Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Grease Panarisi, 10 Percent True Episode 73 Part 1

In this episode, Mike “Grease” Panarisi tells his story of flying the F-111F in Europe and in Operation Desert Storm. From night-time laser-guided bomb runs over Iraq to hair-raising terrain-following flights through Scottish canyons, Grease shares what it was like to fly one of the war’s most effective but least celebrated strike aircraft.

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#F111F #DesertStorm #10PercentTrue

0:00 intro teaser
2:07 Welcome “Grease” and episode background
8:20 Grease’s background
14:14 frustration of being re designated to NAV track?
16:10 F-111F, initial assignment, Callsign and weapons quals
27:40 PAVE TAC to the fore and just in time
29:25 buy BAOTD PT1! (Jim says: I’ve read it and it’s great!)
29:55 community culture shift toward Pave Tac (let’s get our Nerd on!)
37:45 so low level training is perfect training for MEDIUM in Desert Storm?!
39:08 TFR tales
48:10 PAVE TAC as FLIR? - intro teaser revisited
52:20 debriefing that - “having enough SA to know you’ve lost SA”
54:10 state of the community post Libya (fleet readiness logistics and system availability)
1:00:10 The Special Mission (including the ultimate Special Mission Certification story)
1:09:35 let’s talk Desert Storm
1:22:40 mission capable rates
1:25:15 how much of “the plan” was accessible
1:27:29 war story from night 1
1:35:18 first night target? One pass and haul ass? - hell no!
1:40:40 close SAM call
1:43:00 constructive lies!
1:44:10 “it’s clear over there”
1:45:40 expected loss rates and no 111s lost?
1:49:00 except one in preparation
1:52:48 low level discussion
1:59:34 dynamic targeting?
2:04:20 human aspect and shifting view? (Highway of death etc)
2:11:45 thoughts on Iraqi AF, potential escape/evade, staying with the plane and the capsule…
2:24:50 that’s NOT all folks!!