S1E18- (Extremely!) Top Gun- Matt Hall- Australia's (Only) Elite Red Bull Air Race Pilot - a podcast by Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis

from 2019-05-30T01:00

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Matt Hall has been described as the ‘best pilot on the planet’. Could you make precision decisions while travelling at 450 km/h and pulling 12G. Matt does .... routinely. 



Matt is an ex Air Force F-18 Hornet Pilot and Fighter Combat Instructor and is now a Red Bull Air Racer.  He is an elite athlete, business owner and father. 



In this episode, Ben and Tim discuss Matt’s flying history, including in the F-18 Hornet and also with the US Air Force on combat operations in an F-15 Eagle. We discuss why Matt left behind his Air Force Fighter Combat Instructor career and how & why he got into being a Red Bull Air Race pilot.



The Red Bull Air Race is the Formula 1 of flying. It features the world’s best pilots in the world's fastest motorsport competition that combines speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile, lightweight race planes, the pilots hit speeds of over 400km/h while enduring forces of up to 12G as they navigate a low level slalom track marked by 25-metre-high, air-filled pylons.



And what about teamwork in the individual sport of Red Bull air racing? Matt discusses that too.



Hang on to your seats…. This episode will take you over the edge of what is known about human performance.



Amazing!



 



Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)



  • 2:20- Ben’s Audio Association Game for Matt


  • 4:20- Matt’s early flying days


  • 6:10- Matt’s total hours…. And why that doesn’t matter! (take note: Malcolm Gladwell)


  • 9:20- Into Air Force…. Habit Patterns and Flying Training


  • 10:55- Matt’s Air Force Resume….. Is he just a natural?


  • 12:20- About the Air Force’s Fighter Course


  • 15:00- Matt on thinking faster than the jet is moving


  • 17:10- Matt on transitioning out of being an Air Force Fighter Pilot


  • 19:20- What is Red Bull Air Racing?


  • 20:20- About the Red Bull Aircraft


  • 22:10- Comparing Formula 1 Cars, F18 Hornets and Red Bull Aircraft


  • 22:51- How important is teamwork?


  • 25:00- Flying, risk and danger


  • 26:40- Matt on having a wing strike during a race. And here’s the footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwKqD9ylLo


  • 28:30- Matt’s parachuting career


  • 29:20- How Matt deals with failure


  • 33:00- On routine.


  • 37:40- The toll on the body as an elite pilot (athlete)


  • 39:10- What’s needed to get to the top of the Red Bull Air race podium


  • 40:15- Matt on ‘Luck’


  • 41:20- What keeps Matt grounded?


  • 43:00- What makes Matt go always a little further?


Further episodes of The Unforgiving60

Further podcasts by Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis

Website of Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis