Behind the Wings

Rick Crandall

marketing@wingsmuseum.org

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Booking Overview

Behind the Wings is a museum-backed aviation and space exploration show that brings in pilots, researchers, and aerospace experts to explain the history, missions, and future of flight. It’s a strong booking target for subject-matter experts who can connect technical aerospace work to real-world impact and public storytelling.

Metrics

Episodes: 95

Frequency: Irregular

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Estimated listeners: <1k

Gender skew: Male

Location: USA

YouTube: 275.0k subscribers

Instagram: 72.0k followers

Contact Information

marketing@wingsmuseum.org

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Host

Rick Crandall - Host of Behind the Wings. In recent episodes, he talks with aviation and aerospace experts (e.g., a Vietnam-era forward air controller and NASA researchers) about aircraft, missions, and the future...

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Aviation/space subject-matter expertise such as: former military aviators and test program participants; aerospace engineers and flight researchers; NASA/university/industry technical researchers; historians or practitioners with first-hand mission or program knowledge that can be explained accessibly to the public.
Required Achievements:  
Operational or test experience with notable aircraft/programs, Role in major aerospace research efforts (e.g., NASA research aircraft programs), Involvement in flight testing, advanced training, or classified/legacy aviation programs, Public credibility through experience that supports historical and technical accuracy

Recent Guest Discussions

Art Elser - Flying And Combat Operations In The Vietnam War Using The Cessna O-2a Skymaster And O-1e Bird Dog; Forward Air Controller Mission; Marking Targets Under Fire; Night Operations; Personal Reflections Returning Home

Jason Welstead - Nasa’s RAVEN Aircraft And Evtol Enabling Technologies; Advanced Air Mobility Concepts; Safety And Certification; Noise And Community Impact; Engineering Challenges Of Hover-to-forward Transition And Bridging Lab-to-full-scale Research

Siena Whiteside - Nasa’s RAVEN Aircraft And What It Enables For Evtol (electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing) Research; Safety, Noise, Hover-to-forward-flight Transitions, And Scaling Advanced Aircraft Designs

Rob Zettel - Project Constant Peg; Flying Real Soviet Mig Fighters In Nevada; Mig-21 Vs Mig-23; Training Against Real Adversary Aircraft; Secrecy And Culture Of Tonopah Test Range; Lessons And Legacy Of Constant Peg

Recent Topics

Aviation, Space, Aerospace, Military Aviation, History

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Behind the Wings
:

F-15, F-16 or F-22? A General's Verdict - Episode 77

July 13, 2026

Brigadier General Micah “Zeus” Fessler shares stories about flying the F-15 and F-22, traces Colorado fighter aviation from early biplanes to the F-16, and today's homeland defense mission.In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with “Zeus” about the aircraft, missions, training, and people that shaped his military career, including combat operations, Weapons School, and the Colorado Air National Guard. From the 120th Observation Squadron’s early Jennys to Buckley’s ongoing alert mission, M...

The Most Dangerous Plane to Fly in Vietnam - Episode 76

June 29, 2026

Air Force veteran Art Elser reveals what it took to fly low, slow, and exposed as a forward air controller during the Vietnam War.In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with former forward air controller Art Elser about flying more than 400 combat missions in the Cessna O-2A Skymaster and O-1E Bird Dog. From directing air support over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to helping Special Forces teams under fire, Elser offers a personal account of aviation, fear, courage, responsibility, and the long jo...

Will Air Taxis Change Everything? - Episode 75

June 15, 2026

NASA’s RAVEN aircraft is helping researchers explore one of aviation’s biggest next steps: electric vertical takeoff and landing.NASA’s RAVEN aircraft is helping researchers explore one of aviation’s biggest next steps: electric vertical takeoff and landing.In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with NASA researchers Siena Whiteside and Jason Welstead about RAVEN, the Research Aircraft for eVTOL Enabling Technologies. From air taxis and regional mobility to noise, safety, hover-to-forward-...

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