Night Stalker Master Aviator Author Alan C. Mack

About this video

Mike Ritland interviews Allan C. Mack, a retired CW5 with 35 years of Army service, 17 of which were with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment flying Chinook helicopters. Mack recounts his path from enlisted aircraft mechanic to warrant officer pilot, his experiences in West Germany during Cold War tensions, and his early career flying Chinooks during Desert Shield. The conversation covers his unconventional route into aviation, training at Fort Rucker, and technical aspects of flying dual-rotor helicopters.

Key takeaways

• Mack spent nearly nine years as an enlisted aircraft mechanic before being accepted to flight school, leveraging that technical foundation to become a pilot and advocate for innovation in the 160th SOAR.
• During his tour in West Germany (1985-1989), Mack experienced heightened Cold War tensions including terrorism threats and crossed into East Berlin under Allied flag orders, an arrangement that would be unthinkable today.
• Mack was among the first junior warrant officers selected to fly Chinooks based solely on flight school GPA, breaking the tradition of Chinooks being reserved as rewards for senior pilots, and deployed to Desert Shield in 1990 where he logged extensive desert flying experience.

Episode details: published May 13, 2024 · 75.1K views · 4:23:20 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

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