#39 Expect the Unexpected: F-35 Fighter Pilot Eskil Amdal on Risk & Resilience | the b.a.s.e. скачать в хорошем качестве

#39 Expect the Unexpected: F-35 Fighter Pilot Eskil Amdal on Risk & Resilience | the b.a.s.e.

When you hear “fighter pilot,” you probably think speed, danger and Top Gun. But what really happens inside the cockpit at 9G, Mach 2 and a few seconds from disaster? In this episode of the b.a.s.e. Talks, I sit down with Eskil Amdal – F-35 test pilot, former F-16 fighter pilot, Starfighter and warbird pilot, police helicopter pilot and driving force behind the Norwegian Spitfire project. We talk about what it really takes to perform under extreme pressure – and how those lessons translate directly into everyday life and leadership. You’ll discover: 🔹 How he went from a Norwegian farm kid to F-35 test pilot – and why you only get one real shot at becoming a fighter pilot. 🔹 The brutal selection process: psychological testing, the “defense mechanism test” (DMT) and why being honest about what you don’t see can save your life. 🔹 G-forces & grey-out – what 9G actually does to your brain, how pilots train their bodies to stay conscious, and why sleep, hydration and stress in daily life change your G-tolerance. 🔹 Fight–Flight–Freeze in the cockpit – what happens when an engine explodes at altitude, why freezing is fatal and how preparation turns panic into focused action. 🔹 The Swiss-cheese model of risk – how small stressors (lack of sleep, relationship stress, kids, skipped breakfast, dehydration, smoking…) silently stack up until something breaks. 🔹 Nutrition & performance in real life – the uncomfortable truth about “espresso + Snickers” launches, why peeing in a fighter jet is a tactical problem, and what should happen instead. 🔹 Training for the future of air combat – how augmented reality systems like Red 6 allow pilots to fight virtual adversaries in real aircraft without extra jets in the sky. 🔹 From Starfighter to Spitfire – why the legendary F-104 “Widowmaker” was one of his most intense flights ever, and how the Norwegian Spitfire Foundation is bringing living history back into the air. 🔹 HRV, self-awareness and inner sensors – what happens when you put objective heart-rate and HRV data next to the subjective feeling of “I’m fine” in high-risk situations. 🔹 His core life rule: “Learn something new every day.” From baking bread and building a Harley from scratch to testing cutting-edge jets – why curiosity is his ultimate resilience tool. This is not just a talk about airplanes. It’s a masterclass in human performance under pressure: 🔹 How to stay calm when everything breaks. 🔹 How to prepare your mind and body before the crisis hits. 🔹 How to live fully knowing that life can change in 35 seconds of free fall. If you are a leader, high performer, pilot, first responder, soldier, athlete – or simply someone who wants to handle stress better – this conversation will give you concrete images, strategies and mindset shifts you can apply on the ground tomorrow. 🔔 If this episode inspired you: 🔔 Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss the next the b.a.s.e. Talks with people from aviation, special forces, elite sport and high-risk environments. 👍🏻 Like the video if you want more English episodes with international guests. ✍🏻 Comment your biggest takeaway from Eskil – and what you want to train better: sleep, stress, fitness, or decision-making under pressure. 🔁 Share this episode with someone who loves aviation, dreams of becoming a pilot or currently carries big responsibility under stress. For more deep-dive conversations on resilience, stress management and long-term high performance, check out the full the b.a.s.e. playlist and follow the show on your favorite podcast platforms. the b.a.s.e. – back to what matters most. Stay strong. Stay human – Gerhard