Back to all transcripts

What does a can of Coke sound like being opened in an F-15, here's the audio.

F-15 fighter pilots share a lighthearted conversation about snacks and opening a soda in flight.

2014-04-17 Unknown (likely a military training range or cross-country transit)

Summary

This recording captures a casual exchange between two F-15 pilots as one decides to enjoy a Snickers bar and a Coca-Cola. They discuss the hazards of opening carbonated beverages at high altitudes and share creative "life hacks" for heating food using the aircraft's avionics equipment. The clip concludes with the audible "crack" of a soda can being opened over the radio.

Analysis

This recording offers a rare, humanizing glimpse into the cockpit of a high-performance fighter jet. While military aviation is often associated with high-stakes combat or intense training maneuvers, this exchange highlights the mundane reality of long-duration flights where pilots must manage basic needs like hunger and thirst. The conversation centers on the simple act of "getting my Snickers and Coke on," a relatable moment that contrasts sharply with the sophisticated environment of an F-15 Eagle.

A key technical point discussed is cabin pressurization. The pilots mention a previous incident where a soda can exploded while flying at nearly 50,000 feet. Even though cockpits are pressurized, the pressure differential at extremely high altitudes can still cause sealed carbonated containers to fail if the cabin altitude is not maintained at a lower level. Pilot 01 notes that at their current "8,000-foot cabin altitude range," the can is safe to open, which he proceeds to do, much to the amusement of his wingman.

The dialogue also touches on "tribal knowledge" within the pilot community. Pilot 02 explains how to use the Built-In Test (BIT) panel—a piece of avionics equipment that generates significant heat—as a makeshift oven. By using tinfoil and turning off certain cooling systems, pilots can apparently heat up meals like roast beef. This demonstrates the ingenuity of aircrews who spend hours in cramped cockpits without the amenities found in larger transport aircraft.

The exchange ends with a humorous suggestion about bringing a "clip-on cup holder" from a car into the jet. This highlights the ergonomic limitations of fighter cockpits, which are designed for combat efficiency rather than pilot comfort. The recording is a favorite among aviation enthusiasts because it strips away the "Top Gun" persona and shows the pilots as colleagues joking around during a routine flight.

View Ratings Overall: 7/10
Overall 7 Spicy 2 Rare 7 Competence 8 Fame 5 Educational 5 Entertainment 9 Historical 1 Emotional 3
Tap any message below to get an AI-powered explanation of what's happening

Original ATC Communication

Plain English Translation

PILOT_01
I'm fixing to get my Snickers and Coke on. I got two. You want one?
PILOT_01
I’m about to dive into my Snickers and Coke. I’ve got two of each. You want one?
PILOT_02
Vapor. I had one of these explode in the cabin last March, just so you know.
PILOT_02
Watch out for the spray. I had one of these cans explode in the cockpit last March, just so you know.
PILOT_01
Yeah, I did the same thing, but it was on a cross-country in Nevada. I can't remember—we were at 48,000, or 47,000 feet when I popped this thing open.
PILOT_01
Yeah, I’ve done the same thing, but it was on a long-distance flight over Nevada. I can't quite remember—we were way up at forty-eight or forty-seven thousand feet when I popped the top on this thing.
PILOT_02
That's awesome. Slightly embarrassing. Not a whole lot, but slightly.
PILOT_02
That’s hilarious. A little embarrassing, too. Not a total disaster, but definitely a bit awkward.
PILOT_01
Yeah, it works pretty good down here in the 8,000-foot cabin altitude range.
PILOT_01
Yeah, the pressure is much better down here where the cabin is pressurized to feel like we're only at eight thousand feet.
PILOT_01
*Sound of a soda can opening*
PILOT_01
*Sound of a soda can popping open*
PILOT_02
Did you just open it?
PILOT_02
Did you just crack that open?
PILOT_01
Oh yeah. Did that make it across, kind of?
PILOT_01
Oh yeah. Did you hear that over the headset, sort of?
PILOT_02
Yeah, it sounded good.
PILOT_02
Yeah, sounded like a good one.
PILOT_01
It's not very cold anymore, though.
PILOT_01
It’s not very cold anymore, though.
PILOT_02
Yeah, you’ve got to keep it in your map case.
PILOT_02
Yeah, you have to keep it tucked inside your map case to stay cool.
PILOT_01
Really?
PILOT_01
For real?
PILOT_02
Yeah, I learned this in ONE. If you want something hot, you turn everything off and you put it on the BIT panel. And if you're real cosmic, you get some tinfoil and you fold it up like you're going to heat up some roast beef. You turn everything off, you put it on the BIT panel on tinfoil. Works really well.
PILOT_02
Yeah, I learned this back in my first squadron. If you want to warm something up, you turn the electronics off and set it on the built-in test display panel. And if you’re really a pro, you get some tinfoil and fold it up like you’re about to heat up some roast beef. You shut everything down, put it on the test panel on top of the foil. It actually works really well.
PILOT_01
Awesome. It'd be hilarious to show up to the jet with one of those clip-on cup holders you buy for your car.
PILOT_01
That's awesome. It would be a riot to walk out to this high-tech jet with one of those cheap clip-on cup holders you buy for your car.
PILOT_02
That's huge. Yeah, that would be messed up.
PILOT_02
That would be legendary. Yeah, that would look totally ridiculous.

What's happening here?

0:00
0:00