E344: Fighter Pilot to 777 - Emergencies, 9/11 Scrambles and Flying Drew Brees

Former Air Force F-15 pilot Roy “Deacon” Qualls shares incredible stories from a 38-year aviation career that includes scrambling to intercept Air Force One on 9/11, crash-landing a burning OV-10 at McCarran Airport, and taking NFL legend Drew Brees for the ride of his life.In this episode, Deacon reveals:• How watching Top Gun literally changed his life in four days—from graduate student to Air Force recruit• Landing a flaming OV-10 off-runway in Las Vegas after being given the wrong winds• The Vice President’s authorization to shoot down aircraft on 9/11 and what it was like scrambling to intercept Air Force One• Transitioning from F-15s to Boeing 777s—his first landing of anything bigger than a fighter was a triple seven at Charles de Gaulle with 290 passengers• Why Drew Brees asked to pull MORE Gs and what made him such an incredible person to fly withDeacon just released his book “Pilot’s Edge: Think, Train, and Fly Like a Pro” with 25% of profits funding aviation scholarships for the next generation.Happy Flying,Justin