Behind the Wings

Rick Crandall

marketing@wingsmuseum.org

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

Booking Overview

Behind the Wings pairs aerospace/space history with leadership and real-world lessons from decision makers who lived the events. For PR professionals, it’s a strong platform for thought leadership tied to aviation history, national security, and space exploration—especially when guests can connect technical or mission expertise to human leadership under pressure.

Metrics

Episodes: 94

Frequency: Biweekly

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 the Behind the Wings podcast (Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum). He interviews aerospace and national security leaders and experts to connect aviation history, Cold War programs, a...

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
High-level aerospace and military leadership experience (e.g., senior Air Force/Navy/DoD officers, decorated fighter pilots, former NASA officials/contract leaders, or recognized aerospace historians/subject-matter experts). Strong first-hand ties to major aerospace or national security events, programs, or investigations; ability to articulate leadership/decision-making lessons clearly for a general audience.
Required Achievements:  
Senior command roles (squadron/wing/flag officer experience), Combat flight and/or major aerospace operational leadership, Involvement in national-security or major space program incidents/investigations, Notable decorations/awards (e.g., service medals, Air Force/NASA-related recognition), Post-service public speaking or continued leadership in aviation/aerospace

Recent Guest Discussions

Major General John Barry - Leadership Under Pressure; Cold War Alert Missions; Combat Targeting And Restraint; Organizational Crisis Lessons; Leadership After Tragedy; Aerospace Command Experience.

Col. Thomas H. Kirk - Aerial Combat And Mission Leadership; Survival And Resilience As A Pow; Discipline And Mindset Over Long Captivity; Leadership Across Extreme Conditions; Post-service Leadership And Speaking.

Recent Topics

Aviation, Space, Military, Aerospace, Leadership

Episodes

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

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-...

Flying Soviet MiGs in the Nevada Desert - Episode 74

June 01, 2026

Rob “Z-Man” Zettel shares his story from inside one of the Air Force’s most secret Cold War programs, Project Constant Peg.In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with Z-Man, a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and former member of the legendary 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron, the “Red Eagles,” about what it was like to fly real Soviet MiG fighters in the Nevada desert. From the F-4 Phantom and F-5 aggressors to the MiG-21 and MiG-23 at Tonopah Test Range, Zettel offers a firsthand ...

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