Pierside – Black Lions, Episode 2: Safety Wire Pliers

The celebration of the Navy’s 250th birthday continues as the odyssey continues! My skills and qualifications to maintain F-14 Tomcat develop to near-perfection with the help and guidance of my fellow Black Lions. Come aboard for a look at the tools we used to keep this magnificent aircraft flying, the certifications we had to obtain … Continue reading Pierside – Black Lions, Episode 2: Safety Wire Pliers

Happy Independence Day! A sneak F-14 Tomcat preview…

Happy Independence Day! To celebrate, please enjoy this brief look at the upcoming “Pierside” documentary – BLACK LIONS! This three-part story detailing my heady days as an F-14 Tomcat maintainer premiers in September! https://youtu.be/SNdeZq2NU08 #nathanaelmiller, #sparks1524, #F-14Tomcat, #Tomcat, #navalaviation, #Navy, #militaryaviation, #documentary, #aircraftcarrier,

Coming this September!

This September you are cordially invited to step aboard the flight deck of a United States aircraft carrier! Share in the danger, excitement, and adventure of the airdales who wielded the mighty F-14 Tomcat against those who threatened America’s shores. This September, walk in the footsteps of the fearsome and legendary world-famous fighting Black Lions! … Continue reading Coming this September!

Pierside Preview – Tomcat Tails!

Coming this September is a remarkable documentary about those magnificent men and women and their flying machine – the Grumman F-14 Tomcat! “Pierside” now proudly presents a special sneak preview of one chapter from this remarkable story, told by an airdale who turned wrenches on what is arguably the greatest aircraft ever built! “Pierside – … Continue reading Pierside Preview – Tomcat Tails!

Short Takes – First Crossing

NEW VIDEO!! Take a Short Takes break and travel back to 1919 to soar across the Atlantic with the first aircraft to successfully cross ANY ocean—the giant NC-4 flying boat! Largely lost in the shadow of later aerial conquests, the NC-4 is the aircraft that proved the viability of transoceanic flight!! https://youtu.be/z8HRxdnwlFo #nathanelmiller, #sparks1524, #shorttakes, … Continue reading Short Takes – First Crossing

Short Takes – The Last Veteran

NEW VIDEO! Take a Short Takes break with me and learn the history of one of the most valuable and rare artifacts from all of World War II—the only known surviving aircraft, Japanese or American, that fought in the 1942 Battle of Midway! https://youtu.be/q8exf6ySKjs #nathanaelmiller, #sparks1524, #shorttakes, #navalaviationmuseum, #WorldWarII, #Navy, #USMC, #MarineCorps, #warplane, #warbird, #Dauntless, … Continue reading Short Takes – The Last Veteran

New Short Takes Video – The National Museum of the Pacific War!

New Short Takes video!! The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, preserves the boyhood home of naval hero and victorious World War II Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, as well as provides a comprehensive look into the many facets of the Pacific Theatre. Join me for a brief visit to this remarkable treasure … Continue reading New Short Takes Video – The National Museum of the Pacific War!

On the Waterfront – Sailing into History: Meeting the Proud Lion

(Pensacola, Florida; April 7, 2022,) – There are moments when disparate threads of unrelated events are woven into a brand new cloth upon which the tapestry of our stories will forever be embroidered. USS Ponce (LPD 15) was one such moment for me. Many unrelated threads from my childhood, my college days, and my early … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Sailing into History: Meeting the Proud Lion

Veteran Talk – Twenty Years Later

(Niceville, Florida; 11 September 2021) – Twenty years ago today I was standing on the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as we spun up the Tomcats of VF-213 for a routine day of flying over the Arabian Sea. One of our civilian tech reps had a small camera and waved to me, … Continue reading Veteran Talk – Twenty Years Later

Travel Log: Wings of Gold, Part 3

(Niceville, Florida; June 19, 2021) – The United States Navy answered the beckoning call of Florida’s mild, warm weather and generally sunny skies early in the 20th century, establishing its hub for naval aviation training in Pensacola. Today, Naval Air Station Pensacola hosts the National Naval Aviation Museum, one of the largest aviation museums in … Continue reading Travel Log: Wings of Gold, Part 3