Behind the Wings

Human Factors Engineer Cynthia Hudy shares what it takes to design a spacecraft around the people who fly it.

We explore Cynthia’s role designing the systems inside Orion, from displays and controls to life support, radiation protection, and the everyday realities of living in deep space. We also discuss how astronaut feedback and human-in-the-loop testing are shaping Artemis II, the first crewed Orion mission to carry humans beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17.
From engineering for diverse crews to preparing humans for deep-space autonomy, this one is going to be cool!

What You'll Hear
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17
This 10-day flight around the Moon is the critical proving mission before astronauts return to the lunar surface.
Orion is designed like a “tiny house” in deep space
Every system inside the capsule is engineered so four astronauts can live, work, sleep, eat, exercise, and respond to emergencies in an extremely confined space.
Human factors engineering shapes nearly every design decision
Orion is built around human physical and mental limits, treating the crew as an essential part of the spacecraft system—not an afterthought.
The interior of Orion is where Artemis II differs most from earlier missions
Life support, a functioning bathroom, exercise equipment, food and water systems, and crew-controlled displays are all coming online for the first time.
Astronaut testing directly changed how Orion works
“Human-in-the-loop” trials led to real design changes, from how doors open in microgravity to how astronauts sleep, move, and access critical systems.
Artemis II is the proving ground for future Moon landings and Mars missions
What Orion demonstrates about comfort, safety, autonomy, and crew well-being will shape Artemis III and long-duration human exploration.
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NFL Alum and Pilot Jimmy Graham shares stories about stunt flying and how it helped him relax when off the field.

In this episode, we discuss how Jimmy earned his pilot certificates during his football career, airshow aerobatics, and his restored 1957 Army Beaver and Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey. We also explore Jimmy's role as Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, and his commitment to inspiring future aviators. From the discipline of professional football to the focus required in the cockpit, this one is going to be cool!

Resources:
Jimmy Graham Bio
EAA Bio
Young Eagles
Bell UH-1H Iroquois Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force)
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Fact Sheet (Wikipedia)
Chapters:
(00:00) - Intro

(01:04) - Meet Jimmy Graham

(01:29) - Football vs Flying

(04:18) - Early Aviation Inspiration

(05:52) - College Years

(07:25) - Unexpected Path to the NFL

(08:55) - Draft Day

(09:44) - First Huddle

(10:29) - Career Highlights

(11:04) - Motivation Shift

(12:11) - Flight School

(14:00) - Ten Licenses

(15:12) - Flight Training & Checkrides

(17:01) - Lifelong Education

(19:20) - Decision-Making

(20:30) - First Aerobatic Flight

(21:16) - Young Eagles

(23:08) - Aviation as Therapy

(25:44) - Jimmy's Aircraft

(28:36) - Growing Young Eagles

(32:31) - What’s Next

(35:33) - Advice

(37:33) - Outro

Retired Fighter Pilot Lt. Col. Tammy Barlette shares how flying the A-10 prepared her for operating UAVs like the MQ-1.

In this episode, she discusses the Warthog's capabilities, combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, controlling the Predator and Reaper drones, returning to jets after a spinal injury, and how she now shares lessons from the flight deck as a mental performance trainer. As air superiority continues to shift from cockpits to control rooms, we get an inside look at why the pilot's role is more complex than ever before. This one is going to be cool!

Resources:
Athena’s Voice (Tammy's Speaking Website) 
Crosscheck Mental Performance (Tammy's Training Website) 
A-10 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force) 
MQ-1 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force) 
MQ-9 Fact Sheet (U.S. Air Force) 
Chapters:
(00:00) - Intro

(01:21) - Balancing Perfectionism

(02:26) - Aviation Beginnings

(03:44) - Tammy's Pilot Journey

(05:15) - Flying the T-37

(06:53) - Selecting the Warthog

(08:22) - From ROTC to the Cockpit

(09:26) - Flying the Thunderbolt II

(10:13) - Favorite Stories

(12:17) - A-10 Capabilities

(13:28) - Close Air Support Training

(14:18) - Transitioning to UAVs

(15:59) - Flying the Predator

(17:58) - MQ-1 Capabilities

(19:09) - Separating Missions and Personal Life

(20:15) - Combat in Iraq and Afghanistan

(22:24) - Weapons School and the MQ-9

(26:03) - Changing Policies

(26:59) - From Jets to Drones to Jets Again

(27:54) - Flying Mistakes

(29:52) - Aircraft Performances

(30:36) - The Future of Uncrewed Aircraft

(31:22) - Mental Performance Training

(35:50) - Tammy's Advice

(36:45) - Outro

Retired Test Pilot Rogers E. Smith recalls flying the final SR-71 Blackbird flight and how a fuel leak grounded the aircraft forever.

In this episode, we discuss his Canadian and American military careers, flying experimental aircraft for NASA, and piloting a MiG-25 at 80,000 feet in Russia. From first to fourth-generation fighters, Rogers has flown nearly every U.S. jet and then some, all without ever attending a formal test pilot school. This one is going to be cool!
Resources:
Rogers' Website 
Rogers Smith's Bio (Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame) 
Rogers' SR-71 Career Synopsis (NASA) 
SR-71 Fact Sheet (National Museum of the US Air Force) 
Bell X-22 (Wikipedia) 
X-29 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Aircraft (NASA) 
Chapters:
(00:00) - Intro

(01:20) - Aviation Beginnings

(02:47) - Flying the F-86

(04:32) - From First to Fourth Generation Fighters

(05:06) - How Jet Capabilities Evolved

(08:58) - Becoming a Test Pilot

(09:56) - Favorite Airplane

(11:04) - The Bell X-22

(12:34) - The Grumman X-29

(15:16) - Joining NASA

(18:37) - Flying at 85,000 Feet

(22:16) - The Cockpit View

(23:40) - SR-71 Research and Testing

(27:44) - The Last Blackbird Flight

(29:40) - The Russian‑American Flight Exchange

(36:52) - Flying the MiG-25

(37:34) - Rogers' Advice

(40:32) - Outro

Retired AV-8B Pilots Capt. Frank “Pugs” Smith and Lt. Col. Luke “Warren” Jacobs take us behind the iconic Jump Jet and its 40-year legacy.

We are back with our regularly scheduled podcast! In this episode, they discuss carrier operations, vertical takeoff and landing, the challenges of maintaining the aircraft, and how the fighter performed its missions. The Harrier remains one of aviation’s boldest experiments, paving the way for newer V/STOL platforms like the F-35B. This one is going to be cool!
Resources:
The Harrier Jump Jet (Key Aero)
Operation Desert Storm (Air Force Historical Support Division)
The AV-8B Harrier II (Wikipedia)
Retiring Wings Over the Rockies' Harrier (YouTube)
Chapters:
(00:00) - Intro

(01:36) - Harrier Overview

(02:35) - Aviation Beginnings

(04:27) - The Jump Jet's 40-Year Journey

(05:28) - Like Flying a Dragon

(06:25) - The TAV-8 Trainer

(07:01) - Flying the Harrier

(08:18) - The A-4 Vs. The AV-8B

(09:19) - Carrier Operations

(10:36) - The V/STOL

(14:47) - Vertical Take Off Challenges

(17:10) - Dogfight Maneuvers

(18:15) - How Loud Was the Jump Jet?

(20:04) - Life Below Deck

(21:05) - Operation Desert Storm

(23:25) - Afghanistan Combat Missions

(25:53) - How Harrier Capabilities Evolved

(26:54) - Flying in Mixed Packages

(28:09) - The AV-8B's Legacy

(30:00) - Frank and Luke's Advice

(32:35) - Outro