This week kicks off with Kemo back in the saddle, and it goes sideways immediately!

Actually, this one starts fast. No warmup. No easing in. Just straight into stories that make you stop and go, wait… what?

Kemo’s back. And if you’ve heard him before, you already know this is going to be ridiculous. If you haven’t—well, buckle up. This is one of those episodes where the stories don’t just escalate… they stack.

First, we get into how his name came to be. Sounds simple, right? It’s not. Then somehow we’re talking about Marine Corps commandants, open bars, and a story that absolutely should not exist—but does.

Furthermore, things pivot hard into airline life. Boeing vs Airbus logic. MD-11 decisions. The kind of stuff that sounds boring—until it isn’t. Because the real question becomes: what happens when automation replaces instinct?

And then… carrier ops.

Night landings. Yellow shirts. That moment where you’re taxiing and thinking, “this feels wrong,” but also knowing it’s exactly right. Consequently, the conversation shifts into something deeper—manual flying skills vs modern systems.

Then comes the F-35 discussion.

This is where it gets interesting. Helmet tech. Sensor fusion. Seeing through the jet. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s not. The real debate? Whether pilots are gaining capability… or losing something critical.

Meanwhile, Kemo’s stories keep landing like punches. Red trucks. Target talk-ons. Situations where you’re listening and thinking, “there’s no way this ends well…”

But it does. Somehow.

Eventually.

And just when you think it’s wrapping up, we detour into three-eyed turtles, legacy, and a closing stretch that feels like the perfect bar story ending—half reflection, half chaos.

So yeah… this one’s a ride.

Doober comes back to tell of his acquisition of former US Marine Corps H-34 helicopter, YL-37. The helicopter restoration story starts with a mission that sounds simple. It is not. Actually, it quickly turns into a “wait, what?” situation.

This episode picks up with Doober and the ongoing saga of bringing YL-37 back from the brink. The aircraft is not just old. It is stubborn. Furthermore, every step forward seems to uncover two new problems.

At first, it looks manageable. Then reality shows up. Parts are rare. Systems are tired. And the deeper you go, the more you realize this is not just a restoration. It is a resurrection.

Consequently, the team has to make decisions that are equal parts engineering and gut instinct. Do you rebuild? Replace? Or walk away? (Spoiler: nobody walks away.)

Meanwhile, the human side of this story becomes the real hook. The persistence. The frustration. The small wins that feel huge. Actually, those moments are what keep the whole thing moving.

Then comes the turning point. A breakthrough that shifts everything. But does it stick? Or is this just another setup for the next problem?

By the end, YL-37 is more than a machine. It represents effort, risk, and a refusal to quit. And yeah… you will absolutely wonder if you would have stuck with it this long.YL-37 helicopter restoration story starts with a mission that sounds simple. It is not. Actually, it quickly turns into a “wait, what?” situation.

This episode picks up with Doober and the ongoing saga of bringing YL-37 back from the brink. The aircraft is not just old. It is stubborn. Furthermore, every step forward seems to uncover two new problems.

At first, it looks manageable. Then reality shows up. Parts are rare. Systems are tired. And the deeper you go, the more you realize this is not just a restoration. It is a resurrection.

Consequently, the team has to make decisions that are equal parts engineering and gut instinct. Do you rebuild? Replace? Or walk away? (Spoiler: nobody walks away.)

Meanwhile, the human side of this story becomes the real hook. The persistence. The frustration. The small wins that feel huge. Actually, those moments are what keep the whole thing moving.

Then comes the turning point. A breakthrough that shifts everything. But does it stick? Or is this just another setup for the next problem?

By the end, YL-37 is more than a machine. It represents effort, risk, and a refusal to quit. And yeah… you will absolutely wonder if you would have stuck with it this long.

This episode proudly sponsored by DCArtworks.net and OneSkin at https://www.oneskin.co/SoThereIWas #oneskinpod #sponsored #ad

This is part two with Al Cisneros, and this time, it opens in a hurry. No notice. Grab the jet. Haul critical intel. Get it to Saigon—fast.

Actually, what starts as a straightforward courier mission quickly takes on weight. The tasking is urgent, the stakes are real, and the realization hits that this flight matters far beyond just flying from point A to point B.

Furthermore, that opening story sets the tone for the entire episode. From there, the conversation expands into a full career arc. Early uncertainty. Lessons learned the hard way. Moments of pressure that shape judgment and confidence.

Consequently, the stories build into something bigger than individual flights. You hear how experience stacks over time. How decisions compound. And how leadership isn’t assigned—it’s earned. Anf of course, what a small world Aviation in general is, and Naval Aviation in particular.

By the end, the through-line is clear. The guy flying that mission becomes the one others look to for direction.

And yeah… the path between those two points is anything but predictable.