Top Gun Maverick Stunt Pilot to F/A-18 Combat Aviator to Blue Angel to F-35 Squadron Commander | Scott “Intake” Kartvedt

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! _______________________________________________________________ Today we hear the Combat Story of Scott “Intake” Kartvedt who was such a proficient pilot that he was handpicked to be one of two stunt pilots in Top Gun: Maverick. Intake has over 6,000 flight hours, much of that in the F/A-18 Hornet, to include combat command of an F/A-18 Squadron. Intake’s story is remarkable as he went from accountant to Naval Aviator to Blue Angel to Top Gun Maverick to making another movie in South Africa with Tom Cruise. 

When the Navy needed to select its very first pilot to lead the first stealth fighter squadron of F-35s, they chose Intake. Before commanding in combat, Intake was a member of the storied Blue Angels where he flew Opposing Solo which put him less than 10 feet from his wingman in air shows at at a combined closing speed of over 1,000 mph (see more about Opposing Solo maneuvers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCnYTPAo550).

Intake had the misfortune of investigating the fatal accidents of his friends and fellow pilots and survived several near death experiences, including a straight dive that he pulled out of at 27 feet above the ground. 

He serves on the board of the Blue Angel Foundation where they’re trying to prevent veteran suicide. You can donate at https://www.blueangelsfoundation.org/ (I donated as well) to help the cause.

Intake is a special combat veteran who is infuriatingly humble and open about the expectations and challenges of a life in the most elite community of aviators and I know you’ll enjoy this discussion as much as I did.

Accountant to jet pilot | F/A-18 Combat Aviator F-35 Squadron Commander | Blue Angel

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Find Scott Online: - Donate to Blue Angels Foundation: https://www.blueangelsfoundation.org/ - Scott's website: https://scottkartvedt.com/ - Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartvedt/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:04 - Guest Introduction (Scott 'Intake' Kartvedt) 02:32 - Interview begins 02:40 - Role in Top Gun Maverick 02:05 - Scott and Tom Cruise 06:06 - Why Scott was chosen to fly 08:09 - Scott and 'Whiz' Buckley 08:56 - What 'opposing' means for flight profiles 13:04 - Accountant to Aviator 16:55 - Flying with Bob 17:54 - 'Intake' as a kid 19:07 - Scott and Ryan's kids 19:39 - Nord VPN  20:55 - Kartvedt's a Military family 22:59 - Competing for the right aircraft 27:31 - Important traits of a Fighter Pilot 30:05 - Air to air dogfighting more challenging than striking target 35:30 - Surface to air threats 37:37 - 4Patriots  38:57 - In the Blue Angels during 9/11  45:39 - Where 'Intake' nickname comes from 47:17 - How many flight hours 48:04 - Hardest hour of flight 54:08 - Advice on how to handle trauma 57:15 -  Enjoyment through the pressure 59:47 - Book Title ideas 01:00:56 - Challenging time in combat 01:14:38 - F-35 specs for combat 01:18:01 - Sentimental items 01:20:49 - Would you do it all again 01:23:07 - Unease for the future pilots 01:26:43 - Final comments   01:28:22 -  Listener comments and shout outs