MAVGEEKS: A Military Aircraft Obsession

Ho ho holy ****, Christmas snuck up quicker than a Sopwith on skis! With gift-giving on the MavMind, the final episode of series five sees Gini Carlin and Jamie Gordon meet Dale Luckhurst, Head of Brand at Airfix. Gini and Jamie got the full geek's guide to the legendary brand, the forensic research and development process that goes into its ultra-detailed model aircraft and loads more. Merry Christmas MavGeeks! We want to hear feature your aviation tale in series six! Get in touch via mavgeeks@bfbs.com [mavgeeks@bfbs.com]. Also, feel free to leave us a glowing review on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps us out! You can join Gini and Jamie for more MavGeeks fun with a heavyweight pilots’ playlist soundtrack every Tuesday from 6pm - 7pm (UKT) on BFBS on DAB in the UK, or online at https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk [https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk].

Airline food gets a bad rap. For some of us, no other words paint so vivid a picture of bullet-hard potatoes and custard lumpier than a regional runway. However, one man has mad it his mission to upend these assumptions. Luckily for our Gini Carlin and Jamie Gordon, that man is none other than MavGeeks alumnus and Season 4, Episode 1 all-star Al Bridger! Al’s a pathological overachiever: a BAE Hawk and F1 Phantom veteran turned Director of Flight Operations at British Airways. As such, Gini and Jamie couldn’t in all good faith act too surprised when he recently reached out to let us know he’s penned a fabulous recipe book named Flavour of Flight: The Food and Drink of British Airways. Over 129 plush pages, Flavour of Flight elegantly illustrates the decades of class, skill and expertise that has gone into your midair meal. You’ll then be taught how to craft these delicacies for yourself. Those with a taste for travel will find all sorts to savour in this episode. Take a seat, roll up your sleeves and tuck in. There’s a little something on your chin, by the way. Flavour of Flight: The Food and Drink of British Airways by Al Bridger is available now from Amberley Books, just in time for Christmas: https://www.amberley-books.com/flavour-of-flight.html [https://www.amberley-books.com/flavour-of-flight.html] We want to hear your aviation tale! Get in touch via mavgeeks@bfbs.com [mavgeeks@bfbs.com]. Also, feel free to leave us a glowing review on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps us out! You can join Gini and Jamie for more MavGeeks fun with a heavyweight pilots’ playlist soundtrack every Tuesday from 6pm - 7pm (UKT) on BFBS on DAB in the UK, or online at https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk [https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk].

Helicopters are sadly, sorely neglected by us here at MavGeeks towers, but no longer! The mononymous Russ is a former door gunner on the Westland Lynx Mk7 and Mk9, amongst other rotary aircraft, with several tours of Aghanistan and Iraq under his belt. He was instrumental in keeping his crew and aircraft safe. Conveniently, he's also a neighbour of our Gini Carlin over in Canada. Russ was incredibly generous with his time and his wisdom, imparting a load of lessons learned during his time in the air and sharing a number of hair-raising stories along the way. For obvious reasons, Gini, Jamie and Russ discuss topics that may be difficult and sensitive for some: Iraq, Afghanistan and conflict. If that sounds like you, support is available at https://www.bfbs.com/audience-support [https://www.bfbs.com/audience-support]. We want to hear your aviation tale! Get in touch via mavgeeks@bfbs.com [mavgeeks@bfbs.com]. Also, feel free to leave us a glowing review on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps us out! You can join Gini and Jamie for more MavGeeks fun with a heavyweight pilots’ playlist soundtrack every Tuesday from 6pm - 7pm (UKT) on BFBS on DAB in the UK, or online at https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk [https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk].

Earlier this year, Gini Carlin and Jamie Gordon caught up with none other than Scott Bateman MBE. An RAF veteran with a storied career as Hercules Captain, Scott was perfectly poised to introduce us to what’s formally the Lockheed C-130, but will forever be the Hercules of our hearts.  In May of 2024, Scott published Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller “Hercules: The story of an RAF legend.” Needless to say, Gini and Jamie insisted on hearing a couple of teaser tales from Scott’s Hercules career as featured in the brilliant book. Strap in for a nuts-and-bolts MavGeeks classic! We want to hear your aviation tale! Get in touch via mavgeeks@bfbs.com [mavgeeks@bfbs.com]. Also, feel free to leave us a glowing review on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps us out! You can join Gini and Jamie for more MavGeeks fun with a heavyweight pilots’ playlist soundtrack every Tuesday from 6pm - 7pm (UKT) on BFBS on DAB in the UK, or online at https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk [https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk].

The Royal Canadian Air Force turns 100 this year! In that spirit, Canada resident Gini Carlin takes the lead for a guided tour of the fabulous Force's history. At this year's Royal International Air Tattoo, she caught up with several RCAF pilots and engineers, as well as the masterminds behind its centennial celebrations. She even had a long chat with Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny himself, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force himself since 2022. Strap in! We want to hear your aviation tale! Get in touch via mavgeeks@bfbs.com [mavgeeks@bfbs.com]. Also, feel free to leave us a glowing review on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps us out! You can join Gini and Jamie for more MavGeeks fun with a heavyweight pilots’ playlist soundtrack every Tuesday from 6pm - 7pm (UKT) on BFBS on DAB in the UK, or online at https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk [https://radio.bfbs.com/stations/bfbs-uk].