American Mig Pilot Event with Lt. Col. Rob 'Z-Man' Zettel

[Jimbib]

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend an evening presentation and book signing with former MiG-21 and MiG-23 pilot, Lt. Col. Rob ‘Z-Man’ Zettel at the RAF Museum at Cosford.

He covered his entire flying career both during his military service and after flying airliners, but the real highlight of his story was his time with the 4477th Red Eagles in the Constant Peg program at Tonopah Test Range, flying acquired Fishbeds and Floggers against other American pilots.

Considering there were only ever 69 'Bandits' who flew with the 4477th, it was a privilege to hear from one of them first hand about how they operated these aircraft in secrecy in order to improve their air combat tactics against Russian fighers. Obviously had to get a few signed prints to be framed to go in the mancave!

Rob Zettel is due to appear at the following events over 2026 (have borrowed these dates from the 10 Percent True podcast discord), I would highly recommend attending his presentation if you can:

May 15, time TBD
United Airlines Flight Training Center
Denver, Colorado
Presentation, Q&A, and book signing
(United Corporate Event)

May 16, time TBD
Wings Over the Rockies Museum
Denver, Colorado
Presentation, Q&A, and book signing

June 13-14
Imperial War Museum Duxford, UK - History Festival
Featured speaker and book signing

July 11, time TBD
SOCAL CAF Museum
Camarillo, CA
Presentation, Q&A, and book signing

July 20-26
Oshkosh, WI (Air Venture)

October 21-25, time TBD
River Rats Annual Reunion
Dallas, TX
Presentation, Q&A, and book signing 
(Private event)

[Flanker562]

NTC had some working WarPac vehicles and I saw a true-to-life BMP-1 pass in front of me when we got waxed one day. Anyway that's not surprising though, but didn't know that they had flying Migs for real though. I know SOF operates Mi-17s or -8s.

[Gepard]

1 hour ago, Flanker562 said:

 Anyway that's not surprising though, but didn't know that they had flying Migs for real though.

That surprises me. In East Germany we knew that the US Military had MiG's. We knew, that a Commander Bond crashed a MiG-23.

And there was a small book about the Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB and the Ref Flag exercises. I have it still in my archive.

 

 

[Flanker562]

4 minutes ago, Gepard said:

That surprises me. In East Germany we knew that the US Military had MiG's. We knew, that a Commander Bond crashed a MiG-23.

And there was a small book about the Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB and the Ref Flag exercises. I have it still in my archive.

 

 

No I didn't know about that they had actual Migs I've known about Nellis for a long time (I mean you can't miss that show).

[dtmdragon]

He has done a few good podcast episode recently to.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0mhKDJtMyeuoGnX7wGaqor?si=DFUOfdFHSluave0_xwFViw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0eAht45xSeUnkACF7LteqS?si=84Mnxs8vQJak7XwLtbn6bw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6auxr8ikLqZTF7hCGPza4N?si=NFK1jC0xTKCGqTPr5X7Kpg

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xU2MmWco5DcivWQCsrToB?si=FTgOpvPzSVadwLFAsFsuGg

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hvOo2Zq3FnCJJe6eoLvxv?si=MTVtcnIsQf-pnbv-zPduVw

Edited 16 hours ago by dtmdragon

[Jimbib]

Thanks @dtmdragon, will give these a listen.

He has also done a video with another Red Eagles pilot Ted "Gabby" Drake hosted by Steve Davies where they talk through some previously unseen footage of Constant Peg operations at TTR:

Edited 16 hours ago by Jimbib

[daddyairplanes]

5 hours ago, Flanker562 said:

No I didn't know about that they had actual Migs 

thats what you get for simming naval aviation all this time 

Hell, when MG Bond crashed the MiG-23 in 1983, its now believed the AF gave up the aircraft type so readily so that reporters wouldnt dig and find the big secret in the desert at that time, the F-117

[Wrench]

AWESOME!!!!

Camrillo is only an hour or so's drive from me!!! I wonder ....