW Capabilities

    1:20:42 M1.3 Corner Speed – Avoiding the Merge at Low Level

    1:23:34 “Cheating” in the F1?

    1:26:10 DACT Opportunities

    1:27:57 Taking on the Mirage 2000

    1:30:48 Recce & Air-to-Ground Role

    1:36:45 ELINT System Autonomy & Mission Planning

    1:40:26 Datalink

    1:41:50 Flying Qualities (and Vices) of the F1

    1:46:04 Bird Strikes

    1:48:20 Experience on the F1CT & Close Calls

    1:50:58 Air-to-Air Refuelling – Tankers, Techniques & Night Ops

    2:02:15 Geeking Out & Previewing the Next Episode
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    32 mins
  • Will AI Replace Fighter Pilots? | F-35 Test Leader Explains

    Will AI Replace Fighter Pilots? | F-35 Test Leader Explains
    Apr 3 2026

    Cinco Hamilton | 10 Percent True | EP85Former USAF fighter pilot, F-35 test leader, and AI program director Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton joins the show to explain what artificial intelligence actually means for combat aviation. Drawing on his career flying the F-15C, standing up the MC-12 ISR platform, leading F-35 developmental test, and directing the Department of the Air Force–MIT AI Accelerator, Hamilton breaks down the difference between autonomy and AI, how machine learning is being tested in drones like the XQ-58 Valkyrie, and the ethical limits that should never be crossed. The conversation explores whether AI could ever control lethal weapons, how militaries test AI safely through millions of simulations, what AI could do inside aircraft like the F-35, and whether pilots risk becoming deskilled as automation increases. It’s a rare inside look at the future of autonomous combat systems from someone who helped build them0:00 Intro teaser – Drawing a Line 2:23 Welcome Cinco and Episode Outline 5:05 Quick Timeline Introduction 12:50 From Eagle to MC-12? 16:46 Outlining AI in Military Aviation and Defence 22:25 Thought Exercise Presentation 30:14 How Do You Ensure the AI Drone Doesn’t Hit the Bus? Should There Be Concern? 36:37 The Practicalities of Putting AI in the Driving Seat 40:22 How Nuanced Does AI Have to Be to Be “Good Enough”? 45:00 From Theory to Implementation 50:42 Can It Be That Simple? 53:22 Adversarial Developments and Excluding AI from Nuclear Decision-Making 1:01:00 AI Applications in the F-35 and Whether Loyal Wingman Is Possible Without AI 1:06:45 Deskilling of Operators 1:14:22 Audience Question (Nucks) 1:17:00 Audience Question (Matthew) 1:20:55 Audience Question (Biggles-Tintin) 1:23:20 Unlocking the Last 20% – Why Write It? 1:26:50 Balancing Risk in Test Flying and the Role of Faith 1:33:50 How to Get the Book 1:35:10 Thanks to Cinco (Plus the Callsign Story Bonus!)
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 42 mins
  • 10 Percent True Channel Update March 2026

    10 Percent True Channel Update March 2026
    Mar 22 2026

    10 Percent True Channel Update March 2026
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
All stars
Most relevant
How has this not got any reviews yet?!

I stumbled across this earlier in the year, and it's been my 'go to' commuting listen. It's more Oral History than interview, compared with many other podcasts, and so much better for it. Steve knows when to ask a question (which are always very well researched, by the way), and when to let someone just talk.

Many of the interviews are spread over multiple podcasts and last hours - the depth and breadth of them is incomparable.

The interviewees are generally of late 20th century aviation vintage and have some fascinating stories from Vietnam/Falklands/Cold War/Desert Storm.
I really can't rate this high enough - my best ever find on Audible.

Amazing stories, brilliantly told

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The most in-depth, informative aviation podcast out there!
The guests are well chosen for the subject topic and the questions are well researched and put to the guest(s), Steve (the host) always knows when to keep quiet and let the speakers flow and also when to interject to either encourage more concise information, or move the conversation onto a different topic.
You also can feel a real sense of rapport between the aircrew and Steve which helps.
There never seems to be time restraints, some podcasts are broken up into 2 or more episodes which works very well.
I'm very grateful for all involved in the production of these podcasts, They've kept me entertained and educated in a subject that I have a keeninterest in.
Even if you don't share the same passion for military aviation as I do, it's worth listening to get an impartial and concise view of flying from the worlds elite aircrew.
Thank you

The best military aviation podcast out there

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