#aviation
18 episodes
#3117: Inside the Military's Secret Airline
The U.S. military runs a passenger airline bigger than Delta's international operation. Here's how.
#2988: How Aircraft Defeat Ice: Three Layers of Defense
Ice on wings can kill. Here's how aviation built three independent defenses against it.
#2981: Jerusalem's Lost Airport: What Happened to Atarot?
Once a bustling international airport, Atarot now faces demolition for housing. Could it ever fly again?
#2302: How Airlines Build (and Lose) New Flight Routes
What does it take to launch a new airline route—and why do so many fail? Dive into the hidden machinery of air travel.
#2298: The Regulatory Patchwork Behind Hebrew Announcements
Discover why non-Israeli airlines always have Hebrew-speaking crew members on flights to Israel — and what it reveals about aviation regulations.
#2296: When Fleet Size Changes Everything
El Al’s $1.5B Boeing 787 Dreamliner deal highlights the complex logistics of fleet expansion, maintenance, and airline operations at scale.
#1915: Why Cargo Planes Fly at 3 AM
While you sleep, massive freighters land every 90 seconds at secret hubs like Memphis, moving the global economy.
#1427: Under the Flight Path: The Invisible Toll of Air Travel
Is airport noise mitigation just "theater"? Explore the physics of sound and the hidden health risks of living under flight paths.
#1424: Beyond the Foam: The Secret Life of Airport Firefighters
They do more than wait for emergencies. Discover how airport fire crews manage wildlife, fuel spills, and runway safety every single day.
#1422: Controlled Collisions: The Engineering of Modern Runways
Discover the hidden engineering beneath airport runways and the physics of landing massive aircraft on solid Antarctic ice.
#1355: Open-Source Emergency SOPs: Aviation Checklists for Your Home
Learn how to apply aviation-style checklists to survive a high-stress emergency in under 90 seconds using tactical systems engineering.
#1332: Why a Flight to Athens Costs Less Than a Galilee Hotel
Why is a weekend in the Galilee pricier than a trip to Greece? We dive into the economics of Open Skies and the domestic hospitality trap.
#1140: The G-Suit Paradox: From Fighter Jets to Commercial Cabins
Transitioning from fighter jets to airliners is a total recalibration of physics, philosophy, and psychology in the "comfort corridor."
#1005: How to Invade Airspace With a Wink and a Nod
Go behind the scenes of the "mechanical kiss" at 25,000 feet and the diplomatic "winks and nods" powering modern Middle East air strikes.
#899: 44 Hours in the Cockpit: The Limits of Human Endurance
How do pilots stay alert for 44-hour missions? Herman and Corn explore the grueling science of fatigue management in long-range air combat.
#693: Decoding the Sky: How NOTAMs Telegraph Global Conflict
Think aviation alerts are just technical jargon? Discover how NOTAMs have become the ultimate open-source tool for predicting modern warfare.
#165: The Dual-Signature System That Runs Every Flight
Who’s really running the show? Go inside the high-stakes world of flight operations centers and the "ground-based co-pilots" managing the chaos.
#159: Are Airlines Already Bankrupt?
Is flying at odds with a livable planet? Explore the physics of aviation, the limits of green fuel, and the true cost of impact accounting.