F-16 Pilot Ejects Over the North Pacific – Scott ‘Fester’ Fredrick’s Incredible Survival | TAP #137

Video Description

In July 2012, F-16 pilot Scott “Fester” Fredrick found himself in a fight for survival over the frigid North Pacific. What began as a routine movement flight from Misawa to Eielson turned into a catastrophic engine failure, forcing him to eject over open ocean and spend more than six hours in 55-degree water before rescue. 🔸Join the channel for “There I was…” stories, Fester’s is another great one https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8gLFapmHedK1TvsStG5Cuw/join🔸 In this episode, we dive into Fester’s incredible career — from chasing the B-2 Spirit during flight test, to combat over Iraq, to his harrowing ejection and rescue. We talk pilot training lessons, split-second decision making, survival training that saved his life, and how perspective changes after you’ve stared death in the face. Whether you’re into aviation, military history, or just a great story of resilience and skill under pressure, this one delivers. 🔸Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8gLFapmHedK1TvsStG5Cuw/join🔸 🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply for Help: http://gunsgarin.com/rain 🇺🇸 --- 🎙️ Sponsor Links🎙️ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial Launch your aviation career: https://bogidope.com/?bd=rain Recorded on Riverside.fm https://www.riverside.fm/?via=afterburn ---- ✈️ Afterburn Podcast Links ✈️ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to “There I was…” stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast Website – https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters27/?hl=enS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afterburnpodcast/ X - https://x.com/AfterburnPod 00:00 Aspiring fighter Pilot's Journey 08:08 From "Woe Is Me" to Fighter Pilot 12:32 Pilot Training Mishaps and Penalties 17:42 Aviation Mishap Anecdote 25:36 Dangerous Nighttime Mission Recount 26:34 JDAM Bombing: Precision Challenges 33:48 Career Risk: Korea or Maxwell? 39:00 "Overcoming Crisis Abroad" 45:26 Mid-Flight Engine Failure 50:21 Unexpected Precision in Flight 58:19 Rescue at Sea by Vessels 59:30 Isolation Stress and Mental Fortitude 01:07:24 Rescue Tale: Cargo Ship Dilemma 01:10:58 Airborne Ejection, Whiskey, and Travels 01:18:07 Miraculous Escape from Plane Crash 01:21:24 Aircraft Incident Investigation Summary 01:27:34 Embrace Life's Uncertainty 01:30:36 Unwavering National Support